VW Design Boss: GTI Name Coming to More New EVs

by Chris Teague

Published: September 5th, 2023

vw design boss gti name coming to more new evs

Rumors of the Volkswagen GTI’s death may be overblown. Though the car is losing its manual transmission option next year, it will make the transition to electrification, and we’re now learning that VW may expand the GTI name to other electric models.

The automaker recently revealed the ID.GTI electric concept and head of design Andreas Mindt told CarExpert that we’ll see other electric models wearing a GTI badge.

“It won’t be in SUVs, but I would, yes, we will see more GTI cars. It really fits to the concept of this car, and the car’s very efficient because all the components are in the front, and it frees up space in the rear, and you have a double layer trunk, which is huge.” Mindt noted that VW’s approach makes construction much cheaper, allowing it to keep its goal of a 25,000 USD starting price.

While it’s not surprising that VW is eying the GTI name for electrification, it will be interesting to see how it tackles the massive weight that comes with batteries and other electric components. The Golf GTI has always been known for its handling, not raw power, so VW will need to focus on managing the extra weight to maintain the car’s personality. At the same time, electrification will give VW additional flexibility to build all-wheel drive GTI variants and play with other body formats beyond the iconic hatchback shape.

[Image: Volkswagen]

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Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

More by Chris Teague

Comments

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10 of 22 comments

Cprescott on Sep 05, 2023

Just what we need - another golf cart.

3 Reply
- VoGhost on Sep 05, 2023
  
  You're comments are just sad. Have you considered adding value?
  
  Like
ToolGuy on Sep 05, 2023

Here is where Andreas Mindt learned his trade.

Like Reply
Jalop1991 on Sep 05, 2023

"more GTI cars". This is like slapping the Star Trek or Star Wars name onto any and every movie or TV script out there, in a cheap effort to generate mindshare.

2 Reply
- See 3 previous
- Matzel on Sep 06, 2023
  
  BS. This will be the electric successor to the Golf GTI. Historically, the Golf is Volkswagen's best-selling model and is among the world's top three best-selling models. Going all in on electric, why would VeeDub not want to continue using the (Golf) GTI nameplate?
  
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- Varezhka on Sep 06, 2023
  
  Golf "was" Volkswagen's best selling model, but now down to 6th or 7th depending on the year. And barely in the top 50 in global car sales. But I guess it would've fallen even further if it wasn't for the Golf name.
  This new EV is closer in size to Polo than a Golf, but I suppose VW wanted to keep the price at least somewhat close to the current gas counterpart.
  
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- Matzel on Sep 06, 2023
  
  Yes, sales for the Golf have decreased while other models like the Tiguan have exploded. The SUV craze and Mk8 UX and interior quality problems are to blame. It doesn't erase the history, success and brand recognition the Golf and GTI have built over 5 decades. My point stands: Why would VW not want to build on this going forward?
  
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- TMA1 on Sep 13, 2023
  
  There have been other GTIs for a while, they just never came to North America. The Polo and the Up both had GTI trims (both cars are smaller than the Golf GTI we get in NA).
  
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VoGhost on Sep 05, 2023

Does anyone understand why a double walled trunk is huge?

Like Reply
- SPPPP on Sep 05, 2023
  
  I think he meant it was of huge importance, rather than huge physical size. Still not 100% clear what he meant by the double layer trunk ... especially since GTIs are hatchbacks, so don't really have what I would call a trunk. As for moving components up front, well, GTIs have been FWD, so the only component left to move up front would be the fuel tank (battery). I guess that could mean there is room for a deep storage well within the hatch? At the same time, moving all the batteries up front sounds like a recipe for bad handling ... which is very off-brand for a "GTI". So to sum up ... nobody except maybe Andreas Mindt himself knows what he meant.
  
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