VW’s Electric Rabbit is a Critical Moment – Here’s How To Do It Right

By Phil Royle — Sept. 5, 2023

Every vehicle I’ve ever owned has been carefully acquired. While none have been particularly collectable, all have piqued my car-nut interest. From a Pontiac Fiero to an NA Mazda Miata, FC RX-7, XJ Jeep Cherokee, and more, the vehicles that have gotten me through life have not been rich in monetary value, but they’ve all held a level of currency amongst enthusiasts and – most importantly – made me smile while driving. And some of those biggest smiles came behind the wheel of a 1985 Volkswagen Scirocco.

My appreciation for water-cooled Volkswagens always existed, but it wasn’t until the early 2000s when I worked for a scrappy European car tuning publication that I got the hankerin’ to pony up cash for one. The market being what it was at the time, Mk3 Golfs and Jettas were the most accessible, but I wanted something more hardcore, so my search centered on a Rabbit Pickup or a Scirocco – and you already know how that story ends.

But the reason any of Volkswagen’s vehicles caught my – and the entire U.S. enthusiast market’s – attention was because of the original GTI.

Why does any of this matter?

How do you know when a company’s serious about something? It’s the moment the company tosses its most valued asset into the mix with seemingly careless disregard. When Ford emblazoned the Mustang logo on its first true modern EV, the Mach-E, Ford knew there’d be fallout from their most passionate fans who still roll down A1A Beachfront Avenue in their 5-point-0s – but Ford committed. And now with Volkswagen’s ID. GTI concept, Wolfsburg’s most diehard fans are standing face to face with their own “come to EV” moment.

Done right, the ID. GTI could be Volkswagen’s ticket back into the hearts of Mk1- and Mk2-loving enthusiasts.

What did my Scirocco excel at? Nothing in particular – it was its well-rounded package that made it shine. Mine was an 8v model that dyno’d at nearly 90 hp to the wheels after some basic mods, but because of short gearing and its light weight, it held its own around town and on the track. And when one cylinder went caput, it made the daily commute on three cylinders for months on end. At the same time, the versatility of the hatchback allowed me to transport an eight-foot tree without the need for a pickup. It was the scrappy jack-of-all-trades that I wanted to be.

With the Mk3, VW began to stray from the Mk1 and Mk2 path of righteousness, and by the time the Mk5 hit the market, I’d lost interest in the brand. The Mk8 GTI, meanwhile, is an eyecatcher that has turned my head numerous times. And now with a fully electric GTI hatchback poised to materialize, we stand at the precipice of a potentially generationally-defining moment for the entire Volkswagen brand. More so than even the ID. Buzz is capable of.

Done right, the ID. GTI is perhaps the only electric vehicle that can prove that front-wheel-drive EVs can be fun, functional, and fantastic, reigniting a “Drivers Wanted” spark for the brand that still exists in the hearts of nearly every diehard automotive enthusiast.

How? Weight needs to be watched, charging curves need to be pushed to the limits, durability needs to be second-to-none – and a real, honest-to-goodness mechanical differential (dare I say Quaife) needs to be installed up front. Don’t chase a solitary false god of outright acceleration, chase “fun.”

The classic golf ball “shifter” being used as the interface for the “GTI Experience Control” is a good start at calling back to the GTI’s roots, but VW needs to go all-in on the ID. GTI and build another Mk1- or Mk2-level car that sets the front-wheel-drive mark for VW and EVs for generations to come. What this means for VW: Chuck the augmented reality head-up display you teased at the ID. GTI concept unveiling and make this a driver’s car. Make me smile again.

(Images courtesy Volkswagen)