Volkswagen launches ID.3 GTX Performance hot hatch

MANILA: Volkswagen has launched what it has described as the "electric counterpart" to the iconic Golf GTI Clubsport. 

Dubbed the ID.3 GTX Performance, it is a high-performance variant based on the ID.3 electric-powered hatchback currently sold in other markets. 

Specific to the new GTX Performance is a 79-kilowatt-hour battery positioned in the center of the vehicle's chassis. The said battery unit supplies power to an enhanced version of the Volkswagen Performance drive system with a maximum output of 321 horsepower and 545 Newton-meters of torque. 

With the kind of numbers the electric-powered hot hatch can generate, Volkswagen says it is way more peppier compared to its most powerful V6 turbocharged internal combustion engines (ICE). Furthermore, the brand claims the vehicle can accelerate to 100 kilometers per hour from a standstill in just 5.7 seconds. 

While potent, the vehicle may likewise prove to be a practical vehicle for daily driving and road trips due to its Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure-indicated range of 601 kilometers. It also boasts fast direct-current charging capabilities, which can take its battery levels from 10-80 percent in just 26 minutes. 

Agility and handling for the all-new ID.3 variant are ensured by a Vehicle Dynamics Manager, which is able to adjust the high-performance electric car’s suspension in real time. The GTX also received the same progressive steering system from the regular ID.3, as well as a MacPherson strut front suspension and a five-link axle for the rear. 

To fit its sporty nature, the German marque gave the ID.3 GTX Performance black-colored exterior bits, a set of 20-inch Skagen GTX wheels, bolstered sports seats, and red contrast stitching, among others. 

For tech, the vehicle has a 12.9-inch floating-type infotainment system with a ChatGTP-powered (artificial intelligence) voice assistant. Sound is fed into the car’s cabin by a Harman Kardon speaker set, and it is also kitted out with a slew of advanced driver-assist features. 

At the moment, the Wolfsburg-headquartered car maker says it is already accepting pre-orders for the ID.3 GTX Performance in Germany. For those curious, the hatch is priced at 52,295 Euros or P3.279 million at current exchange rates. 

While the high-performance electric hatch sounds exciting on paper, there are still no signs of the ID.3 or any fully-electric Volkswagen model coming to the Philippines. Conversely, the brand’s local arm offers a lineup of ICE models, such as the Santana, T-Cross, Lamando, Lavida, Tharu, and Santana GTS. 

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