Volkswagen opens orders for its first electric GTI[1]

Volkswagen opened German orders for its first electric GTI on October 7, starting at €39,995 (roughly US$44,700). Buyers waiting for the ID. Polo GTI now have a firm price, more than €995 (around US$1,100) above Volkswagen’s May target of “just under 39,000 euros” (US$43,600). Both announcements describe the same core standard equipment, including adaptive suspension, sports seats, 19 inch wheels and matrix LED headlights, but the releases don’t establish a complete equipment and German tax comparison.

Back then, Volkswagen introduced the car at the Nürburgring endurance race, putting its electric newcomer in front of a motorsport crowd. Volkswagen promised front wheel drive, sports seats and adaptive suspension as standard, equipment that remains in the order opening announcement.

The most telling detail may be a button on the steering wheel. Volkswagen says pressing it selects a GTI mode that changes the motor’s response, steering and suspension together. Adaptive suspension electronically adjusts the dampers, while a front differential lock helps distribute power between the driven wheels when cornering. Those features give buyers something more concrete to assess on a test drive than the badge alone.

Volkswagen specifies 166 kW of power and a 52 kWh usable battery, with up to 431 km of range under the WLTP test standard. It quotes DC charging at up to 105 kW and roughly 24 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 percent. For comparison, Alpine’s German configurator lists the rival A290 GT at €39,000 (approx. US$43,600), with a less powerful 130 kW motor.

For anyone ready to order, the next practical check is a firm customer delivery date, which the launch announcement doesn’t provide.