Volkswagen has confirmed that a fully electric ID.2 GTI is coming next year, but it seems that an even smaller hot hatchback might be in the works. A VW board member has revealed that an ID.1 GTI could happen, given there is enough customer demand.

While the ID.2 GTI will carry the torch from the soon-to-be discontinued Polo GTI, a possible ID.1 GTI could serve as a successor to the Up! GTI. The smallest member of the future GTI lineup would also be the most affordable, making hot hatch thrills accessible to a wider audience.

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When asked by Autocar about the possibility of an ID.1 GTI, Volkswagen Brand Board Member for Technical Development Kai Grunitz said: “It could happen because we’re using modules from the MEB platform. So it could. But it depends on various factors, including the reaction of customers to this car.”

However, Grunitz mentioned the potential overlap with the slightly larger ID.2 GTI that will launch in 2026: “Also we have the ID.Every1 and we have the ID.2all, which will get a GTI version. Having everything in the ID.1 would mean it’s not necessary to have everything in the ID.2. The ID.2 is larger and has a lot more functions and more value. It’s the same as with the Up! and the Polo. So we will see.”

Illustrations: Thanos Pappas for CarScoops

It seems that the sales performance of the upcoming ID.2 GTI might determine whether the ID.1 GTI gets made or not as VW is dipping its toes on the performance EV market. Given that the strict emission regulations have drastically increased the R&D cost for ICE-powered hot hatches, the fully electric equivalents seem to be the only way forward in this segment.

VW Has All The Right Ingredients For A Small GTI

The ID.1 and the ID.2 will ride on the same MEB Entry architecture, with a single-motor, FWD layout. In the ID.Every1 Concept the powertrain is good for 94 hp (95 PS / 70 kW), but the ID.2all Concept had a more potent motor generating 228 hp (170 kW / 231 PS). The latter sounds like a great fit for a small and lightweight ID.1 GTI, transforming it into a pocket rocket.

More: VW Brings Back Physical Buttons After Admitting Touchscreens Are A Disaster

Besides the extra power, VW engineers could add a limited-slip differential, a stiffer suspension, and stronger brakes, enhancing the handling credentials of the small EV.

Of course, the performance-focused version of the ID.1 would also benefit from a sporty redesign. Our exclusive rendering borrows styling cues from the ID.GTI concept, transforming the city car into a hot hatch. Modifications could include a new set of alloy wheels, sportier front and rear bumpers, deeper side skirts, a rear spoiler, and GTI emblems.

Given that the launch of the VW ID.1 is scheduled for 2027, a GTI version is at least two or three years away. Hopefully, customers will embrace this new era of performance, motivating automakers to invest in hot versions of their city car and supermini offerings.

Volkswagen has finally realized what pretty much every driver already knew: stuffing every function into a touchscreen is a nightmare. The company’s design boss, Andreas Mindt, has revealed that future VWs, starting with the ID.2, will feature physical controls for essential functions. This might sound like common sense, but, hey, better late than never.

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In late 2022, VW made the bold (and highly unpopular) decision to ditch traditional physical buttons and switch to touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel. That, predictably, led to a flood of complaints. So, after the unveiling of the ID.2all concept in 2023, VW admitted its mistake and promised to roll back the touch-centric design. Now, Mindt is spilling the details on the company’s course correction.

The Return of Buttons

Mindt told Autocar that next-gen VW models will come with physical buttons for the five most important functions: volume, seat heating, fan controls, and hazard lights—right below the infotainment screen. No more endlessly swiping through menus just to turn on the heat. He also made it clear that this shift would apply “in every car that we make from now on. We understood this.”

In a refreshingly candid moment, VW’s design boss openly admitted that the strategy followed by his predecessor wasn’t the right one: “We will never, ever make this mistake any more. On the steering wheel, we will have physical buttons. No guessing any more. There’s feedback, it’s real, and people love this. Honestly, it’s a car. It’s not a phone: it’s a car.”

The first car to embrace this much-welcome change with an extra row of physical buttons under the infotainment display will be the ID.2all electric supermini, which is set to launch in 2026. The production version of VW’s ID.Every1 concept, expected in 2027, will use a similar layout. Say goodbye to those awkward, touch-sensitive sliders that control everything from volume to AC temperature. Honestly, if you’ve ever tried to adjust the heat on a touchscreen while driving, you probably understand why this was inevitable.

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This means that VW will finally ditch the haptic sliders currently being used to control the media volume, navigation zoom, and A/C temperature. These can be found in several VW Group models including the facelifted Golf.

Despite all the button talk, Mindt made it clear that the touchscreen isn’t going anywhere. “There are a lot of functions you have to deliver in certain areas, so the screen will be big and you will find a lot of HMI contents in the depths of the system,” he said. “But the five main things will always be on the first physical layer. That’s very important.”

Update 2/13: Volkswagen has released new, more detailed sketches of its most affordable EV, following last week’s initial announcement.

Volkswagen has teased its upcoming entry-level EV in Europe, promising a a starting price of €20,000 (equal to around $20,800 at current exchange rates). The market launch of the EV is scheduled for 2027, but a concept version will debut in March 3.

The successor of the discontinued VW Up! was originally announced on February 5 with a dark teaser. On February 13, the company shared a couple of sketches on social media, giving us a better idea of the exterior design.

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While Volkswagen hasn’t explicitly confirmed the model’s name, there are a few hints. The original teaser featured an “ID. One” plate, while the Instagram hashtag for the sketches suggests that the concept might be called “ID. Every1” – consistent with the ID. 2all concept from 2023. The duo will eventually lead to the sub-€25k ID. 2 supermini in 2026 and the sub-€20k ID. 1 city car in 2027.

The new sketches were created by Andreas Mindt, head of design at VW, accompanied with the following description: “Bold confidence meets timeless simplicity! With its compact yet spacious design, our new entry-level electric car blends functionality and style effortlessly. From the charismatic front to the smiling rear end, every detail creates a joyful connection.”

Volkswagen

The small five-door hatchback has similar proportions with the 2021 VW ID. Life concept, albeit with a more playful design language. The headlights with 3D LED graphics are integrated into a black grille, along with an illuminated VW emblem. On the profile, the sculpted fenders highlight the large-diameter alloy wheels. Finally, the rear end features a glass tailgate, which is a typical feature of city cars.

Earlier this month, VW CEO, Thomas Schafer, described the entry-level ID model an “affordable, high-quality, profitable electric Volkswagen from Europe for Europe,” emphasizing the region’s reputation as the “Champions League of automobile manufacturing.”

The ID. 1 will be built on a shorter version of the MEB platform, shared with the slightly larger ID. 2. Its compact footprint means it could be equipped with a smaller, more affordable battery pack, likely paired with a single electric motor. Beyond VW, these same underpinnings might be used for similar entry-level EVs by Skoda and Seat, potentially sharing several components to help reduce production costs.

More Models Are Coming, Including Golf And T-Roc EVs

Despite the upcoming relocation of Golf production to Mexico, Thomas Schafer confirmed that the Wolfsburg plant in Germany will remain the “heart of the Volkswagen brand in the electric age.” The factory will be responsible for producing the next generations of the Golf and T-Roc high-volume EVs. These models will be built on the new Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), utilizing an “entirely new production process.”

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In what is described as its “biggest future-oriented plan in Volkswagen’s history”, the company has pledged to introduce nine new models in Europe by 2027, extending its product portfolio in a “targeted way”. VW wants to become a “technologically leading volume manufacturer” globally by 2030, while “optimizing cost structures”.