This is the latest addition to the GTI firmament – the ID.3 GTI gets 326hp, a 79kWh battery for 373 miles of WLTP range (contents may settle in transit, it hasn’t been properly homologated yet apparently) and a range of tasty upgrades over the standard version of the car. 

Performance figures include a 0–62mph time of 5.6secs and a top speed of 124mph if you’re into that sort of thing. 

The car comes with adaptive dampers as standard, and VW says that there’s ‘progressive’ steering and that the suspension has been upgraded to make the whole thing feel a bit more sporty. 

The GTI is of course based on the newly updated ID.3 Neo, but there are some performance related upgrades on top of the recent upgrades to the car. 

You get a red stripe on the steering wheel so that you know where 12 o’clock is, some red accents around the cabin and a liberal splashing of the traditional GTI tartan on the seats. 

Carried over from the ID.3 Neo are the 12.9in infotainment screen and recently largened digital instrument panel. You get special GTI graphics on these, which is nice. 

Outside, you get fancy 20in alloy wheels as standard and new LED headlights that Volkswagen says have a “particularly charismatic appearance”. 

The VW logo up front does of course light up and the car has the requisite red strip that you expect to see on a GTI-badged model. 

​Volkswagen says that this is the most powerful GTI model ever – which is true, but it’s not the most powerful ID.3 ever. 

Or even this week – the pre-facelift GTX Performance version of the car has the same 79kWh battery and a slightly shorter 371-mile range and you can still order one from Volkswagen UK’s existing stock (other regional VW distributors are available). 

So if you can’t wait to get a new ID.3 GTI (prices and on sale date to be confirmed) you can basically get one without the stylistic flourishes and probably save some money in the process. 

We’ve not driven the new ID.3 GTI yet (check out our preview of the car) but perhaps the latest round of tweaks will be enough to live up to our hot hatch dreams. 

Failing that, if you don’t need the space there’s always the new ID.Polo GTI on the way...