Volkswagen ID 3 GTX performance hatch unveiled

The Volkswagen ID 3 GTX has been revealed as a performance derivative of the ID 3 hatchback. Its a long-awaited EV alternative to the popular Golf GTI, and has been on the cards since the electric hatchback was revealed in 2019.

VW ID 3 GTX powertrain, battery range

The ID 3 GTX gets Volkswagen’s latest APP550 electric motor on the rear axle, which develops 285hp – up from 204hp of the standard car. The increase in torque is even more substantial, with the electric motor putting out 545Nm. That's also considerably more than the Volkswagen Golf R’s 421Nm. The top-of-the-line ID 3 GTX Performance is more powerful still, producing 326hp for a 0-100kph time of 5.6sec, which makes it VW’s quickest-accelerating EV to date.

The battery has grown in size slightly for the GTX version of the ID 3, from 77kWh to 79kWh. Volkswagen claims a range of up to 600km for the standard GTX, though the Performance pack is likely to reduce that slightly. DC charging peaks at 175kW to give a 10-80 percent charge in under 30 minutes.

VW ID 3 GTX suspension and other upgrades

Beyond the powertrain upgrades, Volkswagen’s hot hatch has also gained several chassis and suspension tweaks intended to give it a more dynamic character.

The ID 3 GTX features retuned steering that has been configured to offer “greater precision”, and the Performance model has a new Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) system – like the Golf GTI – that uses more sensors to detect wheel movement to improve ride and handling.

VW ID 3 GTX exterior and interior 

The ID 3 GTX gets a subtly sportier look. Up front, there’s a new GTX-specific front bumper design, together with new LED ‘arrowhead’ daytime running lights, black gloss trim, a rear diffuser and 20-inch wheels, which are standard. The interior takes inspiration from the Golf GTI and receives sports seats decorated with red stitching and GTX lettering. The ID 3 features a 12.3-inch infotainment screen that has been revamped to run on Volkswagen’s latest software.

For India, Volkswagen will bring the ID 4 crossover in the near future, and the brand is also working on affordable EVs for our market.

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