Currently reading: Frankfurt update: new VW Polo GTi
1.4 litre supercharged and turbocharged engine tuned to 200bhp; on sale late 2010

VW has been testing a new Polo GTI, with a power output of around 200bhp from its 1.4 litre supercharged and turbocharged four-cylinder engine, at the Nurburgring and expects to launch it next spring.

The car, likely to be sold only as a three-door, will be offered either with a six-speed stick-shift or a seven-speed DSG gearbox, the latter with the paddle-shift cheaper DSG Polo models lack.

VW's Polo MPV, estate, cabrio planVW product boss Dr Ulrich Hackenburg says the company has made big strides with maintaining traction in a small but very powerful, front-drive car, by careful development of an electronically controlled “limited slip differential” that uses strategic applications of its front brakes to tame wheelspin. Alfa Romeo’s Mito uses a similar system.

Hackenburg says the Polo GTI’s electro-mechanical power steering has also been adapted, by use of convenient on-board computer power, to predict and compensate for torque steer under hard acceleration.

The Polo GTI will bring with it a new VW design language when it goes on sale, which will be seen with its front grille and new spoilers.

Other Polo models in the Polo range VW has confirmed in addition to the three and five door models include the baby SUV called CrossPolo, while an estate and convertible model are also likely to make production.Meanwhile, VW engineers have managed to extract up to 280bhp from the Polo's diminutive 1.4-litre twin-charge engine.

It is understood that this versions, assisted by the steering and traction refinements above, will eventially be incorporated in a no-frills, low-volume Polo Cup, capable of 150mph performance.

The project is not yet official, and no date has been set for its launch, but VW is believed to have “noticed” the success of Renault’s go-faster Clio and Twingo models.

Steve Cropley

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J400uk 26 September 2009

Re: New VW Polo GTi to get 200bhp

coolboy wrote:
200bhp? I do not think so, likely to get 180bhp from the 1.4TSI...

They have either 140, 150, 160, 170 or 180 at stock and remap to 200bhp+, so I don't think its impossible, but they won't want to steal sales from the Golf GTI so 180bhp (as found in the Ibiza Cupra) is most likely.

coolboy 26 September 2009

Re: New VW Polo GTi to get 200bhp

200bhp? I do not think so, likely to get 180bhp from the 1.4TSI...

as far as I know the Polo already has the DSG...

and about the sporty Fox, it seems that VW put it on the shelf after a serious accident that killed an engineer in their Ehra home track...

shame... it would be a rocket with an 1.4TSI pot on it...

christopherandrew 26 September 2009

Re: New VW Polo GTi to get 200bhp

i agree with my man, i will be flabergasted if it gets 200hp, its nailed on that it will get 178hp like the ibiza cupra has. i think it will be awesome to look at but it wont be the best drivers car around. i already have a 1.8 turbo gti and i like it and i will be seriously considering the new one but i will hate it if after i buy it an R version is revealed so i will be patient and wishful that vw do see sense and put 200hp in it. saying that you would think they want to seperate it from the ibiza a bit and not have them identical it wouldnt be very clever to have the same car as yours for sale a grand or 2 less