Nearly fifty years ago, Volkswagen changed the hatchback world forever with the Golf GTI. The “GTI” moniker stood for Grand Touring Injection, a nod to the four-cylinder engine’s fuel injection system at a time when carburetors still ruled the roads. A lot has changed since then, but one thing remained constant: GTIs were powered by gas. Well, it looks like that’s about to change.

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Volkswagen is now working on the next era for the GTI sub-brand, one that will see the performance label expanding into a variety of segments with new models. However, unlike what we’re used to, all future GTI offerings will feature fully electric powertrains, with VW promising to deliver a “mind-blowing” driving experience.

The company has already confirmed the production version of the ID.2 GTI, with plans to follow it up with the next-generation Golf GTI. But those two won’t be the only GTI-branded models. According to Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schafer, these electric hot hatches will “start a whole group of GTIs,” hinting at even more electric performance models on the horizon.

The Electric GTI Revolution

While Schafer didn’t dive into specifics, there have been rumors about an ID.3 GTI, along with the possibility of an entry-level ID.1 GTI, assuming there’s enough demand for the slightly larger ID.2 GTI, which is set to arrive first. And let’s not forget about the potential for performance versions of VW’s electric SUVs, which have already proven their chops with the GTX models.

Schafer, speaking with Autocar, expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the electric Golf GTI’s development. While the current gasoline-powered version of the hot hatch is expected to run “very well into the end of this decade,” Volkswagen is already testing prototypes of its fully electric successor, which will be built on the new SSP platform.

Schafer, who’s taken some GTI prototypes for a spin, says that an electric Golf can still offer an exciting, authentic experience. He describes the new setup as “mind-blowing,” promising that the electric hot hatch will be “a monster car.”

He also emphasized that the aim isn’t just to make it fast, as VW wants to make sure the electric GTI models feel distinct from their standard counterparts. Expect upgrades in sound and handling, along with the inevitable performance improvements.

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This lines up with comments from VW’s technical boss, Kai Grunitz, who noted that electric GTIs will be about more than just raw power. The focus, he says, will be on “drivability,” ensuring that these models aren’t just fast, but fun.

A 2026 Debut?

While Volkswagen hasn’t confirmed a debut date for the first electric GTI, it could arrive in 2026, which would coincide with the 50th anniversary of the original Golf GTI. With the ID.2 (or whatever VW decides to name it) set for release next year, it’s possible the first electric GTI will be unveiled next summer during the GTI festival in Wolfsburg. Looks like the future of hot hatches might be electrifying, after all.

The German auto industry seems to be in the midst of an identity crisis. No, really. Mercedes has decided to ditch its EQ label for its EVs, BMW’s “i” series is about as consistent as a toddler on a sugar high, and Audi’s odd/even naming plan was clearly just a suggestion. Now, it’s Volkswagen’s turn to throw its own wrench into the mix and rethink its entire naming strategy.

More: Audi Ditches Odd-Even Naming Plan For ICE And EVs After Buyers Bamboozled

In an effort to simplify its lineup and make it more accessible, Volkswagen is planning to phase out the “ID” prefix that’s become synonymous with its electric vehicles. Starting as soon as 2026, the company intends to replace this alphanumeric branding with more traditional car names. Though details are still scarce, the change is meant to address growing confusion in the market around these designations.

The ID sub-brand was launched in 2017 with the concept version of the ID.3 hatchback, which later became the first production model in 2019. Over the years, VW expanded its offerings, introducing the ID.4, ID.5, and ID.6 SUVs (the latter available exclusively in China), the ID.7 sedan, and the ID. Buzz minivan. The brand had plans to further expand the ID lineup with the ID.1 city car and the ID.2 supermini by 2027, but it seems the game plan is now changing.

Shifting to Familiar Names

Martin Sander, a member of Volkswagen’s Board of Management responsible for Sales, Marketing, and After Sales, revealed during an interview with Auto und Wirtschaft that the company intends to return to using conventional names for its EVs. “The cars will get proper names again,” he said. “This will become apparent when we launch new models – neither the ID. 2all nor the ID. Every1 concepts will carry these names in production.”

Although Sander did not go into detail, Volkswagen has previously indicated that established nameplates might make their way into the EV world. For instance, the upcoming ID.2, set for launch in 2026, could adopt the Polo name, celebrating the model’s 50th anniversary this year. Meanwhile, the ID.1, expected in 2027, could take inspiration from previous names like Lupo, Fox, or Up!, or even receive an entirely new name.

New Names, New Beginnings

Earlier this year, Kai Grünitz, Volkswagen’s Board Member for Technical Development, mentioned that starting in 2026, the ID models will undergo a significant facelift. This would be an ideal time for Volkswagen to start phasing in the new names for its existing EV models.

