VW primes pokey Polo

Newswheel staff :: 07 October 2005 :: Filed under Volkswagen, Volkswagen Polo, Europe & UK,

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GTI treatment for VW’s entry-level hatch

The latest Golf GTI is spectacular return to form after the painfully podgy pairing that was the third and fourth generation GTIs. So, can VW come up with another corker with the new Polo GTI, due to be unveiled at the Tokyo motorshow?

If it doesn’t, it won’t be for lack of power. With 148bhp and 169 lb/ft from VW’s rather familiar 1.8-litre turbo lump, it may not match the 180bhp+ outputs of the fastest of the Frenchies (the Renault Clio Sport and Peugeot 206 GTI 180). But it’s still the pokiest Polo in the history of this pint-sized premium hatchback. As for performance stats, the 0-62mph sprint is dispatched in 8.2 seconds, while the car hits “the wall” at 134mph. Hardly world beating, but just enough to handling and all-round road manners to make or break it as a driver’s car.

Stylistically, the vibe is a chip off the new Golf GTI’s block with a retro twist inside courtesy of classic VW GTI check cloth seats. Which only leaves that nagging question: can the Polo’s chassis and steering deliver? Given the dependable but rather dreary drive the standard car delivers, we doubt it. But we’d love to be proved wrong.

Prices and on-sale dates have yet to be announced.