2010 Volkswagen Polo GTI set for mid-year launch in UK

By Matt Brogan | February 18th, 2010

Update: 2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI

UK buyers will be among the first to receive the new Volkswagen Polo GTI, a car VW promises to be “the fastest, most focused and cleanest performance Polo yet produced”.

The first performance variant of the Volkswagen Polo was unveiled back in 1986 as the G40 Coupé – a car that matched a high-revving mixed a fast-revving, 83kW supercharged engine with lightweight body and sharpened responses.

Today the recipe is much the same, with the new Volkswagen Polo GTI bearing many similarities to the G40. Under the bonnet a 1.4-litre TSI twin-charged engine uses a supercharged from idle to 3,000rpm at which point the turbocharger takes over. The net result is 132kW of power at 6,200rpm and 249Nm of torque from just 2,000rpm.

The Volkswagen Polo GTI weighs in at a mere 1,184kg meaning 0-100km/h times of 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 229km/h.

Even with such keen performance figures, the new Volkswagen Polo GTI still delivers fuel economy returns of 5.0L/100km (combined) and a CO2 emissions figure of just 139g/km.

The sporty engine is mated to a compact seven-speed DSG (twin clutch) transmission that in turn drives the front wheels. The new Polo GTI is also fitted with Volkswagen’s XDS electronic cross-axle traction control differential system – as found on the Volkswagen Golf GTI – for improved traction and handling. ESC is also standard.

Suspension has also been revised above the specification of the standard Polo with new springs and dampers to achieve a 15mm reduction in ride height.

The Polo GTI also boasts significant aesthetic changes. A new front bumper featuring a deep lower airdam is joined by a honeycombe grille with horizontal red strips and of course a GTI badge. New headlight units complete, with optional LED running lights, lend the Polo GTI an imposing new look.

In profile, Polo GTI gains subtle sill extension wraps around the lower edge of the body and 17-inch alloy wheels over red brake calipers, while up back, a new rear bumper features a small diffuser and a pair of chrome-tipped exhausts.

Finally, the cabin receives revised instrumentation, flat-bottomed steering GTI steering wheel with gearshift paddles and contrasting red stitching, aluminium pedals and sports seats with tartan trim. The console and headlining are now finished in black.

The new Volkswagen Polo GTI will arrive in the UK mid-2010 at which point pricing and specification will be announced. Other markets, including Australia, will follow shortly thereafter.

http://caradvice.com.au V DUBBED

Volkswagen has done it again, Great work nothing else to say PERFECT car
Mitch

When does the normal polo’s come out here?

The Other Brad

April apparently.

Driver

Do we know if there’ll also be a manual transmission?
Marty

Those figures for power, torque, acceleration and fuel consumption are big improvements on the outgoing model. Pretty damn good for a car of that price (assuming it doesn’t differ too much from the current model).
Adam

Wow…this Polo GTI looks great. Hopefully price is within reach of the current one, this is on my ‘to buy’ list!
david

Does Want. What a gorgeous vehicle. I’ll take one in red thanks.
Fenno

That motor is staggering for its size in the golf.
But in this….with more power….Yay!
The Other Brad

Hmm.. wait potentially till the end of the year to give this a shot or get an XR5 ‘nowish’. Decisions..

John

Go the XR5 mate.
I was tossing up between one of these (based on renderings which turned out to be almost identical to this) or an XR5 a few months back.

decided on the XR5. havent looked back.

the only reason i would even contemplate swinging to the polo is the price- which still remains unknown.

Petey

or a c30T5 or s40T5, which have the same engine as the XR5 (very sweet) in a volvo skin. I think the c30T5 is early to mid $40Ks (and looks very hot in the r-design), s40T5 is about $57K driveaway but a much bigger car.
The Other Brad

2009 Polo is $30K drive away on Carsales.
fasthonda

@John

I bought a XR5 less than 4 weeks ago!I got mine with leather(Recaro)and tint.
Great car,easy to drive plenty of torque and it sounds great.A very underrated car that has been great value.(less than $35,000 on the road)
The XR5′s torque cannot not be matched by the Polo GTI or infact the Golf GTI.I find the interior very good the handling gives me confidence and the gear changes are both smooth and positive
This new POLO GTI further shows the MKVI GOLF GTI as being underpowered.The POLO GTI would easily pass or keep up with a manual MKVI GTI.Just take a look at the 0-100 km/h times.

