Volkswagen has announced a UK price, pictures and all the details of the latest generation Polo GTI hatchback in the wake of its big unveiling at the Paris Motor Show back in October.
A 1.8-litre turbocharged petrol engine makes the front wheels turn, with 192PS of power – 12 PS more than its predecessor – and 236lb/ft (320Nm) of torque propelling the car from 0 to 62mph in 6.7 seconds and up to a top speed of 146mph.
A choice of a six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox is available. Fuel economy is said to be an impressive 50.4mpg and CO2 emissions are an equally impressive 129g/km given the spirited performance (47.1mpg and 139g/km for the manual).
VW has modelled the three- and five-door Polo GTI on the Golf GTI so the look is nice and sporty. Expect 17-inch ‘Parabolica’ alloy wheels, red radiator grille strips, honeycomb brille, new bumpers and a GTI insignia. It also has sports suspension as standard, which lowers the car by 10mm at the front and 15mm at the back.
Other standard equipment includes LED lights at the front, GTI roof spoiler, dark red taillight clusters, black grained diffuser and dual exhaust pipes for a bit of added aggression.
A Sport Performance Pack with Dynamic Chassic Control for ‘sportier’ steering, improved accelerator response and a better engine noise in the car can be specced.
Inside the Polo GTI is bestowed with a leather sports steering wheel with a logo and red stitching, the latter extended to the gear and handbrake levers.
The addition of ESC (electronic stability control) provides an ESC Sport mode that basically turns of traction but can intervene (albeit in deliberately delayed fashion) should you really push your luck. There’s also XDS, a Golf GTI system designed to compensate for understeer.
Prices start from £18,850 for the entry-level three-door, six-speed manual, rising to £20,725 for the top of the range five-door DSG.
On the subject of fast VWs, here’s our Golf R review.
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