It Looks Like The Golf GTI's Days Are Officially Numbered

Volkswagen is accelerating plans to electrify its range, and future GTIs are now officially on the list.

We know Volkswagens are changing in the wake of the dieselgate emissions scandal, and if this latest nugget of news is anything to go by, in 10 years time they’ll be unrecognisable.

Auto Express is reporting that the firm is planning a hot version of last year’s all-electric I.D. hatchback, first seen at the Paris Motor Show. From comments made by senior VW staff, a faster version of any electric car is always likely.

The magazine quotes Christian Senger, whose snappy job title of ‘vice president Product Line G4, e-mobility’ gives him plenty of insight, as saying: “Today we are really successful in having a range of performance, especially at Volkswagen. We need to recreate this with e-mobility.

“We can start with a rational approach, the car performing quite well every day. But then we can scale up. More range, more acceleration, more charging points for the money and maybe also 4WD.”

The company’s sales and marketing boss, Jurgen Stackmann, has also said that the Golf and Polo GTI will have to change significantly, hinting that they will go electric as well. He said: “I think the formula of GTI will change – it will not be the same formula that took us here. But to have an exhilarating, fun to own, fun to drive car, with electric cars it is possible to deliver that.

“Technology is clearly set to be able to do that – it is actually quite easy to do, with four-wheel drive if you want to.”

Confident words, there. Would you entertain the idea of an all-electric hot hatch?