Volkswagen Polo GTI to be axed, no word on its ID. Polo GTI EV replacement for Australia

The petrol-powered Volkswagen Polo GTI baby hot hatch will soon be no more in both Australia and abroad, with production of the current model to cease in the coming months.

"As part of Volkswagen’s broader product evolution, the Polo GTI with an internal combustion engine is planned to conclude in Australia with model year 2027. We have a limited number of new Polo GTI vehicles remaining in Australia, along with a handful of demonstrators," a spokesperson for VW Australia said to CarExpert in a statement.

"Given ongoing demand, availability will vary by location and is expected to change over time. Customers interested in a Polo GTI are encouraged to contact their local Volkswagen dealer for the latest availability."

Volkswagen Australia typically changes over model years around August-September, though production of these vehicles usually takes place months before. The Polo GTI has been a mainstay in Australia since 2005, debuting Down Under with the Mk4 Polo.

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The news comes after Volkswagen revealed the new electric ID. Polo GTI, due to go on pre-sale in Germany during the northern hemisphere's autumn – or September to November inclusive.

VW's new electric hot hatch boasts a 166kW/290Nm electric motor driving the front wheels, fed by a standard 52kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion battery pack. Zero to 100km/h takes a claimed 6.8 seconds, while WLTP driving range is rated at up to 424km.

By comparison, the outgoing ICE Volkswagen Polo GTI features a 147kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine in Australian-spec, good for a claimed 0-100km/h sprint of... 6.8 seconds. Drive is likewise sent to the front wheels, though the petrol version sends drive to the tarmac via a six-speed 'DSG' dual-clutch automatic.

The launch of the ID. Polo GTI aligns with the 50th anniversary of VW's GTI badge, which first adorned the Golf in 1976. While the combustion-powered Polo is expected to live on with a substantial reskin to launch in the coming 12-18 months, the GTI may remain EV-only going forward.

Earlier this week Volkswagen Australia's head of product as well as the brand's local director, told CarExpert the ID. Polo range isn't locked in for our market just yet, given the price and range expectations of Australian EV customers particularly in the more budget-conscious segments.

"For us to be successful from a volume perspective and make sure our dealers get to sell as many cars as they can, we need to fall on that curve at some point. The segment size also makes a difference," said Arjun Nidigallu, head of product for VW Passenger Vehicles Australia.

"We're not against non-SUVs – I think because how much of a focus there is on SUVs at the moment, that could be a misapprehension – but certainly we're on the lookout, it just has to make market sense from a range, pricing and packaging perspective."

Piergiorgio Minto, director for VW Passenger Vehicles Australia, added: "It's a question of the segment size and the market potential. In this case it's quite different [to other models] because you know better than me that Australia has a stronger SUV segment... so it's a completely different structure of the market [to Europe] with different pricing".

"We are having a look into every model that we have [globally], and we will decide case by case whether it makes sense or not to add it [to the Australian lineup]. Generally, everything that is electrified will always get priority."

The Volkswagen Group has confirmed four new affordable EVs based on the cheaper MEB+ dedicated electric vehicle platform – similar to how the MQB A0 platform, which underpins the combustion-powered Polo and Skoda Fabia, is a more cost-effective iteration of the VW Golf and Audi A3's MQB evo platform.

Spanish subsidiary Cupra has led the development on this platform, and subsequently revealed the Raval hatchback around the same time as Volkswagen revealed its ID. Polo. Both will be built at Seat and Cupra's home of Martorell, Spain, just northwest of Barcelona.

Czech-based brand Skoda also just revealed its take on the MEB+ 'toolkit' earlier this week with the Epiq compact SUV, set to also go into production later this year with pricing expected to be similar to the existing combustion-powered Kamiq SUV. Skoda Australia has already earmarked a 2027 launch, too.

Volkswagen will add a second vehicle on this architecture too, with the ID. Cross due to be revealed later this year. The small crossover will be to the ID. Polo what the T-Cross is to the existing Polo, with similar specs and range (up to 155kW and 420km of WLTP range).

All four models are part of the VW Group's 'Brand Group Core' initiative to make "targeted use of synergies and economies of scale in order to be able to offer particularly attractive electric cars in Europe, both technically and in terms of price".

The four initial EV models spawned from the MEB+ architecture all target a starting price around €25,000 (~A$40,700) in their most attainable form. While a direct conversion doesn't make these vehicles seem all that attainable, it's a critical price point in the European market similar to the $30,000 barrier in Australia.

In 2027, the Volkswagen brand is set to introduce an even cheaper EV based on the ID. EVERY1 concept, a spiritual successor to the Up! micro car, with a targeted European starting price of €20,000 (~A$32,500).

Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest, and share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

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