Valet Dabess

O.O i want one!
jimmy james

ATTENTION VOLKSWAGEN AUSTRALIA

Everyone knows the current car is $26990.

Do NOT get greedy with pricing of the new car.

Sell the 3 door for $28490 and the 5 door for $29,990 and you will be receiving a deposit cheque from me (and MANY other people)in the near future.

Oh, and we also know the new Polo GTi will be made in a 5 door.

NO EXCUSES, just bring the 5 door in as well!

My only dissapointment with this car on first glance is that it has the same wheels as the Golf GTi…how about something different!

Anyway, over to VWA to see if they can get this equation right, price it to HURT its competitors and watch the demand and cult status of the Polo GTi and indeed the whole GTi brand, skyrocket.

JJ

The Other Brad

My guess is that demand will exceed supply so the price will jump or there’ll simply be a looong waiting line. Mate of mine was told there was a 3ish month wait on most Mk6 Golfs in South Australia.
Matt

Please bring the 5 door GTI!

davie

This does look like an exciting car.

sadly, I expect VW will expect people to be falling over themselves and will price it at an unrealistic level.
Kris

Geez, VW will sell a million of these if it lands for less than $30k. This should be an absolute ripper of a car to drive, with excellent fuel economy to boot…Not to mention the Euro tuners will have power and handling upgrades coming out thick and fast for it. I can see the waiting list growing already…

fasthonda

Yes and no in regards to the tuning.The weak link is the 7 speed DSG.It has been mentioned that the 7 speed although quite robust,does not take to mods very well.
Mild mods may be ok however,more aggressive tuning may considerably shorten the DSG’s life span.

Xeryus

Drove the TSI when in the UK and the DSG is very much like mitsubs dual clutch gear box, once in first gear changes are rapid and barely noticeable. Its the delay and slight clunck/thud from nuetral to first that stands out in both VW and Mitsubishi\’s. They can handle about 30kw above default power from what i was told when in the UK, about the same as mitsubishis also, also more modded the more that intial thud from nuetral to first stands out i was told also

Driver

I was actually thinking this or the XR5 too!!

They’re not specific competitors, but at that price point (for me)… they’re both worth considering

I know the XR5 has the engine and the handling, but the interior is a little cheap

Polo GTi has the interior (for me)… but im not too sure on engine/handling yet obviously
HyundaiSmoke

Polo GTI VS Next Gen Accent SR VS MINI JCW= sweet hot hatch race!!!

The Other Brad

Except that the JCW is what.. $50K against what is expected to be $30K.

jimmy james

I think steering will be the biggest question mark on this car as its electric, which usually s*cks.

Anyway, great package and its its sub 30 they’ll have my money.

JJ
D

Finally they have a DSG model, really want one of these now.
Chucky

Very nice car. Will the blinkers be on the right or the left? If it is on the right, I will trade in my Swift Sport. If it is on the left, I will stick with the Japanese cars.

McBain

Chucky, it will take approximately 2 minutes for you to readjust permanently to having the lights and wiper controls swapped over. Figuring out the stereo controls will probably take longer.

Frenchie

Assembled in Germany?
Me thinks not.
Not for under $30000.

Xeryus

Australian Polo’s are suppose to be manufactured in South Africa and we be similar to build quality of the European variants…so they say :S

Andronicus

Holy crap….I like this more than the Golf GTI. Has more… character. Looks a bit younger.

Screw you VW, stop making so many appealing cars. My brain (and wallet) cant keep up.
betakoo

nice!!
dave

The biggest minus that I can see is the steering wheel is missing audio controls, I don’t see why they would not be included for a $30k car, and as they are on a Golf GTI. I’ll seriously consider buying one..

Anthony

I’m pretty sure that a multifunction steering wheel with audio controls will be available – only as an optional extra, though. I know if you go on the Volkswagen UK website you do have an option for multifunction steering wheel on the regular Polos for £110.

Xeryus

VWA some time ago said the new polo would be similarly priced with the outgoing model with expected 1-2k rise in price only. which i can handle if they keep their word!
http://google.com phambili

this is a very very good car but l want a 5 door coz am so not into 3 door cars but generaly the design far exceeds that one of corsa and auris