A GTI through and through inside. The colours red and black (‘Soul’ colour shade) dominate the interior of the ID. Polo GTI. It is the fine yet striking visual details and features developed especially for the compact sports car that differentiate the ID. Polo GTI from the Trend, Life and Style models. The red elements immediately catch the eye in the newly developed cockpit landscape. These include the contrasting red topstitching on the new GTI sports steering wheel and the red marking incorporated in the steering wheel rim at 12 o’clock, similar to the markings used in motor sports to make handling on the race track easier. A narrow red strip also extends across the entire width of the dash panel. All these details are matched by the red topstitching in the doors, which forms a sporty contrast to the black and elegant ArtVelours Eco Soul microfleece covering the upper area of the door panels. The fact that Volkswagen attaches great importance to even the smallest details is reflected in the GTI badges, which can be found at the front end of the red topstitching in the doors. Red topstitching also enhances the front outer edges of the standard-equipment premium sport seats at the front and on the rear seats. The front seats are available with optional 12-way electrical adjustment and a massage function; in this case, the driver seat has a memory function. The seats’ outer contact surfaces are finished in ArtVelours Eco Soul microfleece. The interior surfaces of the seats are upholstered in a fabric featuring large checks that reinterpret the legendary tartan pattern of the historic GTI models. The red GTI emblem is integrated into the integral head restraints on the front sports seats. This can also be found – in illuminated form – in the suggested 6 o-clock trim on the GTI’s multifunction sports steering wheel. The pushbutton for the new GTI driving profile is integrated there. Pressing this activates a particularly sporty configuration for the GTI.
New GTI driving profile. As soon as the driver presses the GTI button on the multifunction sports steering wheel, a driving profile developed exclusively for this model is activated: the new GTI driving profile. It joins the Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual profiles also found on board the ID. Polo GTI. The GTI profile activates the particularly dynamic facets of the electric Volkswagen. On the one hand, all drive and chassis parameters are set to maximum sportiness: the standard-equipment progressive steering and the adaptive DCC sports chassis with its GTI-specific tuning, also on board as standard. At the same time, Launch Control can now be activated. In addition, the belt tensioners are activated. The standard-equipment 30-colour background lighting and the ID. Light and Digital Cockpit simultaneously switch colour to the GTI profile. This happens as follows: as soon as the steering wheel button with the GTI emblem is pressed, a red flash signal from the ID. Light indicates that the systems are now being switched over. At the same time, the background lighting changes to red. The effects are accompanied by the sound of a combustion engine. The GTI view is activated in parallel in the Digital Cockpit. In this case, the red dash panel application is also extended digitally into the display. The power display with integrated speedometer now dominates the centre of the instruments. The GTI view can be activated in parallel using the View button on the steering wheel, while the GTI driving profile can be activated on the infotainment system. The infotainment system also features GTI-specific displays – to view lap times, for example.
Digital Cockpit with retro display. The cockpit landscape in the new ID. Polo GTI is fully horizontal for a clear and balanced appearance. The Digital Cockpit – the digital instruments – and the infotainment display are arranged on one visual axis. The Digital Cockpit measures 26.0 cm (10.25 inches) across the diagonal and features brilliant graphics. If the driver uses the View button on the steering wheel to activate the retro display, the instruments are transformed into the style of a late Golf I. In this case, there is a classic speedometer on the left and a stylised rev counter on the right. However, in the all-electric ID. Polo GTI this obviously does not display engine speeds, but rather the energy output or energy absorption of the drive as a power display. Like the power display, other modern functions such as Dynamic Road Sign Display have also been integrated into the layout from the early 1980s. The infotainment system’s touch display, which is located in the centre of the dashboard, measures 32.77 cm (12.9 inches) across the diagonal and is as large as a premium tablet – and the quality of the graphics is just as precise. If the retro display is active, graphic details in the style of the Golf I are also displayed here. In this case, for example, the battery or charging indicator looks like a fuel gauge from that era; in the track display, a cassette – the portable music format popular in the 1980s – is also shown.
GTI sports steering wheel with clear buttons. The multifunction steering wheel with its clearly arranged button panels is a new design. In the ID. Polo GTI, it is designed as a sport steering wheel with good grip and perforated surfaces in the rim. The functions of cruise control system or, depending on equipment, Adaptive Cruise Control and Connected Travel Assist are combined in the button group on the left (9 o’clock). This group also contains the volume control. On the right (3 o’clock), there is the button panel for controlling the Digital Cockpit and activating the voice control and the button for the steering wheel heating that is on board as standard in the GTI. The steering wheel itself is flattened at the top and bottom (12 and 6 o’clock). Located behind the steering wheel are the steering column switches for gearshift and parking brake (right) and for the turn signal, lighting and wiper functions (left) as well as paddles for the recuperation levels.
Digital and analogue in harmony. The central air conditioning functions are integrated separately into a strip with easy-grip buttons in the centre console; the hazard warning light switch is also located centrally here. On the level below, there is the smartphone tray with an inductive charging function that is standard in the GTI, two drink holders and the centre armrest with an integrated stowage compartment underneath. Located between the smartphone tray and drink holders is the rotary knob for audio functions, which is equally easy to reach for the driver and front passenger. This can be used to adjust the volume and also to change songs and stations using the track function. The ID. Light, which is also standard in the ID. Polo GTI, has been significantly enhanced: for the first time, the intuitive light strip perceived by the driver extends into the bottom of the windscreen, not just across the width of the dash panel, but now also into the front doors. Another new feature: the door openers designed for optimum ergonomic grip. The four buttons for the electric windows and exterior mirror adjustment are also designed as a touch panel in the driver door.