Promised by a concept car from the Munich Motor Show in 2023, the Volkswagen ID.Polo GTI is revealed today. Unsurprisingly and that’s a good thing, its dress hardly differs from that of the style study judiciously displaying the attributes of a GTI. Under the hood, the APP290 engine delivers power carefully calibrated to set the median benchmark for the segment. Waiting for an ID.Polo R? Finally, this first 100% electric GTI does not fail to give a nod to the pioneer, the 1976 Golf GTI on board, in real life and in pixels.
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In September 2023, at the IAA mobility show in Munich, the ID.GTI concept car made its impact on the Volkswagen stand. Today here is the production version which has perfectly preserved the DNA of the style study. Unless the brand did it the other way around by declining the prototype of the production car? But after all, it doesn’t matter, the main thing is to offer a fitting electric bomb in dealerships.
ID.Polo: Volkswagen’s first 100% electric GTI
Since the Golf GTI launched in 1976, the Wolfsburg brand has applied the label it invented to a small part of the range. The Polo was the first to be entitled to it, but it had to wait until 1998 to receive these three letters. Little Lupo then converted in 2005, before Up finally entered the circle in 2015. With the ID.Polo it is the first time that the three letters are applied to an electric model. It took half a century for this passing of the baton, the brand having previously tried to impose the GTX label.
To stand out from a classic ID.Polo unveiled only 15 days ago, the GTI does not pull out all the stops but opts for selected elements. It notably receives 19-inch rims, sports seats and specific matrix lights. The lower contour of the grille sports a red border with the three letters, as is tradition.and two scarlet vertical hooks adorn the air intake at the bottom of the front shield. The GTI logo, also in red, is integrated into the side sills near the rear wheels.
ID.Polo GTI : les distinctions à bord
Red and black colors predominate in the ID’s cabin. Polo GTI that stands out from the ID. Polo Trend, Life and Style with decorative stitching and a Sport GTI steering wheel. As in rally cars, the steering wheel crown has a red mark in the 12 o’clock position. A red border stretches across the entire width of the dashboard. The door trims, the front outer edges of the high sports seats and the rear bench seat are also decorated with red stitching. Without forgetting the upholstery fabric whose pattern revisits the famous Scottish tartan of the historic GTI models. Finally, the front headrests feature the GTI monogram. It is also present – in an illuminated version – on the multifunction sports steering wheel which also houses the push button specific to the “GTI” driving mode and two paddles allowing you to adjust the energy recovery levels when you lift your foot.
Nods to the Golf 1 in the ID.Polo GTI
The “Digital Cockpit” in front of the driver stretches over a 10.25-inch panel and includes a retro display mode which very clearly evokes the instruments of the first generation Volkswagen Golf, as on the other ID.Polos. When this display is activated, graphic details in the style of the same iconic model also appear on the 12.9-inch central touch screen. The battery charge or recharge indicator, for example, resembles a fuel gauge of the time, while the symbol of an audio cassette tape is used to indicate the track being listened to on the audio system. Obviously, just like the other ID.Polo, the GTI version has a fairly generous trunk for the B segment of versatile city sedans with a volume of between 351 and 1,243 liters.
What power for the Volkswagen ID.Polo GTI?
The electric machine is known internally under the code APP290, 290 meaning 290 Nm of torque. It delivers a power of 226 hp, a value identical to that of the fastest Cupra Raval, which positions it above an Alpine A290 (offering 180 and 220 hp) but below the Peugeot E-208 GTI, Lancia Ypsilon HF and Opel Corsa GSE, all of which have 280 hp. But the Volkswagen is only at the very beginning of its career, many developments and power increases will be possible later. The manufacturer indicates a 0 to 100 km/h achieved in 6.8 seconds and the presence of a limited slip front differential with electronic regulation in order to maintain control of motor skills. The top speed is 175 km/h and the empty weight reaches 1,540 kg.
The ID.Polo’s electromotor is powered by a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 52 kWh which, according to the manufacturer, offers a range of 424 km according to the WLTP approval cycle. When it comes to recharging, Volkswagen announces a time of 24 minutes on direct current to fill from 10 to 80% of the accumulator. The battery can be recharged at a power of 11 kW at a wall terminal or at public alternating current charging stations. When fast charging at a direct current terminal, charging can be carried out at a maximum power of 105 kW. The prices are not yet known but they promise to be quite steep considering the first prices of the classic ID.Polo.
Didier Ric
Automotive writer and illustrator
Mouse in his right hand, graphic palette stylus in his left hand, journalist/designer who has been into the automobile industry since his early childhood.
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