Volkswagen’s new electric hot hatch delivers more power than the Golf GTI [Images]

This one is about cars, not home energy upgrades, but here's what happened. Volkswagen unveiled the ID.3 GTI, an electric hot hatch built to mark 50 years of the GTI badge. It's VW's most powerful GTI yet, with 322 horsepower and 402 lb-ft of torque sent to the rear wheels, and it can go from 0 to 62 mph in 5.6 seconds. That edges out the gas-powered Golf GTI Edition 50 on power, though the gas version is slightly quicker off the line.

The car uses a 79 kWh battery pack, the larger option available in the related ID.3 Neo, giving it up to 373 miles of range under European testing standards. It can fast-charge from 10% to 80% in about 29 minutes on a 183 kW charger. Inside, it gets a bigger touchscreen, a redesigned instrument display, and a return of physical buttons alongside the usual GTI styling touches like red trim and sport seats.

Volkswagen plans to open pre-sales in early 2027. Pricing hasn't been announced, but it's expected to cost somewhat more than the related ID. Polo GTI, which starts around $45,000 in Germany. For homeowners, there's no direct tie-in here unless you're weighing an EV purchase alongside home charging plans, in which case the battery size and charging speed are the numbers worth noting for how it would fit your driving and charging routine.