A day after releasing the first pictures of the new VW Polo GTI, the company decided to reveal the official details of the car too before its public debut in Geneva. This is a very important car because it is basically a discount version of the Golf GTI, and from now on anyone interested in buying a normal Golf, would go for the Polo GTI because for the same amount money it offers much more sportiness.
Available in a three-door and a five-door version, the Polo GTI comes with a 178 hp – 250 nm of torque 16-valve 1.4 liter supercharged/turbocharged four-cylinder engine, mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox. Since the car weighs 1,194 kg, this engine enables it to accelerate to 100 km/h in just 6.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 229 km/h, while remaining fairly efficient with average fuel consumption of 5.9 litres per 100 kilometres and CO2 emissions of just 139 g/km.
The Polo GTI also has sporty chassis setting. It comes with McPherson front suspension and semi-independent rear suspension with sport springs which lowers the whole car by 15mm than the standard model. It is fitted with ESP and the XDS electronic transverse differential lock and low-profile tyres (215/40 R17 87V) on alloy wheels in GTI-typical 5-hole “Denver” styling (7Jx17).
So it’s got impressive technical features, but to become a real hot hatchback, it should also have good convenience. And fortunately it is well equipped with stuff like: pedal caps in aluminium look, electric window lifts in front (three-door) and rear (five-door), electric adjusting and heated door mirrors, air conditioning, RF remote control of central locking and front fog lights. The leather trimmed steering wheel is equipped with two DSG paddles, one on the left and one on the right. Then there is of course a passive safety package with driver and front passenger airbags, head-thorax side airbags and belt tensioners in front, as well as Isofix points on the rear bench seat for suitably fitted child seats.
There’s no mention of the pricing for the time being.