2024 Volkswagen ID.3 GTX electric hot hatch unveiled

The Volkswagen Golf GTI hot hatch has gained an electric counterpart in the ID.3 GTX, unveiled overnight ahead of an Australian arrival.

It is more powerful than a Golf R – and quicker than a Golf GTI – with a longer driving range than the regular ID.3 electric hatch, and unique exterior and interior styling.

Australian arrival timing is yet to be locked in, however the GTX has been confirmed for local Volkswagen showrooms. Drive has previously reported a possible introduction in 2025.

Two variants of the ID.3 GTX are available – the regular version, and Performance – both powered by VW's latest 'APP550' electric motor used in its other electric models, driving the rear wheels.

Fitted to both variants is a 79kWh (usable capacity, or 84kWh gross) lithium-ion battery pack, up 2kWh over the previous 77kWh pack, and now good for up to "about" 600km of claimed driving range (up from 550km).

The regular model develops 210kW/545Nm – matching the ID.4, ID.5 and ID.7 in Volkswagen's European range – while the Performance has 240kW/545Nm, a match for its Cupra Born VZ twin.

Volkswagen claims a 6.0-second 0-100km/h acceleration time for the regular GTX, or 5.6 seconds for the Performance – 0.1sec quicker than the Born VZ – with electronically-limited top speeds of 180km/h and 200km/h respectively.

It is a significant improvement over the regular ID.3, which has a 150kW/310Nm rear electric motor, and with the 77kWh battery is capable of 0-100km/h in 7.9 seconds and a 160km/h top speed.

For context the current Volkswagen Golf GTI has 180kW/370Nm and a 6.4sec 0-100km/h time, and the European Golf R has 235kW/420Nm and 0-100km/h in 4.7sec – though the ID.3 GTX is expected to weigh close to two tonnes.

DC fast charging at up to 175kW is available, for a 10 to 80 per cent recharge in a claimed 26 minutes.

Battery pre-conditioning is now available to automatically prepare the car to take on energy while en route to the charging station, by heating the battery to the optimal temperature.

The ID.3 GTX has retuned electric power steering, recalibrated adaptive suspension, and Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual drive modes. Drum brakes on the rear axle remain, with front discs.

On the outside, it is distinguished by a unique front bumper with arrow-shaped LED daytime-running lights, a honeycomb grille insert and black highlights, plus a new rear diffuser, GTX badges, and matrix LED headlights are standard, whereas they are optional on other models.

Standard are 20-inch two-tone or black wheels with 215mm-wide tyres – or 235mm-wide rubber on the Performance – while the mirror caps, window trim and side skirts are gloss black on the GTX, rather than matte black on the regular model.

There are five colours, including Kings Red Metallic – plus Moonstone Grey, Grenadilla Black Metallic, Glacier White Metallic and Scale Silver Metallic.

Inside, there is a choice of regular seats with Lurus recycled fabric and synthetic leather-look upholstery, or single-piece sports items with microfleece and leather-look trim, both with red stitching and GTX lettering.

Alongside the GTX's arrival, the ID.3 range gains a new 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen with faster software, climate-control shortcuts pinned to the bottom row of the screen, a supposedly-smarter IDA voice assistant, and ChatGPT integration.

The volume and air temperature sliders below the touchscreen are now illuminated – but touch-sensitive buttons remain in place on the steering wheel, which have been criticised by customers and media for being too sensitive and hard to use.

There is red trim and GTX badging on the steering wheel, the gear selector is now a stalk behind the steering wheel – rather than mounted to the instrument display pod – and the augmented-reality head-up display has been updated.

New safety technology includes assisted lane changes on motorways with the Travel Assist adaptive cruise control and lane centring system, and a door exit warning which can prevent the side doors opening into an approaching car or cyclist.

The park assist system gains a memory function – which can record a manoeuvre over a distance of up to 50 metres, and replay it in reverse – and remote parking abilities using a smartphone app.

The 2024 Volkswagen ID.3 GTX is due in European showrooms later this year.