You have heard of the GTI Assembly devoted to followers of the sporty compact mannequin. It is a custom that goes again to the early Nineteen Eighties for an annual occasion held in Wörthersee, earlier than relocating to Wolfsburg in 2024. Volkswagen is trying to create an identical custom for the absolutely electrical ID.3 GTX with the ID. Assembly in Locarno, Switzerland. For this 12 months, it constructed a one-off automobile that fuses the 2 sorts of scorching hatchbacks.
This ID.3 GTX Fireplace+Ice is a tribute to the second-generation Golf Fireplace and Ice of which 16,700 items have been made. Because of in style demand, VW needed to lengthen manufacturing in comparison with the unique 10,000-unit run. The Nineties particular version was bought in several flavors, considered one of which was based mostly on the GTI. Very similar to the unique, the EV is a joint effort between the automaker and Bogner, a Munich-based trend model.
Though the triple-layer paint end with particular glass beads represents the principle spotlight right here, one thing else caught our consideration. Step inside and it seems just like the entrance seats have built-in jackets. Pull down the zippers to disclose a distinct upholstery, harkening again to the material utilized by the Golf Fireplace and Ice many years in the past. The seats are by far the best factor concerning the inside for the reason that relaxation is commonplace ID.3 affair: an enormous pill protruding from the dashboard and minimal conventional switchgear.
VW did attempt to spice issues up by placing hearth and ice logos on the accelerator and brake pedals, respectively. On the common ID.3, there are play and pause icons. The hearth and ice theme is accentuated by a mix of pink and blue accents in addition to a laser-engraved “Fireplace + Ice” sample all through the cabin. This ID.3 GTX will stay a singular automobile as there are not any intentions for a limited-run particular version.
The not-for-America ID.3 may not reside to see a second era since VW is already dropping hints the electric-only Golf Mk9 will take its place within the lineup. Paradoxically, the ID.3 changed the e-Golf just a few years in the past.
Earlier this 12 months, the corporate’s Technical Growth boss Kai Grünitz mentioned: “There may be not sufficient house to have two or three completely different fashions becoming to the identical buyer. We have began to work on a totally electrical Golf. We’ve got concrete concepts of the way it will appear to be, however we’ll see how the market develops.”
Whereas the next-gen Golf is anticipated to reach nearer to the tip of the last decade, the present fuel mannequin would possibly stick round till 2035. If that occurs, VW will promote two completely different generations of the Golf for a number of years.
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