Over the subsequent decade, OEMs might want to determine methods to combine their legacy ICE fashions with their new electrical lineups. At Volkswagen, this implies determining methods to deal with the transition of worldwide iconic monikers like Golf and GTI. When VW launched the Golf-sized ID.3, many suspected the brand new electrical hatch would finally exchange the Golf. However there will likely be a ninth-generation Golf someday round 2027 or 2028, and it’ll swap to battery-electric energy. When model boss Thomas Schäfer spoke to a number of shops in the course of the L.A. Auto Show, he defined the Golf identify is not going anyplace, and neither is GTI. He mentioned the ID model is already fastened within the VW construction, then cited the ID.Buzz an an instance of not needing to comply with “ID” with a quantity. He told Autocar, “It could be loopy to let [Golf and GTI] die and slip away. We’ll stick to the ID logic however iconic fashions will carry a reputation.” Requested if that meant an ID.Golf is inbound, he answered, ‘We’d have an ID.Golf.”
The bottom Golf Life in Europe is 168.7 inches lengthy, 70.4 inches extensive, and 58.7 inches excessive on a 103.1-inch wheelbase. The ID.3 is 167.8 inches lengthy, 71.2 inches extensive, and 61.7 inches excessive on a 109.1-inch wheelbase. The dimensional similarity makes the ID.3 a tad bigger exterior however fairly a bit extra spacious inside because of the packaging of its electrical powertrain. Schäfer mentioned he considers the ID.3 “extra a Golf Plus.” Based mostly on these feedback, it is suspected a possible ID.Golf would drive into the lineup beneath the ID.3 and above the ID.2 metropolis automobile thought to reach across the similar time as the electrical Golf. The ID.3 has loads of room to develop if VW needs to create more room between it and the Golf, the ID.4 being almost 13 inches longer than the ID.3.
As for GTI, it may very well be subbed in to switch the GTX badge created to establish scorching variations of ID fashions. There are already GTX trims of the ID.4 and ID.5, with a 2023 ID.3 GTX arriving with the reveal of the facelifted ID.3. Schäfer told AutoExpress, “GTX was an thought on the best way to electrification, we got here up with a distinct identify. In future whether or not we’ll want this or not, we’ll see. However GTI is so sturdy,” and discussions are taking place proper now about methods to resolve that puzzle.
The model is on the fence about taking Polo into the brand new period, the tiny hatchback already on the ropes due to Euro 7 emissions. Theoretically, the ID.2 ought to evaluate to the Polo the identical approach the ID.3 compares to the Golf, and there is a good smaller city automobile deliberate beneath the ID.2. So there will likely be a Polo-sized electrical providing, however the present hatch identify may not be worthy of continuous. Schäfer said to Car magazine, “You don’t wish to do it too usually, you recognize – you’ll be able to’t switch the whole lot from the outdated portfolio” earlier than asking aloud, “Is [Polo] iconic sufficient to hold it or not? It’s not fairly clear but. We haven’t actually determined but.”
