Styling aims to mimic Golf GTi
Volkswagen has revealed the first official pictures and details of the
new Polo GTI
, ahead of its official debut at the Geneva motor show in March. On first inspection, it seems that it might be more in the spirit of the
Golf GTI
than the present Golf itself.
The new hot Polo has the same powertrain system as the Seat Ibiza Cupra, using a supercharger and turbocharger to help get the most from the 1.4-litre TSI engine. The Polo manages to extract 177bhp and 184lb ft of torque from the wee four-pot and, while this doesn't quite stack up against competitors like the Renaultsport Clio 200 and Vauxhall Corsa VXR (197bhp and 189bhp respectively) a slim kerb weight of 1184kg gives the GTi a very competitive power-to-weight ratio of just under 152bhp per ton.
As well as a 142mph top speed, VW promises 0-62mph in 6.9secs - quicker than the Ibiza Cupra and exactly the same as the Clio 200 and the 2.0-litre TSI-engined Golf GTi.
GTi rides 15mm lower than standard Polo
The grunt is delivered in stages, with the supercharger working until 3000rpm before giving way to the turbocharger. VW's near-ubiquitous 7-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox is also present. All this helps with economy, and the claimed combined figure of 47mpg would be very impressive if it proves true in the real world.
Some attention has been paid to the handling too. Sporty springs and dampers bring the GTi's ride height down by 15mm from the standard Polo, and it gets an intelligent 'XDS' electronic differential system.
Styling-wise the Polo has been designed to mimic its bigger brother. The same 17-inch wheels found on the Golf GTi are present, housing smart red-painted callipers. A new front bumper gives the Polo a deep honeycomb air dam, with matching honeycomb grille framed by red horizontal stripes and a traditional-style GTi badge. New headlights with the inevitable daytime running lights round off the front, while round the back the GTi gets a new rear bumper, a small diffuser and twin chrome-tipped exhausts.
Golf could face competition from little brother
The interior apparently gets a similarly sporty makeover, including high-bolstered seats and a flat-bottomed steering wheel with compact shifter paddles.
Pricing won't be officially announced until the car goes on sale in August, but expect to pay around £17-£18k. That's around seven grand less than a Golf GTi, but is more or less in-line with the Polo's main competitors.
If this isn't quite quick enough for you, there have long been whispers about the possibility of a Polo R. Current consensus suggests one should be along by 2012, offering in the region of 190bhp and potentially costing £4-5k more than the GTi.
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