Volkswagen has launched a £48,360 limited edition of the ID 3 GTX that reimagines the classic Golf Fire+Ice special from the 1990s.

Taking the same name as its forebear, the ID 3 GTX Fire+Ice was previewed last year by an eponymous concept and will be limited to just 1990 examples worldwide.

Its arrival marks the start of an effort by Volkswagen to release low-volume specials across its ID range in a bid to increase the appeal of its EVs, as it did with earlier ICE models.

The German brand says it wants to show how specials, like 1995’s Golf Rolling Stones and 1994’s Golf Pink Floyd, could work with today’s electric range of cars.

The ID 3 GTX Fire+Ice reinterprets many of the original design cues from the limited-edition Golf (pictured below).

It has been designed in collaboration with Bögner, the German sportswear company that helped design the original car.

Highlights include a unique ultra-violet metallic paint, 20in Locarno alloy wheels, red roof trim and a special embossed F+I pattern on the C-pillar. The original Fire+Ice logo can also be found on the roof. 

The interior also receives unique touches, most notable Flaming Red (for Fire) and Ice Blue (for Ice) elements within the special seats, which have been quilted in a design similar to Bögner’s Fire+Ice down jackets.

This new special uses the same powertrain as the ID 3 GTX Performance and so offers 322bhp and 402lb ft from a single, front-mounted electric motor. This gives the car the same 0-62mph time of 5.7sec and top speed of 124mph.

It also gets uprated stabilisers and adaptive dampers. Electricity is supplied by a 79 kWh lithium ion battery with a claimed range of 367 miles.

The ID3 GTX Fire+Ice will be on sale from 7 August.