A MAJOR car brand is set to discontinue its entire range of performance EVs – after just over two years.
However, that doesn’t mean the end of its sporty electric motors, with some of its most iconic models still defined for IV treatment.
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German giant Volkswagen has revealed that it will retire its GTX brand for EVs – to make way for its first electric GTI and R models.
The surprising change will likely mean that VW will no longer release cars in the GTX lineup, although there doesn’t appear to be a plan to rebrand any of its current lineup.
In an interview with Autocar, VW CEO Thomas Schafer confirmed that the brand will be discontinued.
He said: “GTX is MEB’s performance brand [platform]but we will return to the GTI and R in the next products going forward.”
The GTX badge was first introduced in 2021 for the top-of-the-line versions of VW’s ID4 and ID5 SUVs, and has since been used across the entire ID family – including the ID3, ID7 and ID Buzz.
Schafer also hinted to Autocar that VW is investigating the future of the traditional GTI brand.
Last year, the German manufacturer revealed its ID GTI concept – an electric successor to the iconic Golf Hot hatch GTI should go on sale in 2027.
It’s not yet known whether the badge will be rolled out to other electric VWs, which is currently only for uprated versions of the Polo and Golf.
Schafer added: “The question is, how do we position the GTI? The GTI is traditionally performance and front-wheel drive.”
VW isn’t the only brand looking to change the way it names its engines, as BMW recently revealed a tweak to 50 years of tradition.
And elsewhere, petrolheads have been urged to look for a classic, modern hatchback that’s “fun to drive” and won’t break the bank.
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