Volkswagen’s EV hot hatch captured for the first time, not the Polo

The ID. Polo GTI will go on sale this fall as Volkswagen’s first electric GTI, but another EV hot hatch was just caught testing, and we expect to see it in full by the end of the year.

Volkswagen gives the ID.3 Neo the GTI treatment

Just over a month after Volkswagen took the covers off the ID. Polo GTI, the first all-electric model to wear the iconic badge, we are already getting our first look at the next GTI EV.

While Volkswagen has yet to announce it publicly, the ID.3 Neo appears to be next in line for a GTI variant.

The ID.3 Neo GTI, as it’s expected to be named, was spotted testing for the first time in Germany ahead of its official debut. The new images from ForoElectricos reveal the prototype with barely any camouflage.

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It looks about the same as the upgraded ID.3 Neo revealed in April. The electric hatch is the first “true Volkswagen,” the company claimed, with a new drive system, a new name, and a refreshed design inside and out.

🏁⚡️ #Volkswagen resucita sus siglas más míticas con el nuevo ID3 Neo #GTI, un compacto eléctrico y deportivo que dice adiós a la tracción delantera

Apuesta por la propulsión trasera con unos espectaculares 320 CV de potencia y promete rozar los 600 km de autonomía WLTP 🔋🚗 pic.twitter.com/57vot6twK6

— ForoCochesEléctricos (@foroelectricos) June 17, 2026

You can see a few slight changes from the standard model, including modified front and rear bumpers, performance brakes, and unique wheels.

Unlike the ID. Polo GTI, the ID.3 Neo hot hatch is expected to retain a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) powertrain.

The standard ID.3 Neo (shown above) will be available with three electric drive configurations: 125 kW (167 hp), 140 kW (187 hp), and 170 kW (228 hp), while the GTI variant is expected to use Volkswagen’s most powerful drive unit, delivering 240 kW (322 hp).

In comparison, the ID. Polo GTI (shown below) is equipped with a front-mounted electric motor producing 166 kW (222 hp), good for a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration time of 6.8 seconds.

Thanks to the added power, the ID.3 Neo GTI will likely offer less driving range than the standard model, which has a WLTP driving range of up to 630 km (391 miles) with the larger 79 kWh battery.

Inside, the cabin will feature Volkswagen’s new design theme, with an upgraded infotainment system and added physical buttons.

The setup includes a 10.25″ (26 cm) Digital Cockpit and a 12.9″ central touchscreen display. You can expect to see added GTI badging, a new GTI sports steering wheel, and premium sports seats, similar to the ID. Polo GTI.

Volkswagen will launch the ID.3 Neo in July, so we should learn more about the GTI variant soon. It’s expected to make an official debut by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the ID. Polo GTI will go on sale this fall, starting at under 39,000 euros ($45,000) in Germany.