According to Grunitz, Volkswagen’s first electric GTI will be “a real go kart” to drive. He’s already driven a prototype, claiming, “It’s really amazing.”
You can see the concept pulls design features from VW’s classic GTI models. However, the company promises new tech will enable even more control and handling for that “go kart” like feel.
Much want
Starting at 27,000 dollars though. I wish more effort was put into dropping the price as low as possible. The industry knows that a cheap car would sell huge volumes, but with CAFE, small cars are not where the profit is.
27,000 would be among the cheapest new cars available. We’ve come a long way from when EVs cost more than ICE models.
Yes, though my comment was more pointed to how the CAFE regulations incentivize auto manufacturers to create larger vehicles for the higher profits. If the US didn’t start leaning towards trucks and SUVs back then and instead kept innovating what cars could be, the competition in the compact car space would have driven prices further down.
The fact that 27k is considered among the cheapest new cars is partially a result of automakers discontinuing their cars in favour of larger vehicles with juicier profits.
I dont like large vehicles either and the trend. But $27k is still not that high, inflation just makes it seem that way. A new RAV4 is cheaper than they were in the 90s despite being s bigger and more premium now.
27k today is the equivalent to $13500 in 1996. I’m guessing the new GTI will be a lot nicer than what you got back then, thats the price of a base Cavalier.
Batteries and electric motors are still pretty expensive to manufacture. I don’t think a budget EV would be available until a new, cheaper battery tech comes out.
You’re right they are expensive components, though I’d point out the battery tends to be the cost leader of the drive train by a significant margin. The motors are increasing over time, but not enough to surpass the battery.
Drive traintrain cost breakdown:
With this in mind, the average electric car has range of 200 miles, with the most popular model pushing beyond 300. The battery could easily be cut in half in order to lower the vehicle cost.
Don’t get me wrong, I know half the battery doesn’t mean the car would be half the price, but it would be a good chunk. And in today’s market, every dollar saved matters.
I agree with the reduced battery idea, but you’ve got to consider that would significantly reduce the life of the battery and slightly reduce max torque output as well. For me that wouldn’t be as important, but for many people that’s a huge negative. They expect the battery to last as long as, say, a manual transmission.
Does it stull spy on you like none else?
Should have been called the GTEV or GTV (since the T already has the E sound in it)
Why call it a GTI when there’s no “I”?
Second link goes here where they elaborate a bit: https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/the-new-id-gti-concept-world-premiere-17587
GTI is a trademark for VW with some heritage. It carries some implications for potential buyers. Like Design elements, emotion, handling capabilities and reasonable pricing for a sportscar-like vehicle.
Thanks!
the letter “I” for injection in the GTI name now also stands for intelligence
Saved you a click.
Marketing people make up the stupidest shit. “Grand Turismo Intelligence”.
Why not just say “I” stands for current. It’s literally the symbol for that. So it’d be Grand Turismo, but electric.
