Skip advert
Advertisement

New Volkswagen ID.3 GTX: first spy shots and all the latest on VW’s electric hot hatch

Volkswagen’s family-friendly ID.3 will soon get the sporty GTX treatment

The Volkswagen ID.3 received a mid-life facelift this year and to help give it further driver appeal a hot GTX variant is in the works - spied here for the first time. 

This isn’t the first we’ve heard about VW’s plans on giving its ID.3 more performance. Back in 2021, the then VW CEO, Ralf Brandstatter, said: “The decision is made. We have the ID.4 GTX and the ID.3 GTX will come.” 

Advertisement - Article continues below

We’ve also tried it in concept form. We were given a passenger ride in a concept model badged ID.X, as an early taste of what will eventually become the production model. We expect the final car will be toned down from the ID.X’s dual-electric motor set-up fed by a 77kWh (usable) battery for a total 328bhp output. The concept’s expensive KW coilover suspension probably won’t be carried over either.

It’s clear VW’s new creation isn’t too far away, especially now we’ve caught it testing on the public road. Judging by these images of a test car, it appears the production model will be toned down from the concept, replicating the overall subtle design approach of GTX cars. 

The ID.3 GTX arrives in the wake of the newly-unveiled ID.3 facelift. The exterior should borrow design elements from the concept but will be largely similar to the facelifted car. The front bumper shows a revised air intake and the side trim has been tweaked as well. We should see a sportier set of alloy wheels on the final product and to the rear there’s a slightly reshaped bumper. 

The interior will also benefit from elements added in this year’s facelift. The GTX’s launch will likely coincide with the facelifted car receiving a 12.9-inch infotainment screen (replacing the current 10-inch unit) and the ID.3’s 5.3-inch driver display should be retained.  

It’s likely that the ID.3 GTX will use the same twin-motor powertrain as the ID.4 GTX, producing 295bhp. In the smaller, lighter ID.3 with all-wheel drive, GTX will likely undercut the ID.4 GTX’s 6.2-second 0-62mph time.

The ID.3 GTX may have a short lifespan however, given what current VW boss Thomas Schafer told Auto Express at the 2023 Munich Motor Show: “The iconic names that definitely will be carried into the future are Golf, Tiguan, and GTI. That is given. The others, we look at on a case-by-case basis, but these three are done.” This suggests all-electric GTI models are in store - potentially replacing the GTX badge. “GTX was just an interim for the battery electric one, but we’re probably going to merge that in the long run”, said Schafer.

Now read more about the new ID. GTI Concept...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Senior news reporter

A keen petrol-head, Alastair Crooks has a degree in journalism and worked as a car salesman for a variety of manufacturers before joining Auto Express in Spring 2019 as a Content Editor. Now, as our senior news reporter, his daily duties involve tracking down the latest news and writing reviews.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Volkswagen ID.3, ID.4 and ID.5 now nearly £5,000 cheaper thanks to new Pure models
Volkswagen badge

Volkswagen ID.3, ID.4 and ID.5 now nearly £5,000 cheaper thanks to new Pure models

VW’s ID.3 electric hatchback range received the biggest discount of £4,850, and now starts from £30,850
News
20 Nov 2024
BMW 128ti vs Volkswagen Golf GTI: understated hot hatches have plenty of used appeal
BMW 128ti vs Volkswagen Golf GTI

BMW 128ti vs Volkswagen Golf GTI: understated hot hatches have plenty of used appeal

The BMW 128ti and Volkswagen Golf GTI are great-performing, eminently practical hot hatches, but which is the best used buy
Car group tests
18 Nov 2024
Best electric car charging stations 2024: UK's top charger networks rated by EV owners
Best electric car charging stations 2024 - header

Best electric car charging stations 2024: UK's top charger networks rated by EV owners

The bad, the good and the outstanding; you rank the major players in the expanding UK charging network
Features
13 Nov 2024
New BMW M135 2024 review: less power but more fun
BMW M135 xDrive - front

New BMW M135 2024 review: less power but more fun

The updated BMW M135 takes the fight to the Mercedes-AMG A 35 and Audi S3 with a reworked chassis
Road tests
6 Nov 2024

Most Popular

New cars that plummet in value can make brilliant used buys
Opinion - Vauxhall Corsa-e

New cars that plummet in value can make brilliant used buys

Editor Paul Barker takes a closer look at our 2024 Used Car Awards
Opinion
20 Nov 2024
A £10k electric car with a 100-mile range would surely be a sales success
Opinion - cheap EV

A £10k electric car with a 100-mile range would surely be a sales success

Mike Rutherford thinks there would be demand for an electric car with a modest 100-mile range if it only cost £10k
Opinion
17 Nov 2024
New Jaguar logos unveiled as big concept reveal moves closer
New Jaguar logo 1

New Jaguar logos unveiled as big concept reveal moves closer

Jaguar has revealed its new logos and styling details ahead of its transition into a luxury EV brand
News
19 Nov 2024