Volkswagen is preparing to officially unveil its first fully electric GTI model, marking a major milestone for one of the automotive industry’s most recognizable performance badges.

The company confirmed that the new ID. Polo GTI will debut on May 15, bringing the GTI nameplate into the EV era nearly 50 years after the original Golf GTI first launched in the 1970s.

Volkswagen first previewed the idea with the ID. GTI Concept shown at the IAA Mobility show in Munich in 2023. Since then, the company has gradually expanded its plans for an electric performance lineup built around its smaller EV platforms.

Now the production version is arriving.

The ID. Polo GTI will sit above the recently launched standard Volkswagen ID. Polo, which became the first model in Volkswagen’s new family of affordable electric vehicles earlier this month. While the standard ID. Polo focuses on efficiency and accessibility, the GTI version is designed to preserve the more playful driving character traditionally associated with Volkswagen’s hot hatchbacks.

According to Volkswagen, the electric GTI will use a front-mounted electric motor producing 222 horsepower, making it the most powerful Polo model the company has offered so far.

Like the standard ID. Polo, it will use a 52.2 kWh NMC battery pack with an estimated WLTP driving range of up to 484 km. In practical terms, that should allow enough range for daily driving and weekend trips while still prioritizing performance-oriented tuning over maximum efficiency.

Volkswagen is also developing a more aggressive Clubsport version.

Florian Umbach, the company’s head of driving dynamics, told Autocar that Volkswagen is working on a higher-performance variant with potentially around 282 horsepower. While official specifications have not yet been confirmed, Umbach suggested the current motor and battery hardware still have room for additional power and torque output.

That would place the Clubsport closer to modern compact performance EVs such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, although in a much smaller and lighter package.

One of the more interesting details is Volkswagen’s apparent interest in simulated gear shifting.

Umbach confirmed the company is exploring a paddle-shift-style system similar to Hyundai’s N e-Shift technology, which mimics traditional gear changes using software-generated torque modulation and synthetic sound effects. Hyundai introduced the feature on the Ioniq 5 N and Hyundai Ioniq 6 N as a way to recreate some of the engagement drivers associate with gasoline performance cars.

The idea remains somewhat controversial among enthusiasts.

Some drivers view simulated shifting and artificial engine sounds as unnecessary gimmicks in EVs, while others argue they help make electric performance cars feel more interactive and emotionally engaging. Several automakers, including BMW and Porsche, are reportedly exploring similar systems for future EVs.

Volkswagen’s approach may fit naturally within the GTI brand’s identity, particularly since the ID. Polo already includes retro-inspired digital displays that reference classic Golf GTI models.

Pricing is expected to position the ID. Polo GTI above the standard lineup but below larger premium performance EVs. The regular ID. Polo is scheduled to start at around €25,000 in Europe, while the GTI variant is expected to begin closer to €38,000. The higher-performance Clubsport version could reach €40,000 to €45,000 depending on final specifications.

The launch also arrives during a broader transition for Volkswagen’s EV strategy.

This week, CEO Thomas Schäfer confirmed that the long-awaited electric Volkswagen Golf EV has been delayed beyond its previously expected 2028 launch timeline. That places additional importance on the ID. Polo GTI as Volkswagen’s first major attempt to translate one of its traditional performance sub-brands into the electric era.

For Volkswagen, the ID. Polo GTI represents more than just another EV launch. It is an early test of whether iconic performance badges like GTI can successfully evolve alongside changing powertrain technology while still maintaining the driving character that made them popular in the first place.