Paris Motor Show 2024 Live: VW ID.3 GTX is Wolfsburg’s electric hot hatch

The ID X concept, Volkswagen’s first hot hatch concept, was unveiled in May 2021. Nearly three years later, the VW ID.3 GTX has arrived as its production version and I got a chance to explore it in detail today at the 2024 Paris Motor Show. 20% of ID.4 and ID.5 sales in the Old Continent come from their respective GTX variants, and the ID.3’s performance variants also holds the chance to become popular that way. Here are my first impressions straight from Paris Expo Porte de Versailles:

Design

The VW ID.3 GTX has neat styling modifications to look sportier, mostly in the lower part all around. At the front, it has an exclusive bumper design with a gloss black air intake in a diamond-style arrangement. New daytime running lights comprising two LED triangles slotted on top of each other, resulting in an arrowhead shape, flank this grille.

On the sides, gloss black appears on the sills, roof trim, and mirror caps, as well as a special GTX badge on the front doors. The 20-inch Skagen GTX wheels distinguish the ID.3 GTX from the regular ID.3 to the greatest degree. As standard, they have gloss black-painted inner surfaces and bright diamond-cut outer surfaces. Volkswagen will give customers an option to specify them completely in black.

At the back, the ID.3 GTX repeats the front air intake’s diamond-style pattern on a faux diffuser. Moreover, this panel is finished in gloss black to further add to the car’s sporty look. In addition to a dynamic turn signal function, the combination lamps feature an independent night light design with illuminated LED strips in the tailgate. Lastly, this car has GTX branding instead ID.3 inscription on the tailgate.

Volkswagen will offer the ID.3 GTX in Kings red metallic, Grenadilla black metallic, Glacier white metallic, Moonstone grey, and Scale silver metallic colors. The company will sell it in standard and Performance trims and equip it with 215-section and 235-section tires in them, respectively.

Interior

Inside, the VW ID.3 GTX features sport seats with red decorative stitching and GTX lettering. These seats are upholstered with a new ‘Lurus’ fabric made from 100% recycled material and ArtTex leatherette. ergoActive seats with special red contrasting seams and piping, integrated headrests, power adjustment, memory function, and adjustable thigh support will be available optionally. These seats will feature dark ArtVelours Eco microfleece (comprising 71% recycled material) on the inner surfaces and leatherette on the outer surfaces.

Red stitching is present on the steering wheel, dashboard, and door panels as well. The steering wheel is distinguished by a red marker at the six o’clock position and features chrome GTX lettering as well. The ID.3 GTX doesn’t have the standard version’s drive selector in the housing of the instrument cluster. Instead, it features a steering column switch to select gears.

Also new in the ID.3 GTX is Volkswagen’s new 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with illuminated touch sliders for AC and volume control. This system integrates the new IDA voice assistant that can understand voice commands in natural language and answer using Wikipedia and ChatGPT.

My experience with the VW ID.3 GTX

Getting in and out of the VW ID.3 GTX was straightforward for me, thanks to the slightly raised floor. Once inside, I immediately noticed the sporty touches—red accents and GTX badges on the steering wheel and seats. I also appreciated the playful pause and play symbols on the pedals, which feel perfectly suited to the digital age and add a fun, modern touch to the car.

The seats felt supportive, with decent under-thigh support and secure bolstering, though the integrated headrests left me wishing for a bit more adjustability. As a six-footer, I found the headroom just okay, which is understandable for a hatchback. The steering wheel had a nice grip, and I was pleasantly surprised by the interior quality for a car in this class.

When I moved to the back seat, legroom was sufficient, but knee room and the knee-up seating position weren’t ideal for someone my height. The roofline tapers towards the rear, limiting headroom further, making it uncomfortable for taller passengers. While the flat floor was a plus, I wouldn’t recommend squeezing in three adults—it’s better suited for shorter passengers or kids.

Performance & Range

The VW ID.3 GTX sports the new APP 550 motor on the rear axle. In the standard trim, this motor generates 210 kW (282 hp) and 545 Nm (402 lb.-ft.) of torque, allowing the car to hit 0 to 62 mph in 5.9 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to 112 mph. In the Performance trim, the power goes up to 240 kW (322 hp), but the torque remains the same – 545 Nm (402 lb.-ft.). A 0-62 mph sprint takes 5.7 seconds, and the car can keep accelerating further until 124 mph (also electronically limited).

Manufactured in Kassel, Germany, the APP 550 permanent magnet synchronous motor in the ID.3 GTX draws energy from a new lithium-ion battery pack with a net energy storage capacity of 79 kWh. The new battery pack can accept charging at up to 185 kW. Charging it from 10 to 80% takes approximately 26 minutes. It delivers a WLTP range of 375 miles in the ID.3 GTX and 373 miles in the ID.3 GTX Performance.

Price

Prices of the VW ID.3 GTX in Germany start at EUR 47,225 (USD 51,605).

No GTX models for the U.S.

Volkswagen doesn’t plan to offer the ID.4 GTX in the U.S. However, it does provide similar performance in the ID.4 with an AWD configuration as an option. The company will not be introducing the Euro-focused ID.3 to the U.S. market, instead building up EV sales with utility vehicles and sedans such as the ID.4, ID. Buzz, the ID.7 sedan, and the ID.8 SUV.

Also Read: VW ID.3 SUV (ID.3 X) will compete with the Kona EV & Niro EV

TopElectricSUV says

The ID.3 GTX is Volkswagen’s calling for hot hatch lovers to adopt electric mobility. Targeted at customers who’d have normally chosen the Golf GTI or the Golf R, it must impress these driving enthusiasts with a potent powertrain that also allows quicker straight-line acceleration and comparable handling and engagement behind the wheel. Plus, for those concerned about post-purchase affordability, particularly due to rising fuel prices, there’d also be the added advantage of significantly lower running costs and cheaper maintenance.

VW ID.3 GTX FAQs