There are a select few cars which we hold in high regard, but the GTI badge on Volkswagen vehicles has always been a consistent sign of “this is going to be fun” and we expect no less from the new Volkswagen Polo GTI which has just been unveiled.
Having started life back in 1986, the Polo GTI has come a long way from having just 83kW from its tiny supercharged engine. Some 24 years later and the new generation Polo GTI, expected to go on sale in Australia in the second half of this year, is powered by a 135kW 1.4-litre twin charged TSI engine.
Yes, that’s 135kW for a car which has a kerbweight of just 1,184 kg! The beauty of the new Polo GTI is that not only does it have a supercharger, which boosts the car from idle through to 3,000 rpm, but it also has a turbocharger which kicks it at 3,000rpm to provide even more boost.
135kW and an even more impressive 250Nm of torque from 2,000 rpm sounds rather crazy for a tiny car, which is probably why we can’t wait to drive it. Put all those figures together and you’ll find yourself in a true hot-hatch which can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 6.9 seconds, with a topspeed of almost 230km/h.
Although this is the sport version of the Polo range and those looking for extreme fuel economy are best to look at other variants, the GTI still delivers the goods when it comes to fuel figures by using just 5.0L/100km and emitting and even more impressive 139 g/km of CO2.
The supercharged and turbocharged little engine is mated to a compact seven-speed, twin-clutch DSG transmission that pushes the power out via the front-wheels. Given the size of the Polo GTI and previous models, it will no doubt handle beautifully.
To really kick some more butt in the handling department the new 2011 Polo GTI comes standard with an XDS differential, an electronic cross-axle traction control system which is an extension of the electronic limited slip differential (EDL) which itself is a part of the standard ESP system.
The Polo GTI sits 15 mm lower than other Polo variants thanks to its new springs and dampers and it wouldn’t be a GTI if it didn’t look the part. Aesthetic changes include a new front bumper with a deep airdam joined by a honeycombe grille element with horizontal red strips and a simple GTI badge. An entirely new headlight structure able to support optional LED running lights finish the front.
For the rear a whole new bumper features a small diffuser and a pair of chrome-tipped exhausts. There is no mention of the word Polo either, instead all you’ll see is a simple ‘GTI’ badge. To top it all off, the Golf GTI’s 17-inch alloy wheels come standard and sit above a set of red brake callipers.
From the inside the regular GTI changes are still apparent with revised dials, a Lamborghini-style flat-bottomed GTI steering wheel attached to gearshift paddles and contrasting red stitching plus aluminium pedals. The GTI also makes do with new bolstered front sports seats finished in tartan trim.
To make it even more sporty subtle gloss black trim covers the centre console while the headlining is now finished in black.
Volkswagen Australia spokeswoman Jenny Wu told CarAdvice the new Volkswagen Polo range will be here in May with the GTI expected to arrive in the second half of this year.
I think I’ve just found my next car – now to choose between black and red…
It would be even nicer if I could get change from $30…any guess on pricing?
I’d say you won’t get much change from 30g with on-roads but you may get a little.
Not having dealt with VW dealers before, any speculation on their room to budge? Will depend on supply as well I suppose.
Yep, with models like this, the demand can be quite high at first so sometimes not much budging happens!
You’ll be able to haggle mostly on the optional extras- they have the most room to move on those.
Was reading the article on carsales and it’s aimed as being a competitor to the Mini Cooper S.. which goes for quite a bit more than 30K. So question is, will it simply compete on price or what?
Same story? http://www.caradvice.com.au/57.....in-the-uk/
Yep! Double post. We’ll leave them both up given the comments on the old one and the new information on the new one.
You only mention the DSG transmission. Is there not going to be a manual on offer?
No mention of a manual.
If VW want any sales in Europe then it’s a given that it will be available with a manual.
Yes i have purchaed one of these with a manual, been extremely handy for eeting up bluetooth option
I wana know, is the VW Scirocco coming to Australia? If not why.
I mean Seriously the Scirocco is a much better looking car than the Polo and Golf, a better car, and I recon the Scirocco R would be a better Buy.
