Wednesday 3rd March 2010

Geneva: VW Polo GTI Shows Its Colours

VW's new hot hatch shares classic 'GTI' styling cues

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VW's new Polo GTI is on show at Geneva. It's rather striking in the metal, too.

The diminutive hatch is a feisty little thing, mostly thanks to its Golf GTi-style aesthetic changes. Its grille, alloys and shiny red brake callipers are all borrowed from the Polo's bigger brother.

The interior has been given a similar GTi treatment - it's all pronounced stitching, leather and tartan in there. The Polo also comes with aluminium and black gloss highlights, as well as a flat bottomed steering wheel (a VW group performance standard kit item).

We already knew it'll be powered by the VW's tried and tested 1.4-litre TSI engine and tuned to 180bhp. It will also come with the Golf GTI's XDS diff to make sure the handling is a sharp as possible.

The Polo GTi will hit UK showrooms in the Summer, priced at around £18,000.

[mgds76]

As cars get bigger and bigger i cant help but feel that this car has got more dna in common with the original hatches (205gti 1.9, williams, golf gti mk 1) than what the mk 6 golf has.

Would a petrolhead choose the mk6 gti over this for sunday driving pleasure?

[S3_Graham]

i think it looks way nicer than a golf... but could i stomach 18k.... No...

[Leicesterdave]

S3_Graham said:

i think it looks way nicer than a golf... but could i stomach 18k.... No...

This line tires me out. £18k for a good hot hatch with DSG as standard is hardly pricey...

[TomJackUK]

Sounds like a golf, but isn't a golf

[wab172uk]

And £5k cheaper than the new Audi S1 with the same power. Plus the Polo will probably come with more kit to start with.

For the same price as the Polo GTI, all you'll get with the A1 is a 1.2 85bhp motor.

[Greg964]

Mk6 Polo GTi 180hp/184 lb-ft/1184kgs/0-60 6.9
Mk6 Golf GTi 208hp/207 lb-ft/1318kgs/0-60 6.9

Surprisingly little in it really.
Not sure about the rear of the Polo though, the front looks great, the back is a little 'meh'.

[MintyChris]

I like it. I like the low weight too, just aslong as its still got the quality feel inside.

Limited tuning potential Im sure but I guess 200 or so bhp might be possible with a map.

I also agree looks better than the Golf.

[zakelwe]

Yes, this is the new Golf. The only problem is that the new Fabia vRS costs £2k less for same mechanicals, mind you it doesn't look as good.

Will it be exciting to drive though, or will it be like the SEAT Ibiza which is not very exciting so they say, that has the same mechanicals too.

Andy

[FWDRacer]

mgds76 said:

As cars get bigger and bigger i cant help but feel that this car has got more dna in common with the original hatches (205gti 1.9, williams, golf gti mk 1) than what the mk 6 golf has.

Would a petrolhead choose the mk6 gti over this for sunday driving pleasure?

Completely agree. The Golf has become a barge. This is way more in keeping with 80's original hot hatch ethos (Small, wieldy, good power and low weight). I'd rather like one of these and could happily forego the multiple kilo's worth of sound deadening that is tucked into the later golfs.

If it goes as well as it look VW have a winner on their hands.

[Neil_M]

Greg964 - I would say the figures may translate to be a little different on the road. Especially with the TSI power / torque bands.

I'm not too fussed on the DSG only option. A manual version will hopefully be available and thus reduce the cost by a notable amount.

Lets hope its dynamically like a more youthful Golf GTi. Thats my bigger concern .

[BBS-LM]

Looks just like a Golf GTI, how boring.

[Boggy]

F**k Off 18k what a laugh!

Boggy

Edited by Boggy on Wednesday 3rd March 10:56

[kambites]

It is a fairly hefty amount more than something like a RenaultSport Clio (which is also faster). Hopefully they'll do a version without the DSG for a couple of grand less.

[anonymous-user]

kambites said:

It is a fairly hefty amount more than something like a RenaultSport Clio (which is also faster). Hopefully they'll do a version without the DSG for a couple of grand less.

These two cars, although both hot hatches, are aiming at types of people!

[soad]

mgds76 said:

Would a petrolhead choose the mk6 gti over this for sunday driving pleasure?

Not me.

This looks good, much better than a Golf. Lighter too.

[UKDavo]

I like it, but have had enough of those alloys. How long have they been peddling these now? They looked novel on the Golf GTI, but have they run out of ideas? Those would have to be the first thing to go.

[Dangermouse78]

Granted it's just from viewing the pics but I agree with previous posts that this new Polo looks approx the same size as the older Golf's & Clio's..... Shame that they all baulked up, Dont matter how powerful the engine is if the weight & chassis aren't right.

[Greg964]

UKDavo said:

I like it, but have had enough of those alloys. How long have they been peddling these now? They looked novel on the Golf GTI, but have they run out of ideas? Those would have to be the first thing to go.

Agree. Would have been nice to have something new on this.

[Hellbound]

All it needs to do is be a better drive than the RS Clio 200.

[Neil_M]

Hellbound said:

All it needs to do is be a better drive than the RS Clio 200.

As MonkeyMatt has said, I think they are aiming at two slightly different buyers.

The Clio is offering a sharp hardcore package. The Polo will potentially offer a premium car, a more rounded pacakge than the Clio.