Electric GTI, Volkswagen's big mistake!

Just as you don’t mix oil and water in an engine, you don’t mix GTI and electric in a Volkswagen.

At Volkswagen, there is currently an unsettling wind of panic blowing. First and foremost, there are rumors of factory closures in Germany. As you know well, when everyone is relaying a rumor, it’s no longer just a rumor but indeed information.

Then there are incomprehensible ranges of vehicles, as illustrated by the case of the ID. Buzz. In just a few weeks, we have seen a sporty GTX version and a low-cost version! There’s also the Golf, which leaves us wondering if the eighth generation is a new model or simply an upgraded seventh generation. We have GTE hybrids that are cheaper and more efficient than thermal GTIs and ID.3s that settle the score in terms of power. In short, it’s only when Volkswagen does Volkswagen things with affordable and well-equipped Polos that we catch a glimpse of the brand’s DNA.

And in this DNA, there is GTI. GTI is the promise of a car that instantly brings a smile to your face and sends shivers down your spine. Of course, a 2020s GTI is not a 1970s GTI. It is now heavier but also infinitely safer and more performance-oriented. A GTI has a finely tuned chassis, tartan upholstery, and a gasoline engine that vibrates and makes noise. A GTI goes Vroom, contrary to what Volkswagen seems to think now! Yes, at Mobiwisy we advocate for the electric transition every day, but we have a heart and, above all, a car culture, which does not seem to be the case for Volkswagen’s advertisers.

This morning we stumbled upon an Instagram post of absolutely bad taste. Everything that should not be done! First, the little twist about driving at 50km/h on the ring road is a bit too easy, and you know how we feel about those ads placed around the Paris loop that distract drivers’ attention. Eyes leaving the road for a few seconds increases the risk of an accident. All this just confirms that the German manufacturer has not given up on its stupid idea of an electric GTI. Sure, there are electric Turbo Porsches, but before designating a mechanical element, Turbo comes from Latin and indicates a rapid rotary motion. An electric motor spins fast, so we can validate that. The I in GTI, which stands for Injection, however, needs to be explained to us regarding what it’s doing in an electric car! It especially needs to be explained to the thousands of fans of the historic GTI who still attended this year’s GTI FanFest.

We were excited a few days ago that Volkswagen had found its way with the electric sporty GTX range. It seems we were mistaken or worse, we were misled…