Saturday 24th June 2017

New Polo GTI!

Bigger engine, more power and a new platform for the pokiest Polo

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When was the last time you can remember a new car launching with an engine bigger than its predecessor? Not downsized for the sake of emissions, but made larger and more powerful than before. Sure, the latest Polo GTI engine probably will be more efficient than before, though it's still nice to see cubic capacity climb.

Fear not, a manual is also offered

Not so long ago the Polo GTI had a 1.4-litre engine with a supercharger and a turbocharger; that was then replaced a little while back with a 1.8-litre engine, and a manual gearbox returned as well. Now it's up to 2.0-litres and 200hp from 192, matching the Renault Sport Clio and Fiesta ST.

At the moment there's not a great deal of info on the GTI, VW's focus instead on the regular Polo's increased automation, larger dimensions and new technology, but there's enough so far to warrant interest. With the MQB A0 modular platform, the car is now longer, wider and lower, with a wheelbase increase that is said to have pushed the wheels further out to the corners and should improve stability too.

Not going to be short of competition

For the GTI VW is saying there's a standard 'sport chassis' and an optional Sport Select chassis; don't forget the Ibiza Cupra has had adaptive dampers as standard for a while now. Also standard will be the familiar GTI accoutrements including a red grille surround, modest spoilers front and rear, bigger exhaust pipes and new badges. And yes, there's tartan inside. 17-inch wheels are standard, with 18s optional.

VW has launched the Polo for sale in Germany already, so a UK launch presumably isn't far behind. We would expect the GTI to be available at the same time or very soon after, and hopefully at less than £20K too. Let's see!

[WCZ]

No performance pack ? Seems underpowered

[WCZ]

Section 8 said:

Sick of VAG churning out tiny increases in power to slightly out do the last car. Anyone for a Skoda Octavia 220...i mean 230. Oh now they just released a 240!!!.

Seat Leon 280,290.....300!!!!!

Golf 220. Yawn...230?? Yep

Mark my words the Polo GTI 210 WILL be coming to a showroom near you.... after you just bought the 200. And with that engine they will just go on and on an on.

this, it's just too calculated and they've even upped the engine size to 2.0
the reason I mentioned it being under powered was in relation to this (I fully expected a performance pack)
wouldn't be surprised if a remap could see ~ 270bhp

[WCZ]

rtz62 said:

fk me sideways!
200bho isn't enough?
Well, SWMBO says I'm stuck in the 80's, so I'll take myself back there when in 1984 my bar and new Fiesta XR2 had 96bhp and Clarkson (yes, Clarkson!) said it went 'like thunder and lightening'
To be fair it was plenty fast enough, and knew where it stood in the pecking order, under the (then) 105bhp 205 GTi, the Nova GTE, Renault 5 Gordini / Turbo (96-110 bhp), and noticeably a rung below the XR3i (105bhp?), the Astra GTE (118bhp) and the Golf GTi (110-112bhp).
And top of that little pecking order was the Escort Turbo and Golf GTi 16v.
Did I want more power? Hmmmn, possibly.
Did I need more power, even on roads that were less populated by traffic and its congestion?
No. Emphatically no
And yes, soon after he XR2 I had an XR2 Turbo Technics, XR3i, RS1600i, a couple of Escort Turbos and Golf G60s but I didn't need that extra go, I just wanted to own them (and several Cosworths) before the legislators banned them (or so I thought, not realising that rising traffic volume would begin to make them redundant)
So back to my original statement, I don't really think we can moan at a car with 200bhp, the power arms race is getting daft. And the number of Big Brother cameras is increasing.
It's been a wonderful ride, while it lasted...

I had lesser powered cars in my youth too which were a lot of fun to drive at the time but times have changed.

Cars now are so capable, competent and heavy in general now and 200bhp in the new polo will feel dull and lack sensation imo