VW ID. GTI Concept offers early look at future electric GTI

As the Golf GTI and Golf R bid farewell to the manual gearbox in the U.S.A, another more significant change was apparently already being planned for the GTI name.

And this is the first manifestation of that change. It's called the Volkswagen ID. GTI Concept, and makes its official unveiling at IAA Munich, not only confirming that Volkswagen will be retaining the 'GTI' nameplate, but also offering us all a first look at what a future GTI from the firm could look like.

The Volkswagen ID. GTI Concept gets 20-inch rims, side skirts, a roof spoiler and an illuminated VW badge at the rear

Bemoan the loss of combustion power all you like, but there's no denying that this concept is one looker.

The concept car is said to have taken the Mk1 Golf GTI for inspiration, and there's plenty of GTI-iconic design touches here, including the use of a red accent piece in the 'radiator grille'. This touch sits below a VW logo that is illuminated in white.

Further down, the Volkswagen ID. GTI Concept also gets an air intake sporting a honeycomb pattern, a touch utilised on more modern iterations of the hot hatch including the Mk8 Golf GTI. This front bumper is also home to a pair of irresistibly sporty red tow hooks.

The lower bumper of the concept car houses a honeycomb air intake as well as sporty red tow hooks

The concept is also fitted with eight-spoke, 20-inch rims, which sit within flared wheel arch housings that come finished in matte black.

At the rear, the Volkswagen ID. GTI Concept is finished with a sizeable rear spoiler as well as full-width taillights interrupted by a VW badge (here illuminated in red) at the centre. The two-part rear diffuser here comes finished in black and is described as a nod to the black bumper that rests at the rear of the first Golf GTI.

Volkswagen states that the 12.9-inch infotainment system as the air-conditioning control block utilised in this concept are already near-production items

In the cabin, the Volkswagen ID. GTI Concept is positively sporty. The three-spoke steering wheel gets an illuminated 12 o'clock marker, while the centre console here sports a multifunction control dial which Volkswagen terms as the 'GTI Experience Control', finished with the golf ball dimpling that has traditionally adorned the gear shifters of GTIs. The control dial will now offer users access to the car's various driving profiles.

A head-up display that utilises augmented reality technology and projects onto the entire windscreen also features in the concept, allowing the front passenger to also join in on the action. Bringing us a little closer back to the present day, Volkswagen states that the 12.9-inch infotainment system as well as the air-conditioning control block utilised here are already near-production items.

No details as to the powertrain of this ID. GTI Concept are being offered, save for the fact that power will remain being sent to the wheels at the front axle (The firm's GTX models such as this ID.4 GTX will lead the all-wheel drive front).

Still feel like you need to get your own Golf GTI 380?