"We're bringing Gran Turismo handling to life!" proclaims our VW-badged host in front of the assembled journalistic throng. Bold claim, backed up by video of a sliding Polo on a race track. And while it might look similar to last year's model, under the skin there are some serious changes.
Sensible pants silver five-door one option
Boasting a clear paper advantage in both outright power and economy, it's hard to argue against the replacement of the wonderfully complex 1.4 TSI motor with the simpler and bigger 1.8 TSI. The geeks within us might mourn the passing of a production turbo/supercharged motor but the turbo'd 1.8 in this Polo is really quite something.
In a seemingly bizarre move, the turbo bolts directly to the head, eliminating the exhaust manifolds completely. It's something we've seen before in Fords, the reasoning being the water jacket can flow around the exhaust gasses to cool them before the turbo. Because cooler is denser, and the turbo will spin faster. Or something. Although it's probably a bit duller than that, being more about EU6 warm-up emissions and harnessing the heat of the exhaust to heat the cylinder head and water quicker. And what about a cracked manifold? That'll be a cracked head now...
Or a rather more hot hatch worthy red three-door
Eight injectors, four cylinders
The other big move is one that's slightly backwards. We're all familiar with the technology of direct injection, right? Injecting the fuel directly into the cylinder head at incredible pressures might give a cleaner burn and better efficiency, but owners of early Sciroccos and Minis might have another story to tell. Because the crankcase breather still recirculates the oily mist back into the intake. And without fresh solvent (your petrol) flowing over the valves, they get gummed and coked up. This means compression drops, economy and power suffer, and the point of direct injection is rendered moot. It's not a problem that will show in the first year, but it will eventually.
But now the Polo has eight injectors, four upstream of the valves and four directly into the cylinder head. Petrol through the valves isn't just good for cleaning up the engine in the long-run though, it's also a great way to smooth the delivery when mapped correctly. And the tuners of this world will love having an extra set of more accessible injectors to play with too.
Was DSG only, now a manual option too - yay!
But the biggest step backwards is the manual gearbox. Getting a seven-speed DSG for 'free' might have been a very practical benefit of the previous model. But it left the luddites and the purists wanting.
Now the base model comes with a six-speed manual (DSG is a £1,200 option), and while its final drive ratio might be a little long (65mph in second!) there's no arguing with the tactile pleasure of selecting your own ratios. It's a typical VW shift, albeit slightly tighter and shorter than you might expect in a Golf. Although the latest iteration of the DSG system is even sharper and better than ever (take note Renaultsport) it's the manual that really makes the Polo fun again.
Fun in the sun
Yes, we said it, fun. In a class shared with the Clio 200 Turbo and Fiesta ST, this little GTI needs all the help it can get.
Dale, heading off for some more understeer
Delivering second gear to the wheels and pushing the pedal to the floor will get things moving rather quickly. Add some steering angle from the new electric rack and the wider, 17-inch wheels with 215-section rubber, will struggle to contain it. The overwhelming sensation is that you're driving a little hatchback with just a little bit too much power.
On the twisty Valencia back roads, the little Polo is a riot of boost and cornering fun. The oh-so-smooth power delivery starts slow, but surges into boost with a whopping mid-range capable of dispatching several slow-movers in a single overtake.
Our test car, optioned with the Sport pack, has a button proclaiming exactly that. Apart from piping in extra synthetic sound (ugh) it does transform the 'good' standard suspension into 'excellent' sporting suspension by switching between two very different damper circuits. Crashing and bouncing also increase dramatically in Sport to remind you to turn it off, assuming the fake engine noise hadn't forced your finger already.
At least the cabin's top notch though
The steering wheel is a thing of beauty too, especially the version devoid of control buttons. In proportions it's similar to a Nardi from the 90s. It's better finished than the Porsche 911 Turbo's. Really. And the feel from the electro-mechanical steering is beyond reproach.
From the chequered and bucketed cloth seats, to the stomping stereo and fully featured navigation and dashboard. The Polo is such a step up from the competition that it's easy to see why it's the expensive option. It's pure hot-hatch luxury.
Eins, zwei, fun Polizei
Ah yes, those five laps of Valencia's Circuito Ricardo Tormo. We almost didn't mention them. A beautiful track full of twists and turns. It sits in an amphitheatre capable of seating over 100,000 screaming MotoGP fans.
It was a pleasure to drive on such hallowed ground, but it's not the place to make the new Polo feel good. Sorry, VW.
GTI in name and now nature too
Clio
Peugeot 208 GTI 30th
. At medium to high speed, with the heaviest of flicks, followed by the deftest application of opposite-lock, it possible to maintain a tiny slide without computer intervention. But the automated fun police are always ready, even when the amber light says ESC OFF.
Indeed, the Polo's natural response to 95 per cent of the circuit is tyre squealing, rubber burning understeer. Cut loose mid-corner with that brawny new motor and even the standard-fit, brake-pad destroying, XDS+ ESP-based 'differential' won't contain the resulting tyre torture.
VW might have shown us video of skidding cars with PlayStation-generation catchphrases, but that's not the reality. The reality is that the new Polo GTI is a fun, quality-feeling, hot hatch in direct competition with other fantastic hot hatches. Can you feel a group test coming on?
Orders start this month with deliveries in March 2015. Prices should start from £18,800.
A lap in the Polo GTI - features *some* understeer...
VW POLO GTI
Engine: 1,798cc 4-cyl, turbocharged
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 192@4,200rpm-6,200rpm
Torque (lb ft): 236@1,450rpm-4,200rpm
0-62mph: 6.7sec
Top speed: 147mph
Weight: 1,272kg (EU)
MPG: 47mpg (claimed)
CO2: 139g/km
Price: from £18,800