VW Polo GTI

VW Polo GTI

The first time VW introduced a performance Polo was 1986, it was a little supercharged pocket rocket, and now all these years on not much has changed it seems. The new Polo GTI will still be supercharged, with a turbo crammed in there too of course.

The new Polo’s beating heart is a development of VW’s acclaimed 1.4L TSI engine, this twin charged motor uses it’s supercharger to force in all the extra air it needs up to 3,000rpm, at which point the turbo begins to blow and take over the supercharger’s duties from 3,000 onwards. The end result is 178hp/131kW at 6200rpm and 250Nm of torque at 2,000rpm. Of course what has made that motor so successful is that the impressive power figures are delivered over a wide and accessible band because of the twin charging and the Polo GTI will surely be no different. The Polo GTI has a 1,184 kg kerbweight, which normally I’d say is a bit on the portly side but nowadays with all the modern comfort and safety features required is fairly standard.

VW Polo GTI

The standard gearbox for the Polo GTI is VAG’s seven speed double clutch flappy paddle unit with steering wheel mounted shifters. Other features include the truly excellent XDS diff nicked from the Polo GTI’s big brother- the Golf VI GTI. The XDS forms part of the traction control system and is essentially an electronic limited slip diff that provides cross axle traction control.

The Polo GTI has stiffer springs than the standard Polo and the ride height has been dropped 15mm too. And we all know a lower riding car looks better, but to further separate the looks of the GTI from the Polo pack VW has fitted the GTI rims from the Golf. Other subtle styling changes will present too but beyond the red GTI stripes there isn’t much to really tell the GTI apart. That’s how VW GTI’s are though and it seems to work so no problem there then.

VW Polo GTI interior

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