• Volkswagen reveals all about the upcoming ID.3 GTI
• It’s the second model in the lineup to wear the marque’s famous badge
• Rear-wheel drive and its weight could deter the faithful

Volkswagen has taken the wraps off its highly anticipated ID.3 GTI, arguably the closest thing we will get to a fully electrified Golf GTI until the German marque decides to make one.

This is the second model in the lineup to wear the famous performance badge, after VW announced that the smaller ID. Polo would also be given the red-hot treatment.

Volkswagen says the ID.3 GTI will follow the ID. Polo GTI into production, with the former due to launch in the first quarter of 2027.

It’s also a sign that Volkswagen is getting more serious about this high-performance electric stuff, after pussyfooting around with the slightly warmer but very confusing GTX badging on earlier ID.3s and, perhaps most bizarre of all, the ID. Buzz.

But soon, customers will be able to get behind the wheel of an all-electric hatchback that boasts 240 kW (326 hp), 545 Nm (403 lb-ft) of torque and a 0-62 mph sprint time of just 5.6 seconds. As a show of defiance, the ID.3 GTI has one horsepower more than the previously most potent Golf GTI Edition 50.

But unlike any other GTI model in history, power from the single motor is delivered to the rear wheels, while engineers told Evo Magazine that they tweaked the software to prevent those rear tires from spinning up when the full force of the torque is unleashed, even with traction control deactivated.

Unlike the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and 6 N, as well as the cheeky little Honda Super N, Volkswagen hasn’t decided to offer simulated gear shifts to increase driver engagement, but it has introduced fake engine noise into the cabin to crank up the sportiness.

While the exterior now comes in the famous Tornado Red GTI paint color and sports some bespoke 20-inch alloy wheels, the majority of the performance touches have been added inside the cabin, where tartan-style upholstery and a big GTI button on the steering wheel give the game away.

Volkswagen claims that despite the performance on tap, its ID.3 GTI will still manage 373 miles on a single charge, although peak charging speeds are capped at 183 kW, making it difficult to perform the sort of rapid, track-day battery top-ups that Hyundai’s high-performance EVs are capable of.

Analysis: A tough crowd to please

Volkswagen has more than 50 years of GTI history, and nearly all of those vehicles sporting the famous badge have been celebrated by fans, owners and journalists alike.

From the first Golf GTI in 1975 to the more recent Edition 50, they’ve all delivered scampering, front-wheel-drive thrills alongside Volkswagen’s comfort, build quality, usability and purposefully restrained styling. Fans can argue all day long about which iteration was the GOAT, but it’s generally agreed that they are all some of the best hot hatches ever made.

Attempting to transfer this badge into the electric era was always going to be a tough ask, as everything that made some of the best GTIs legendary is missing here.

According to Top Gear, the new ID.3 GTI weighs around two tons, which is a good 500kg heavier than even the weightiest ICE Golfs, while the decision to send power to the rear wheels will fundamentally alter the way this electric GTI behaves.

Couple this with the lack of synthesized (or real) gear shifting and other technological wizardry that makes Hyundai and Honda’s performance EVs feel more engaging, and what we are left with might be the fastest and most powerful ID.3, but is it really a true Golf GTI successor?

I’d love to be proven wrong, but I feel Volkswagen is going to have a tough time convincing petrolheads to ditch their Mark 7 Golf GTIs and climb into this.

• Garmin has redesigned its Drive sat-nav with a new display
• EV drivers are now catered for
• Optional Truck and Camper Pack adds specialist routing

Despite the seemingly unending rise in the use of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as smartphone apps like Waze and Here WeGo for navigation, Garmin has seen fit to completely redesigned its Drive automotive GPS unit. It's just given the traditional dashboard navigation device a much-needed modern makeover with an ultra-wide display, more connected features and dedicated tools for EV drivers.

The new device comes in 7.1-inch and 8.8-inch versions, both using a high-resolution ultra-wide display with edge-to-edge glass. Garmin says the low-profile design is intended to be "unobtrusive to the driver’s line of sight", while making it easier to see the route and upcoming road information at a glance.

It is sleeker, crisper and generally nicer to look at than Garmin’s existing car navigation range, which includes devices such as the 5-inch Garmin Drive 53 and the 6-inch DriveSmart 66.

The new Drive models are designed to put considerably more information into the driver’s eye line without making the device taller or bulkier. The new Drive is also considerably more connected than the basic satellite navigation systems of old, which often required a SIM card to receive the latest traffic data.

Now, Garmin says drivers can select routes and destinations directly from the map, with voice commands and touch controls available for navigation via a connected smartphone (with data) and the Garmin Drive app.

The device can also highlight upcoming traffic lights and stop signs, while also warning about sharp curves in the road, changes in speed limits, school zones and other potential hazards.

There’s live traffic and weather information, as well as the ability to search for and share points of interest. TripAdvisor ratings are on board for hotels, restaurants and attractions, and the maps and software can be updated over Wi-Fi, too.

The biggest change for EV drivers, though, is the addition of more detailed charging information.

Garmin Drive can locate EV charging stations along a route, with the ability to filter them by charging power and see live availability. For drivers of gasoline-powered cars, meanwhile, the connected Garmin Drive app can provide dynamic fuel prices.

The Garmin Drive units are available in both 8.8-inch and 7.1-inch sizes and suggested retail prices start from $299.99 / £249.99 (or around AU$415).

Keep on truckin'

Garmin has increased the breadth of the Drive’s capabilities with optional packs that are aimed at professional drivers and more specialist motoring requirements.

Owners can purchase the optional Truck and Camper Pack for a one-time $149.99 / £129.99 / (around AU$208) fee, unlocking features aimed at professional truck drivers and people traveling in campers, motorhomes and caravans.

The pack adds routing based on a vehicle's height, weight, length and load, as well as warnings for steep grades, sharp curves and weight restrictions. It also adds high-resolution satellite imagery that can help drivers identify loading docks, truck entrances, security gates and campsites before they arrive.

There's a dedicated directory of motorhome and caravan parks and services, plus a wind-speed overlay that can warn about potentially hazardous crosswind conditions. Truck drivers can also access Dēzl Community ratings to find preferred truck stops and parking locations.

While the standard Google Maps app doesn’t account for large vehicles, the tech company does offer software developer kits that cater for this sort of thing, while there are several dedicated route-planners online for oversized vehicles.

Plus, there’s an argument that says Google Maps, Apple Maps and Waze all offer the same — if not more — functionality than Garmin’s Drive unit.

But for those with older vehicles, or drivers that simply want a dedicated sat-nav or GPS device, the new Garmin Drive represents a sizable leap forward in design and technology.