It seems that the popular hot hatchbacks, the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R, are on their last leg of using the ICE powertrain. The German carmaker has recently revealed that the new-gen Golf GTI and Golf R will be purely electric.

Read the newly uncovered details about the upcoming Golf GTI car below.

Meanwhile, you can also check out the top used Volkswagen Golf cars in the UAE with CARS24.

Also read: The 2025 Cadillac OPTIQ has arrived in UAE with 492 km of range

Will the Volkswagen Golf GTI go electric by 2030?

In a recent interaction with the UK-based Autoexpress, Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schafer has confirmed that the upcoming generation Golf GTI and Golf R models will go fully electric.

As per the published report, the German carmaker will carry on with the petrol powertrains on the Golf models till the end of this decade before the new generation is fully developed.

Schafer also revealed that the development of the new Golf GTI is already underway, and it is going to be “a monster” of a car when it makes it to production.

While the CEO did not reveal the minor details, he did mention that the Golf GTI will be a FWD car with an electric drivetrain. Additionally, it will be very fun to drive as well.

Meanwhile, the Golf R, which will also share its underpinnings with the Golf GTI, will feature a more aggressive state of tune, higher performance, and better driver feedback.

Upcoming Volkswagen Golf GTI will use a new platform

As per the online details, the new-gen Golf GTI will use an 800V-SSP (Scalable Systems Platform), which will feature the upcoming Golf electric range and other future EV models.

As far as the battery and performance are concerned, it is highly likely that the new Golf GTI will feature a front-wheel drivetrain, coupled with the battery derived from the current ID.3 GTX model.

Mind you, the ID.3 GTX uses a 321 bhp electric motor, which is mounted to its rear axle. 

Schafer also said that he has driven the ID.2 GTI prototype model, which is very fun to drive and is expected to share mechanical parts with the upcoming generation of the Golf GTI.

The official debut timeline of the new-gen Golf GTI electric is set by 2026 end.

Also read: 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross facelift debuts, coming soon to UAE

Our conclusion

The current gen Volkswagen Golf GTI is a popular car in the UAE market. Known for its spacious cabin and fun-to-drive performance, we can safely assume that Volkswagen will launch the electric Golf GTI and Golf R in the UAE by 2030. Meanwhile, the current-gen model is likely to get a facelift in the coming years.

FAQs

1. When will the new-gen Volkswagen Golf GTI Electric launch?

The new-gen Volkswagen Golf GTI Electric will be revealed internationally in 2026, while its UAE launch is expected by 2030.

2. Will the new-gen Volkswagen Golf GTI be completely electric?

Yes, the upcoming generation model of the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R will be fully electric.

3. Will the new-gen Volkswagen Golf R be better than the Golf GTI electric?

Yes, the upcoming generation of the Volkswagen Golf R electric will feature more aggressive performance, dynamics, and design than the Golf GTI electric.