Back in the 90s, Volkswagen showed off something that would soon become a bit of a sleeper hit – the Golf Mk2 ‘Fire and Ice’. It was a limited edition collab with legendary fashion designer, Willy Bogner, with the goal of making a more unique, one-of-a-kind Mk2 Golf. Among vintage Golf fans, it gained cult status and it’s become a fan favourite ever since. It surprisingly moved quite a lot of units too, and it clearly sold well enough that VW continues to celebrate it to this day. Unfortunately, the latest Fire and Ice tribute is just a one-off and you can’t buy one, but at least it’s the thought that counts when VW unveils the ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE tribute.
Paying homage to VW’s long history with quirky limited edition cars, the ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE is a one-off model that Volkswagen brought to the ID. Meeting in Locarno, Switzerland, which was also developed in conjunction with BOGNER, just like old times. The most noticeable thing that you can easily spot is no doubt that unique pearl effect paintwork – it’s called Electric Violet, by the way – on the ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE one-off tribute. This specially-made paint finish is actually a three-coat paint, which also contains glass beads to create that colour-shifting effect depending on the light. You might even spot how it changes from dark blue to violet and back to black.
A Special ID.3 To Celebrate The Good Old Days
Aside from its very eye-catching paintwork, the ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE features a nice strip of paint on the roof, with an anodized finish. The bright Flaming Red colour contrasts strikingly well with the aforementioned Electric Violet body, reinforcing the ‘fire and ice’ theme. Furthermore, just when you though they’re done, you may spot that the side of the VW ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE has a transparent matte foiling with a geometric FIRE+ICE pattern, adding a tiny bit more texture to the whole car. It’s also nice to see that the original ‘FIRE+ICE’ logo from the 1990s continues to adorn the ID.3’s B-pillar and the roof edge spoiler, if that wasn’t enough nostalgia for you.
Of course, the design of the wheels was a huge part of the Golf Mk2 Fire and Ice, so it’s not a surprise to see it make a return. With the ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE, it’s fitted with huge 21-inch rims, finished with some blue anodized paint, with a slight glossy contrast. I don’t think I’ve seen an ID.3 with wheels this large, but with the wackiness of the FIRE+ICE livery already, it does seem to suit it quite well, I think. Just like the 90s Mk2 Fire and Ice though, the exterior is just one of the many places that Willy Bogner added his personal touch. Another noteworthy design trait is the bold two-colour split in the interior, further cementing that ‘fire and ice’ theme.
The Most Unique New Volkswagen In A Long Time
Here, in the new VW ID.3 GTX FIRE+ICE, we’ve seen it make a return, with the passenger’s side styled in ice blue, symbolizing ICE. Meanwhile, on the driver’s side, it’s accented in flaming red, representing FIRE. Not only on the upholstery, but this colour scheme extends to the seats too, albeit it’s not nearly as extreme as the original car (at least at first glance). If you look around, you might spot a tonne of unique design touches with this FIRE+ICE tribute. For example, your stock ID.3 comes with play and pause motifs on the pedals, but here, they feature the Fire and Ice logos, instead. The throttle is FIRE, while the brake pedal is ICE, so that’s rather neat.
Additionally, speaking of those seats from earlier, they feature a quilted design, almost like the jackets that BOGNER makes. Better yet, if you unzip those seat zippers, they reveal the original Fire and Ice fabric and patterns from the 1990s, giving the ID.3’s interior a bit more fun and theatre every time you take a step inside. Even the floor mats and the instrument panel come with laser-engraved FIRE+ICE patterns, just like the Mk2 from the 90s. Otherwise, underneath all that nostalgia is a present-day VW ID.3, in its sportier GTX form. I know it’s a lot to ask, but if anyone at VW is watching, I reckon a lot of folks would love to see this go into production.
