Although Volkswagen’s official line was that it had no plans to sell the adorable, all-electric, and searing hot ID.GTI in the U.S., that appears to have been a less definitive statement than it may seem. That’s because the company’s American division is actively lobbying to make those plans come together.
Unveiled at the Munich Motor Show, the ID.GTI is a conceptual look at what an ID.2 GTI might look like. Power ratings have not yet been revealed for the concept car, but VW did reveal that it will have a single motor to power the front wheels that should make more than the standard ID.2’s 228 hp (170 kW / 231 PS).
If the idea of a small, front-wheel drive VW with a mighty motor at the front and GTI styling all sounds good to you, you aren’t alone. Pablo Di Si, the CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, told Car and Driver that he is working hard to get the model into the U.S. market.
More: VW ID. GTI Concept Is A Hot ID.2 With Fake Gearshifts That’s Coming In 2026
“Everybody wants the car in the U.S.,” Di Si said. “It’s a concept car, but we’re working very closely with the team in Germany in terms of the design and the specs […] I think it could be a great car for the U.S.”
However, the executive admitted that there are requirements to be met before an American debut can be announced. For starters, he said that he needs to ensure that the “touch and feel” of the economy car will be up to U.S. consumers’ standards. He added that working with the engineers from the beginning of a project is how you achieve that, though.
Whether the power rating will be enough for American tastes will also have to be established. Given the diminutive size of the car, it’s unlikely that VW could stick another motor at the back to get more power out of it. However, with a gap in the U.S. lineup for a lower-priced EV, the production version of the ID.GTI may yet be able to find a spot for itself in North America.
“We are the people’s brand, so we need an entry-level electric vehicle, no ifs, no buts,” said Di Si. “Whether it is going to be the ID.2 or the GTI – whatever you want to call it – we need to have one. I like the GTI particularly because it brings the heritage of the brand in a smaller package, and a hopefully smaller price.”
