Volkswagen has confirmed it’s not ditching its legendary model names as it goes electric.
The German brand recently launched what could be its last brand-new petrol car, but instead of replacing classics with forgettable names, VW says it’ll carry its famous badges into the EV era.
First up is the Polo. From 2026, the new ID.2 electric hatchback will officially be called the ID.Polo, and yes, there’ll be a hot hatch version too: the ID.Polo GTI.
This marks the end of VW’s old EV naming system (ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, etc.) and means future cars will revive some big names. Expect the next Golf to be the ID.Golf, with models like Tiguan, Touareg, Up! and maybe even the Beetle all getting electric rebirths.
VW says these names are part of people’s lives and memories, and they want to keep that connection. After all, the Polo has been around since 1975 and over 20 million have been sold worldwide.
What to expect from the ID.Polo:
- Price will start at around £22,000 with a €25,000 cap promised
- Range is expected to be about 280 miles per charge
- Top speed will be 99mph
- It will come with a choice of 38kWh or 56kWh batteries
- Charging speeds will reach up to 125kW
The ID.Polo GTI takes it up a notch with 223bhp, making it the first electric VW to wear the GTI badge. It’s based on the 2023 ID.GTI concept and promises proper hot hatch fun, just without the petrol.
VW will reveal both cars in full at the Munich Motor Show next week, along with the ID.Cross Concept, an all-electric alternative to the T-Cross that will land in 2026.
