The ID. Polo GTI is Volkswagen’s first electric GTI. A day before its official debut, images leaked online, revealing the EV hot hatch for the first time.
First images of the Volkswagen ID. Polo GTI leak
Update 5/15/2026: Volkswagen officially unveils the ID. Polo GTI (see the full details and images here).
While its world premiere is scheduled for May 15, we are already getting a sneak peek at Volkswagen’s first all-electric GTI.
The ID. Polo GTI “takes the GTI into the electric future,” arriving 50 years after the first Volkswagen Golf GTI was launched in 1976.
While we will learn all the details on Friday, we do know it will be the most powerful Polo yet with a front-mounted electric motor delivering 222 hp (166 kW). The EV hot hatch will use the same 52.2 kWh battery as the standard 155 kW drive ID. Polo, providing a WLTP range of up to 282 miles (484 km).
Leading up to its debut, Volkswagen has shared plenty of camouflaged near-production prototypes, but now we are finally getting our first look at the production version uncovered.
The images, posted by @Wilco Blok, reveal the ID. Polo GTI in full. As you can see, Volkswagen brought back the iconic red GTI stripe, now reimagined for the electric hot hatch.
Several more images were leaked online (shown below), revealing the interior with a new GTI steering wheel and infotainment system. The setup includes 13″ central infotainment and 10″ driver cluster screens, while Volkswagen added physical controls below the navigation screen and on the steering wheel.
A more powerful “Clubsport” variant will join the lineup. Volkswagen’s head of driving dynamics, Florian Umbach, told Autocar that the company is planning to launch a ID. Polo GTI Clubsport model that’s expected to deliver around 282 hp, up from 223 hp in the standard version.
According to Umbach, Volkswagen is developing “a similar kind of paddleshift power delivery that the Hyundai N cars have” for the upcoming EV hot hatch.
Hyundai’s performance EVs, the IONIQ 5 N and IONIQ 6 N, feature a simulated gear-shifting system called N e-Shift that uses paddle shifters on the steering wheel to replicate the feel of an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. It works with Hyundai’s N Active Sound+ system to make it feel like you’re in a traditional gas-powered sports car.
The ID. Polo already includes a feature called Retro Mode that transforms the display above the driver to resemble the first-generation (Mk1) Golf. Integrating a gear-shifting system seems like an easy add-on.
Just over a week ago, Volkswagen opened orders for the ID. Polo Life with the 155 kW drive and 52 kWh battery in Germany, starting at 33,795 euros ($40,000). This summer, it will launch the base model, starting at 24,995 euros ($29,000).
The ID. Polo GTI will likely be priced around 38,000 euros ($45,000), while the Clubsport variant could cost upwards of 45,000 euros ($53,000).
Check back tomorrow, Friday, May 15, for the full details during the ID. Polo GTI’s official debut.
Source: NewCarScoops, Wilco Blok
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