These are the first pictures of the new VW Polo GTi, which will be unveiled at next month’s Geneva motor show ahead of UK sales starting in August.
The new hot hatch comes with the VW Group’s 1.4-litre TSI engine, delivering 177bhp, connected to a seven-speed DSG transmission. It also comes with a version of VW’s XDS electronic differential, as used in the Seat Ibiza Cupra.
Suspension is lower than the standard Polo by 15mm all round, and the car gets its own spring and damper settings.
Like the last Polo GTi, this one’s also been styled to look like a mini Golf GTi. So it gets the similar five-spoke polished 17-inch alloys, and the same style of honeycomb grille with a red frame. Inside the seats are trimmed in a similar checked cloth material to the Golf GTi, and there’s a flat-bottomed wheel, too.
The GTi will be available as a three and five-door, with prices starting at around £18,000 for the three door.
Twitter - follow autocar.co.ukSee all the latest VW Polo reviews, news and video
Join the debate
Add your comment
Re: VW Polo GTI launched
Er no they didn't. The Golf 1.4 TSI 170 went on the market in 2006 and remained on sale until 2008 when the MK5 reached the end of its life. The replacement Golf MK6 got a 1.4 TSI 160 instead, which although slightly down on power delivers improved emissions/ fuel economy and has the same torque. As the Golf MK6 weighs less, the performance is still just as good as before. The Golf 1.4 TSI 140 on the other hand was dropped, as presumably there was no point offering it for sale alongside the 1.4 TSI 122 & 160, but it remained on offer with the Touran.
Re: VW Polo GTI launched
(+1) If you think the cost of a dual mass clutch / flywheel assy is steep, just wait till you've forked out £5k for a DSG box.
Problem is, we've a generation of people coming up who learned to drive on a Playstation and probably find the whole 'clutch' thing too dificult when they come to drive a real car...
Re: VW Polo GTI launched
I've got to say I share some of your concern on these points although I would expect powertrain wear to become much more consistent irrespective of previous owners driving habits and so second hand buys should be predictable once manufacturer's reputations are established in this respect.
The cost of getting it wrong is just too much for them to bear. Anyone that doubts it need only try and ask NSU how their wankel engine is going or DAF about when their next CVT is due out.