I don’t get the Scirocco, design-wise. It looks vertically squished with overly thick roof and windscreen pillars.
The Scirocco isnt coming to Australia because its a direct competitor to the Golf given VW’s market share here.
Everything I have read and all indications from VW Aus the Scirocco will not be coming any time soon. They cannot seem to make the numbers work for Australia and even the US will not be getting the Scirocco anytime soon.
The R version of either a Golf or Scirocco would cost far more than a Polo GTI.
Very clever.. Very sweet looking small hot hatch..This VW will sell like hotpolos.
It certainly sounds like a lot of fun but it might pay to seek an extended dealer warranty,
given the highly stressed nature of this engine.
Oh, so it wouldn`t have been heavily tested prior to release?
Well…the extended warranty may be just the best thing you ever do. I currently own a Polo GTI and I have been back to the dealership more times than any other car I have owned (all Jap btw). Very dissapointing as I love the car. Major probs so far with dash rattles and gearbox….When starting from cold (and I use cold loosely as I live in the tropics, It don’t get cold here) the engine rattles and shakes until warm> I have just clocked 40,000 kms and warranty due in a couple of months so I will be extending it as I am not ab;e to sell right now. (oh and BTW I am no longer in my early twenties so I dont exactly thrash the thin either!)
Gearbox is proving to be a major hassle…I see there have been recalls in Germany and UK but case by case everywhere else. Grates, synchros seem to be outta whack, jumps out of gear. The dealer will only replace things if I can recreate prob which as anyone knows can be “Murphy’s Law” at the best of times. My concern is paying off a car and having to fork out over $5000 (price according to dealer) for a gearbox when warranty expires. Look up the 1000′s of forums on the gearbox of current model. Lets hope its a better one this time around!
But the new GTI looks hot….apart from abovementioned issues I would have loved the 4dr to come to Oz…its just looks more balanced and climbing in and out of that back seat becomes a pain in the a*!
They’ve done it again. VW some how manage to fit everything that is good about motoring into the tiniest of packages. So any mention on colours as i want to put my order in yesterday.
This Polo GTI is exactly as fast as the new Golf GTI 0-100, uses less fuel and will likely cost over 15K less. You still get the shiny VW badge and GTI label, nice alternative if you don’t need the couple of extra inches.
I agree with you. I think this sort of makes the GTI obsolete. You really don’t need the Golf GTI if the Polo has all its bits and bobs for 15k less. And i reckon it looks better.
Doesn’t make the GTI obsolete at all. The Polo is not as quick, not as big, and only has 2 doors, there’s no centre console.
According to VW they have the exact same 0-100 time. How is it not as quick?
The MKVI GTI is quicker to 100 than 6.9, it’s quicker than Polo from 100-200, in fact it’s quicker everywhere. That makes the Polo not as quick.
Doesn’t make the Polo bad, the Polo is fantastic. But it doesn’t have 4 doors, and it’s a relative pov pack because there’s no centre console. That’s a dead giveaway on all entry models, and should not have been left like that by VW.
The Polo is at least as quick as a manual GTI MKVI!
This Polo further proves what I have always maintained..the GTI Golf
is NOT a HOT hatch,it’s warm at best!
Don’t forget that the Polo is approx. 160Kgs lighter than a GTI Golf.
The only trouble I envisage is that the 7 speed DSG may prove too weak if the Polo is chipped /re-flashed.
why everyone only care about 0-100, its should not be the first thing to warry about if some one looking for a light weight sporty car, either mini and golf have a mutilink real suspention, in other world the polo does NOT have a indpendent real suspention and it will understear like fat pig if you really push it and its not fix able. that way its costing far less than a cooper s. I think the GTI polo its a jok if some one compare the track thime with a GTI golf even they are same at 0-100.
Woohoo! I’ve ended my GTI lease last month in anticipation of this little fox. Over 200kgs lighter, same quality level, DSG, about 10k cheaper, plus used values won’t be tarnished because of a huge options list. I can’t wait!
Back to the future this would be just about same size as golf gti circa 1976 , 200kg heavier , safety and luxo’s , but gruntier , this will shake up the hot hatch segment , mini and clio in gun sights .
