New Volkswagen Polo GTI gets more power
Overhauled VW hot hatch gets revised 2.0-litre turbo with more power than Fiesta ST and Hyundai i20 NThe facelifted 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI has been revealed and the big news is that when it arrives in Australia in the second quarter of next year it will boast a more powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and new advanced driver assist tech.
Under the bonnet, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder TSI engine carries over but it's had power boosted from 147kW to 152kW, although torque remains capped at the same 320Nm as the pre-facelift model.
New for the Polo GTI is a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic in place of a six-speed DSG; a DIY manual will not be an option.
Against the clock, thanks to those extra kilowatts and new transmission, the Polo GTI assisted by launch control takes 6.5 seconds to complete the 0-100km/h dash.
That's 0.2sec quicker than the current model, with the VW hot hatch now on par with the Ford Fiesta ST for acceleration.
Top speed, meanwhile, is 240km/h, making it faster than key rivals.
Like before, the Polo GTI is strictly front-wheel drive, but despite its power and torque advantage over both the Ford Fiesta ST (147kW/290Nm) and the Hyundai i20 N (150kW/275Nm), it misses out on their mechanical differentials, favouring VW's XDS electronic diff that uses its brakes to torque vector.
It also remains a rung down below the all-wheel drive, race-bred 200kW/370Nm Toyota GR Yaris, which is currently subject to a stop-sale due to huge demand from Aussie buyers.
Sitting 15mm lower than the current model, the updated Polo GTI gets the option of adaptive dampers that are combined with four driving modes: Eco, Normal, Sport and Individual.
Choose the adaptive dampers that come with what Volkswagen has dubbed Sports Select suspension and you also get stiffer anti-roll bars and more rigid mounting for the suspension, hinting at a major chassis rethink across the entire Polo range.
Externally, designers have given the Polo GTI looks more in line with the latest Mk8 Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Up front this means there's a full-width LED light bar, redesigned LED matrix headlights, a slimmer grille opening, larger air dam and four hexagonal fog lights.
New 17-inch five-spoke alloy rims are also fitted, and can be upsized to 18s.
At the rear there's new wraparound tail-lights that feature dynamic indicators, a fresh boot and bumper design, plus a pair of twin pipes.
Like the Mk8 Golf, the new Volkswagen Polo GTI boasts the car-maker's latest autonomous driving aids that include its IQ Travel Assist system that works from standstill up to 210km/h and includes lane assist. There's also cross traffic alert and autonomous emergency braking (AEB).
Volkswagen's Digital Cockpit Pro becomes standard in all markets, with the 10.25-inch instrument cluster featuring bespoke GTI graphics.
The most basic Polo GTI variants bag an 8.0-inch infotainment system that can be upgraded to a 9.2-inch display.
Both wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available, with wireless charging.
Australian officials have confirmed to carsales that the new Volkswagen Polo GTI will launch here around May 2022, following the first-quarter launch in around February for mainstream Polo variants.
“In terms of Polo, the GTI is particularly important. It fulfils the same role as the Golf GTI, the hero model, and while it’s not the biggest seller for Polo, it’s certainly the main attraction,” a spokesperson said.
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