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New Delhi: In usual circumstances, Volkswagen has taken a few months or even longer before giving a new model the GTI treatment, but the ID. Polo walks a different path. Just a couple of weeks after the debut of the electric supermini, it is already getting the sporty treatment. While the ID.3 GTX was the brand’s first electric hot hatch, the brand is now more confident to put the iconic GTI badge on an electric car. 

Making its debut at the Nurburgring 24 Hours, the ID. Polo GTI, coming 50 years after the debut of the original Golf GTI. It takes over most of the clean design from the standard electric Polo, but gets redesigned bumpers and even a split back spoiler for a more aggressive look. 

VW ID. Polo GTI exterior and interior

VW ID. Polo GTI design borrows elements from the standard model

The ID. Polo GTI doesn’t get the vertical DRL strips from the regular model, as they remain exclusive to the flagship version. Even the red accents underneath the standard matrix LED headlights and the illuminated front bar are a GTI hallmark. Even though it is a small car, the ID. Polo GTI comes with 19-inch wheels in a two-tone finish as standard, and GTI logos on the centre caps. 

Finished in red, the three letters originally stand for Grand Touring Injection, which also come ahead of the rear wheels and at both ends of the car. Like the front connected LED light bar, even the back gets LEG taillights connected, along with illuminated VW logos at the front and rear. Similarities also include black ORVM covers and C-pillar-mounted door handles at the back.

The GTI touches continue inside, with plenty of red accents and upgraded front seats offering greater lateral support. The cabin layout is similar to the standard car, with the big difference coming in a darker black-and-red theme, GTI badges on the seat backrests and steering, red stitching on seats, steering wheel and door pads, along with shiny silver trim at the centre of the dashboard. 

Other elements are carried over, which include the likes of a 10.25-inch driver’s display with retro-themed virtual dials, a 12.9-inch infotainment system, a wireless phone charger and dual-zone climate control. There are other optional features as well, which include the 0-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, 12-step powered front seats with massage function and a fixed panoramic glass roof.

VW ID. Polo GTI powertrain

The VW ID. Polo GTI takes power from a 52 kWh battery pack, with a WLTP-rated range of 424 km, and comes paired with a front-axle-mounted  (FWD) electric motor. This configuration makes 226 hp and 229 Nm of torque, which lets it do 0-100 kph in 6.8 seconds and has a top speed of 175 kph. The electric hatchback supports 105 kW DC charging, which lets it do a 10-80 per cent top-up in about 24 minutes.

For power, even the standard model of ID. Polo comes with a 52 kWh battery along with a lower-spec 37 kWh trim. The standard version’s 52 kWh trim makes about 15 hp less than the GTI’s, though the claimed range is 30 km more. 

VW has lowered the ride height in order to improve the handling. It is paired with an adaptive sports suspension as standard equipment. It also gets an electronically lockable front differential borrowed from the ICE-powered Polo GTI. It also comes with a new GTI driving profile that tweaks the chassis and drive system for a sportier setup at just the touch of a button.