Combustion Power Will Remain Into the 2030s
The Volkswagen Golf GTI may have lost its manual transmission, but VW has no immediate plans to do away with the iconic hot hatchback itself even as it moves ahead with all-electric alternatives, according to brand CEO Thomas Schäfer. In a recent interview with VW enthusiast Jamie Orr, Schäfer said the current gasoline GTI will still be around well into the next decade, at least.
“Definitely in the 2030s, still strong presence of the ICE vehicles,” Schäfer said. However, he added that it will be “probably a little bit electrified,” without clarifying whether that would mean a hybrid or plug-in hybrid (like the Golf GTE sold in Europe), or a less-noticeable mild-hybrid powertrain.
Full Redesign Unlikely
It’s worth noting that this likely refers to the current Mk8 GTI, as the next-generation VW Golf hatch, due later this decade, is expected to be an EV. VW technical boss Kai Grünitz previously hinted that the Mk8 could be sold until European Union regulations effectively ending sales of combustion cars take effect in 2035.
That means VW could sell the current model alongside the new EV for a few years at least. That’s similar to Porsche’s strategy with the Macan, although it now appears the gasoline Macan will stick around for an indefinite period of time alongside the Macan Electric. The current Volvo XC90 is also intended to remain in the lineup for a while as a gasoline alternative to the EX90 and other EVs from the Swedish brand.
The Golf was once VW’s global bestseller, making a strong business case for the GTI derivative. But compact hatches are not as popular as they used to be; VW built more than one million Golf models (including wagons) in 2015, but that declined to 300,000 in 2024 and VW expects another drop to 250,000 units this year. It’s hard for VW to walk away from the GTI name, though.
Electric Hot Hatches On The Way
Volkswagen
VW has already previewed what an electric GTI could look like with the ID GTI concept. First shown in September 2023, it’s based on the ID.2all concept, itself previewing a cheaper electric hatch that would make the perfect basis for an electric hot hatch.
That may not be all. VW is also reportedly working on a more hardcore GTI Clubsport EV with 282 horsepower and a mechanical limited-slip differential, as well as an electric equivalent to the current Golf R, with four in-wheel motors developing 400 hp.
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