According to CM starting at 18000 pounds mmmmm seems bit high , if its close to 30k it will boom
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Do the bits that make up your house hang up? That should answer your question
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i think if you re-read his comment he was talking about the goods inside your house.
Going by his comments I dont think he has any
Thank you. Oh and BTW, the Chinese clothes on Hung Low’s back supposedly aren’t of good enough quality or price for him to buy them, but he did.
Wish someone would put you in a coma – permanently
will there be a five door version?
Given the price in GBP, all the gadgets like XDS and DSG, improved performance figures figures compared with last generation and current competitors. I bet this will be closer to 35k. A huge spike compared with the previous generation of just 26k.
i like this little car alot…. hopefully its sub 30k like the existing model. :D really good value hot-hatch.
cant wait to have a good look at one when they get here. as good as the DSG is though, id still just go for the manual.. ;)
Dimensions, proportions, weight, size, power, torque, DSG, paddles, etc. There is nothing missing from this near perfect hot hatch. Damn, it even has the Denver 17″ wheels rather than the previous 16s, poking its nose heavily into big brother’s space :)
Missing is a centre console, manual, and 4 doors…….
Get in line early folks, if you want one of these, they will sell like hot cakes. There’s nothing on the market that comes close.
Price will be dearer than the current model, expect at least +$2500 for the DSG.
This will steal more Golf GTI sales than would the Scirocco.
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You could have bought a second hand ‘busa for less thats faster… whats your point? Does your R1 have windscreen wipers?
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yeah yeah dan. Some of us like bikes too. And while we appreciate your comments. And 6.9 sec to 100 isn’t really quick in the scheme of things.
But consider a trip to the shops with a friend to buy a case of beer. By the time you put your helmet, jacket, gloves and boots on (assuming your not one of these too-cool-for-school retards I see getting around in a t-shirt and no gloves). By the time you did all that, a person driving this GTi will already be back from the shops with the groceries…. and if its raining… well. Your 0-100 time really will mean dick.
So these cars are very very relevant.
Dan, you can’t compare a motorcycle with a car, that’s just myopic. That’s like comparing a men’s magazine with Miranda Kerr, it simply doesn’t do the same function. Compare this car with a Renault Clio RS 197 or maybe a Peugeot 207 GTI, and then the Polo GTI may turn out to be very good value.
I am not sure if the basic Polo would be the best in it’s class, however this maybe could really be the best performer for it’s price in it’s category.
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“scatman”, please stop your repugnant comments on this clean site, otherwise you will be moderated.
I don’t understand the arguement about the Scirocco not coming to Australia because of it taking GTI sales. I would buy a Scirocco R today if VW Aus imported them (blue, 19″ wheels with DSG and leather), but since it is not availible I am going to buy either a Nissan 370z or BMW 135, not a GTI. People who want a Scirocco aren’t the same as the ones that want a GTI (or even Golf R for that matter).
Additionally, the Scirocco competes against the GTI in every other market worldwide (excluding USA) so why not Australia as well. I know that we supposedly have the highest GTI percentage compared to other golfs sales ratio (I believe ~25%), but obviously that means we like the products, so why not offer another one to get more sales. Business basics is that competition is good for business and it is even better when you are selling the competing product!!
Depending on the pricing of the polo, it may well be the more popular GTI model with it being better looking than the golf, having LED daytime running lights option and being just a quick within legal street speeds.
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i will buy this if it comes in sub 30
Oh boy!,would I be feeling like an idiot if I had just bought a MKVI GTI Golf.
This new GTI Polo is very close to the performance figures of it’s eunuch bigger brother,the Golf.Unless the Polo will be more than $35,000 on the road,the MKVI GTI
seems overpriced for a so called hot hatch.
Although impressed with the Polo’s performance figures,the interior is quite plain.
Given that it has that the same software for the fake LSD as the GTI Golf I don’t think it will have the same dynamics in the handling department of say the Mini Cooper S or RS Clio Cup.
I believe this car will be targeted mostly to the younger female drivers(over 21′s?).