Volkswagen is also working on an electric version of the Golf, which is set to arrive toward the end of the decade, along with an electric T-Roc SUV. There’s a good chance that familiar nameplates like Passat and Tiguan will eventually be used for future electric vehicles. The challenge for Volkswagen, however, will be distinguishing the EV models from their internal combustion counterparts, which will remain in production for a few more years.

Big Sales Targets For EVs

When discussing Volkswagen’s EV sales, Sander expressed confidence, saying, “We are very satisfied with the demand. We have a high order backlog for the ID.3, and we’re already selling more ID.7s in Europe than Passats.” He also highlighted the ID. Buzz, noting that it “plays an incredibly important role for the brand, especially given the significant hype surrounding it in the U.S.”

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Sander also highlighted Volkswagen’s ambitious sales targets, particularly for the upcoming ID. 2all, which is expected to launch in Europe at a starting price of €25,000 ($27,900). “With the production version of the ID. 2all, we are entering a completely different price range,” he said.

The ID. Every1, scheduled for 2027, is projected to start at an even more affordable €20,000 ($22,300). Thanks to falling battery costs and cost-cutting measures, this price point is within reach. “Everything regarding costs is being scrutinized,” Sander emphasized, noting that Volkswagen will leverage new production methods to ensure the vehicle is profitable from the start.

According to Sander, the target price of the urban EV that will be produced in Portugal will be made possible thanks to the declining cost of batteries, and extensive cost-cutting measures: “Everything regarding costs is being scrutinized. We have to leave no stone unturned and will use new production methods. Everything we change now will bring us to the point where the car will be profitable. The entire company will benefit from what we learn from this vehicle. You can’t build a project like this on hope – instead, we rely on solid success figures and plans.”

Sander also remains confident that electric vehicles will outpace internal combustion engines, stating that VW is “convinced that electromobility will prevail because electric cars are the better product”.

What About China?

Finally, the VW Board Member also touched on the competitive landscape in China, where Volkswagen’s EVs, like the ID.7, are facing pressure from lower-priced competitors. Despite the tough market conditions, the company is focused on long-term growth. “We are not buying market share,” Sander said, “but investing in our long-term strategic goals.”

“The electric car market in China is extremely competitive on price; even new models are sometimes launched by competitors with deep discounts,” he told the publication. “This also presents a challenge for the ID.7, which has been so successful in other markets. However, in this difficult environment, we are not focusing on short-term market success, but rather pursuing a sustainable growth plan.”

More: VW’s Concepts Mark The Start Of 30 New Models For China’s EV Future

Volkswagen aims to strengthen its position in China starting in 2026 with a new generation of market-specific electric cars. “We are the clear market leader in China in the still highly profitable segment of vehicles with combustion engines,” Sander added. As part of its strategy, Volkswagen is gradually hybridizing its combustion engine portfolio, positioning itself to lead the transition to electrified vehicles in the region.

It hasn’t even been two years since the Ford Fiesta was unceremoniously retired, and yet, it may already be staging a comeback. This time around, though, the Fiesta could look very different. Instead of a traditional internal combustion comeback, the new version might arrive as part of Ford’s growing collaboration with Volkswagen, a partnership that has already produced models like the Explorer EV and Capri based on VW’s platforms.

VW’s head of sales and marketing, Martin Sander, says that the carmaker’s tie-up with Ford on EVs has already proven to be “very, very, very successful,” and is open to sharing technologies in a similar way in the future. Sander formerly worked at Ford in Europe and, as the Explorer EV and Capri use the same platform as the VW ID.4 and ID.5, Ford could conceivably develop new EVs with the same MEB Entry architecture as the ID.1 and ID.2.

Read: Ford Is Killing The Focus ST But Something Wilder Is Coming

Ford itself has not commented on the possibility of building a new entry-level electric hatchback, but Auto Express speculates that such a project is conceivable. Ford says it’s “confident in its ability to compete in the right segments,” so if it sees potential with an electric hatch, it may be wise to pursue it.

Looking at the numbers, the ID.2 could be a near-ideal blueprint for a new Fiesta. The ID.2all Concept is only 0.7 inches (or 18 mm) longer than the outgoing Fiesta, and it shares the same five-door layout. In terms of size and purpose, it’s almost a one-to-one match.

Of course, Ford would have to convince VW to let it use its underpinnings, even though a new Fiesta would likely snatch sales away from the ID.2, as well as the related Cupra Raval and Skoda Epiq. Unless VW thinks it will get something from the deal, it’s hard to see why it would be open to it. Admittedly, if a new Fiesta were sold in markets where the ID.2 won’t be, that would take away the threat of it stealing sales.

Meanwhile, Ford isn’t sitting still. A skunkworks team inside the company is reportedly working on a new budget-friendly EV aimed squarely at emerging rivals like BYD. This upcoming model could start at around $25,000 and may feature a lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery pack, which offers cost advantages and improved durability compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries.

Regardless of the Fiesta’s return, Ford appears to be quietly assembling the pieces for a more affordable EV future, and it may not be long before we see what that actually looks like.