VW ID. GTI Concept will project the Nürburgring on the windscreen for that perfect GTI drive

VW has embraced the shift to electric power, with the ID.3 kicking things off — now in its second generation — with a number of GTX editions spicing things up a bit and giving a little more power. But brands like VW face a predicament when it comes to updating the models it's best known for: anything with GTI on the back is iconic, with the Golf GTI the most iconic of all.

The ID. GTI Concept is based on the ID.2all concept that VW showed earlier in the year, so that could make this a little more compact than the Golf, about 100mm shorter. And yes, I'm talking about the ID. GTI as though it's a real car — because it is. VW has already committed to bringing this car to production and from what I see, it probably won't have too many changes.

Of course, the name doesn't make sense — Grand Touring Injection — because without an engine, what are you injecting? So instead, VW is now saying that it stands for Grand Touring Intelligence, sidestepping that hangover of gasoline engines and giving it a reasonable excuse to hang on to the nameplate.

What VW isn't actually giving us here is any detail on the performance. There's talk about it being fast, but interestingly, because it's built on the ID.2all Concept, it's front-wheel drive as other VW GTIs have been. So this isn't about making the fastest hot hatch around, it's about affordable performance. That's one of the reasons the Golf GTI was so popular: you'd get blistering performance without buying a sportscar.

Instead VW is going to use that intelligence from the name to control the front axle, using a differential lock that's electronically controlled to ensure that all the power is dumped through the wheels with traction staying under control. Exactly how much power remains to be detailed.

Through the exterior, the ID. GTI Concept picks up on a number of GTI and motorsport themes, with unique bumpers, a rear splitter and GTI spoiler, and rides on unique 20-inch wheels. The lights are also adjusted to be unique to the GTI model, with the closed front grille hemmed in red to carry on the tradition from GTI models of the past.

The interior of the car gives a nod to the checkered pattern of the GTI seats, while