If any males buy the GTI Polo …well don’t be suprised if another guy blows kisses from the car beside you.
Word is you will not get any change from $30K. I suspect $29,990 plus onroads if we are VERY LUCKY, certainly no less but quite possibly more, as I believe the DSG will be the only transmission offered, hope I’m wrong.
PS: I have seen the Scirocco in the flesh at Paris08 & in Berlin last year. Let me tell you it is quite simply, sex on wheels, I love it. I even bought a tiny model of one cos I know I won’t get a real one here. Inside is pretty much straight Golf GTI though.
Just got back from my local VW dealer, here in Melbourne.
He informs me that whislt VW haven’t officially supplied a price for the new Polo GTI, he says that their current pricing pattern for new models is to keep the price the same as the one it replaces. He also said this car will be DSG ONLY and expects the price to remain at approx $30k. Performance wise, he said its 0-100 time is only one-tenth slower than the Golf GTI.
Whilst the above article says it will have the twincharger, the rep was unsure as there will be two engine sizes (1.2 and 1.4L) in the Polo and VW have not confirmed anything to their dealerships as yet, but he did confirm the 135kw figure.
When I asked about the longevity and reliability of the twincharger (and take this with a grain of salt, he is a salesman…), he said that having won World Engine of the Year, it means that it’s been subjected to a range of demanding tests by engineers and scientists and come out on top and as yet, he is unaware of any owners having a problem with the engine beyond a water pump fault in early examples that has since been rectified. Sounds promising!
I’m definitely keen on this car. BTW, he tipped it to be on sale in Aus around October. If the current 9 month waiting list on the Gold GTI is too long, get your butt into your VW dealer as soon as the Polo GTI is announced for sale!
If they sold it @ $30K drive-away that would be unbelievable value, not saying ur lying, but I find it hard to believe they could do it at that price, especially with DSG standard, but we shall have to wait & see I guess.
If $30K on-road I will be putting in my order!
It won’t be $30,000 all costs inclusive. Personaly I think approximately $30,000 will be the starting price with a manual and DSG will be an option to keep the base price as low as possible to compete with the Swift Sport and the like. I would want a manual anyway, DSGs are for people who have to drive a lot in congested traffic during the week. leather should definitely be an option, so even when you option it up it still will be approximately $10,000 cheaper than the Golf GTI.
I didnt say it would be $30K d/away I said it would be unbelievable if they did.
Skoda Fabia RS for me, 5-door convenience, more standard equipment, similar quality and a lower price, for essentially the same car. Fabulous!
Now if Skoda Aus would bring it here….
At this rate I will be importing my GTI from South Africa
Why is Australia the last country in the world to see the new VW Polo.South Africa has had their New Polo launch back in February 2010 and New Zealand in November 2009!!
Come on Australia! you don’t want your Kiwi Cousins across the Tasmin top beat you to a new model launch.One last word, why is Volkswagen Australia not importing the new
Volkswagen Sirocco, there again your cousins across the Tasmin have beaten you to it!
At this rate I will be importing my GTI from South Africa
Why is Australia the last country in the world to see the new VW Polo.South Africa has had their New Polo launch back in February 2010 and New Zealand in November 2009!!
Come on Australia! you don\\\’t want your Kiwi Cousins across the Tasmin top beat you to a new model launch.One last word, why is Volkswagen Australia not importing the new
Volkswagen Sirocco, there again your cousins across the Tasmin have beaten you to it!
You would think that if the Scirocco can go to NZ then it should be a no brainer to bring here. The cars are going to come on the same ship, so freight shouldn’t cost much more, and we are a much larger market, so VW have more chance of making a sale here.
From German website Auto News here is the latest info on GTi. Price 22,500 Euro = 32,150 AUD. 1.390 ccm, 132 kW (180 PS) at 6.200 rpm, max 250 Nm at 2.000 bis 4.500 rpm, 7 speed DSG, 1194 kg, 45 liter tank, top speed 229km/h, 0 to 100km/h in 6.9 sec, combined fuel economy is 5.9 L/100km.