VW BRINGS THE HEAT BACK WITH THE ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE - A LIMITED NUMBER EV HOT HATCH
Volkswagen has always had a knack for weaving its cars into the fabric of popular culture. From the original Beetle starring in movies to the Golf GTI becoming the benchmark for hot hatches, Wolfsburg knows how to create icons. Now, they’ve dipped into their back catalogue, pulled out a cult classic from the 1990s, and rebooted it for the electric era. Say hello to the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE – a limited-run EV inspired by the legendary Golf 2 Fire & Ice, and launched with a thumping new soundtrack from Grammy-winning DJ Purple Disco Machine and Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters fame. The collab is not just a car with a badge and a playlist; this thing is more like VW flexing its cultural muscle - cars, fashion, and music fused into one package that feels retro and futuristic all at once.
The roots of FIRE+ICE go way back to 1986, when filmmaker Willy Bogner released the ski film Fire and Ice. It was pure 80s excess: dramatic landscapes, outrageous stunts, and an iconic soundtrack produced by Harold Faltermeyer, with vocals by Marietta Waters. The film became a cultural time capsule, and by 1990, it had inspired Volkswagen to create the Golf 2 Fire & Ice special edition. That Golf was the definition of 90s cool - dark violet pearl-effect paint, wide arches, alloys, a punchy engine with up to 118 kW, and a name that instantly set it apart. It became a rare and sought-after model, remembered as much for its swagger as for its spec sheet. Fast forward three decades, and VW is bringing that energy back. The new ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE channels the same spirit, only this time with electric power, GTX performance credentials, and a very limited run of just 1,990 cars – a nod to the original Golf’s launch year.
No revival would be complete without the music, and that’s where Purple Disco Machine comes in. The German DJ and producer has carved out a reputation for fusing retro 80s vibes with modern house beats, racking up over two billion streams along the way and even bagging a Grammy for his remix of Lizzo’s “About Damn Time”. For the FIRE+ICE project, he’s teamed up with Jake Shears, whose falsetto voice and flamboyant energy with Scissor Sisters made him a queer pop icon. Together, they’ve reimagined the original “Fire and Ice” theme song into a modern dancefloor anthem – already streamed over a million times in just a few days. And of course, it comes with an action-packed music video where the Golf 2 Fire & Ice shares screen time with its new EV successor, the ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE. Think retro stunts reloaded with a modern twist, nostalgia colliding with neon-lit electric energy.
Beyond the pop culture tie-ins, VW has given the ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE its own presence. The car was developed in collaboration with BOGNER FIRE+ICE, the fashion arm of Willy Bogner’s luxury sportswear brand, and it wears exclusive paintwork and design details that tie it directly to the 1990s icon. The GTX badge means this isn’t just another ID.3 - it’s the sportiest version of the EV, delivering strong performance while keeping the zero-emissions promise. Add in bespoke FIRE+ICE branding, a limited build number, and the link to VW’s history, and you’ve got a car designed to hit both heartstrings and dance floors.
Christine Wolburg, Volkswagen’s Chief Brand Officer, summed it up neatly: “Volkswagen has always been an integral part of mainstream culture - and it is precisely this lifestyle that we want to bring back into the spotlight. With the new all-electric ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE and the collaboration with BOGNER FIRE+ICE and Purple Disco Machine, we are bringing together the topics of cars, fashion and music in a unique way.”
That’s VW’s real strategy here. The ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE isn’t just a limited edition EV – it’s part of a broader attempt to remind the world that Volkswagen doesn’t just build cars. It builds culture. From ski slopes to dance floors to driveways, FIRE+ICE is proof that nostalgia still has plenty of spark in the electric age
Take a look at the YouTube video hosted by the Need Cars crew as it takes a look at the rad new variation on the VW ID.3 GTX Fire+Ice - a limited edition EV that may do well in the market - if the price is right, of course: 2025 VW ID.3 GTX Fire+Ice – Limited-Edition Electric Hot Hatch That Costs More Than a Golf R! | NEED CARS
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