VW is recalling ID. Polo GTIs worth just under 40,000 euros
VW has launched pre-sales for the new ID. Polo GTI. The first all-electric model with the GTI badge is available in Germany for 39,995 euros. Volkswagen draws heavily from its heritage for this compact performance electric car, including red stripes, tartan patterns, and a GTI mode.
Image: Volkswagen
VW unveiled the ID. Polo GTI in mid-May and has now set the final price for this compact electric sports car ahead of the pre-order launch: In Germany, the performance model is available starting at 39,995 euros, but it qualifies for Volkswagen’s “ID. Kaufprämie” program through the end of the year, meaning private and business individual customers can purchase it temporarily for only 36,995 euros. For comparison, the base version of the ID. Polo has been available for ordering since summer at 24,995 euros — so there is a price difference of 15,000 euros between the two.
For this price, customers get not only better technical specifications in the GTI version but also the iconic GTI experience: “The first all-electric model with the GTI label brings the legendary GTI driving pleasure into the electric future: with instant acceleration, precise handling, and a sporty, confident presence,” says VW.
GTI Instead of GTX
Background: Until now, VW has labeled its most sporty electric models as GTX, as these models, except for the ID.3 GTX, are equipped with all-wheel drive. With a second electric motor on the front axle, GTX models offer more power than MEB models with rear-wheel drive only. But visually, they already resemble the familiar GTI design language with their red decorative elements. The ID. Polo GTI, on the other hand, is a front-wheel drive vehicle and is now the first electric GTI.
Image: Volkswagen
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The name implies a certain level of prestige: the Volkswagen Polo GTI is a car with cult status, a relatively small vehicle that was surprisingly fast, practical for everyday use, and amenable to tuning — and could even outrun larger cars on the highway. The 6R GTI with a 1.4 TSI Twincharger is legendary: it combined a compressor and a turbocharger at the same time — almost exotic for a small car.
The ID. Polo GTI no longer produces horsepower but rather electricity. It shares its basic architecture with the regular ID. Polo and is therefore also based on the latest version of the Modular Electric Drive Toolkit MEB+. The main differences lie in the more powerful powertrain option, the suspension tuning, and the GTI-specific driving modes. The electric motor is the APP290, developed specifically for front-wheel-drive models, which delivers 290 Nm of torque according to VW’s naming convention. The GTI’s powertrain configuration provides 166 kW of power. Its top speed is 190 km/h, with VW claiming a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time of 6.8 seconds.
The newly developed suspension is tailored for improved performance and GTI-level driving dynamics. The basic layout of the GTI suspension consists of a MacPherson strut front axle and a multi-link rear axle. Both axles are standardly connected in the ID. Polo GTI to the electronically controlled DCC system, which provides adaptive damping control. A standard front axle differential lock, similar to one used in Golf GTI models, is intended to enhance traction at the front axle.
As soon as the driver presses the GTI Push button on the multifunction sports steering wheel, the “GTI” driving profile designed specifically for this model is activated. It is available in the ID. Polo GTI in addition to the driving modes “Eco,” “Comfort,” “Sport,” and “Individual.” According to the manufacturer, the “GTI” mode is intended to bring out the “particularly dynamic aspects of the electric Volkswagen.” With a single click, all drive and suspension parameters are set to their most sporty settings, including the performance output of the electric motor, the progressive steering system, and the adaptive DCC sports suspension with its specific GTI tuning. At the same time, “Launch Control” can now be activated. Additionally, the seat belt tensioners are engaged.
52 kWh for the electric GTI
No matter how much Volkswagen focuses on sportiness with the ID. Polo GTI, range and charging speed are still important in everyday use. Therefore, it’s crucial to determine which battery this sporty electric compact car will have—and how quickly that battery can be recharged. Beneath the vehicle floor, between the front and rear axles, lies the battery system equipped with the “Group standard cell.” As the name suggests, it is a completely new development by Volkswagen Group and its subsidiary PowerCo. The new battery system utilizes cell-to-pack technology, in which the cells are combined directly into a battery pack without going through module housings first.
The ID. Polo GTI is available only with a 52 kWh battery using NMC cell technology. The 37 kWh LFP battery from the base version cannot be selected. According to WLTP standards, the GTI’s range is said to be up to 431 km. When the battery is empty, it can be charged at an AC charging station using the three-phase 11-kW onboard charger in about 5.5 hours. At DC charging stations, the battery should be able to reach 80% capacity from 10% in just over 24 minutes, with a charging power of up to 105 kW.
The new model is unmistakably a GTI in appearance, thanks to the hexagonal pattern on the front and roof edge spoiler. It also features premium sports seats, 19-inch alloy wheels, and numerous accents in VW’s so-called “Tornardorot” color. According to the manufacturer, additional options include a panoramic glass roof, electrically adjustable 12-way front seats with pneumatic massage function, and a 425-watt Harman Kardon sound system. For those who prefer an even more sporty setup, there are specially developed 19-inch premium sports tires available.
