Volkswagen's electric throwback to the 90s ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE enters production

The limited-run VW ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE has finally entered production at Volkswagen's factories in Saxony, Germany. This special edition EV is a modern tribute to the cult-favorite Golf II Fire and Ice, and it's a result of collaboration with the performance sportswear brand BOGNER, reviving a partnership that made the original so unique.

If you're looking for performance, the ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE delivers. Volkswagen is offering this electric car with two different power levels. The standard version comes with a 210 kW (286 horsepower) motor, while a more powerful option gets 240 kW (326 horsepower).

Both models deliver 402 lb-ft of torque - that's the force that gets the car moving quickly from a standstill. The more powerful variant can sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 5.7 seconds, and its top speed is electronically capped at 124 mph, making it a true electric hot hatch. To handle the extra power, the 240 kW model comes standard with a sports-tuned DCC chassis, which is also available as an option for the 210 kW version.

The FIRE+ICE edition comes with a 79 kWh battery pack, which gives the car (according to official WLTP testing standards) up to 367 miles on a single charge. When it's time to plug in, the battery can handle fast charging speeds of up to 185 kW. This means a driver can recharge the battery from 10% to 80% in about 26 minutes at a compatible DC fast-charging station.

Unfortunately, this won't be a car you'll see on every street corner. Volkswagen is leaning into the retro theme by strictly limiting production to just 1,990 units. The number is a direct nod to 1990, the year the original Golf II Fire and Ice was launched.

This exclusivity comes with a premium price tag, as the model starts at $65,630 in Germany. The collaboration with BOGNER ensures that the vehicle will have unique styling details that set it apart from other electric cars in Volkswagen's lineup.

The ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE is built in Volkswagen's plants in Zwickau and Dresden, a region the company calls the car's home. The ID.3 itself is considered a "Saxony original" and holds a special place in the automaker's history, as it was the first model to kick off the Volkswagen Group's major push into electric mobility back in 2019. Since then, more than 350,000 ID.3 vehicles have rolled off the assembly lines.

The market for performance-oriented EVs appears to be growing. Volkswagen claims that its sporty GTX models already account for about one out of every ten ID.3s sold. The standard ID.3 is now sold in nearly 40 countries around the world, from Europe to more distant markets like French Guiana.

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