PARIS MOTOR SHOW: VW Polo GTI

Volkswagen has taken the wraps off its newest, smallest hot hatch -- the 2015 Polo GTI.

Due in Australia next year, the 1.8-litre turbocharged Polo will bear all the hallmarks of the GTI nameplate, including tartan upholstery, 17-inch alloy wheels, a restricted colour palette and red-rimmed grille.

However, unlike Europeans, Australians will not have access to the three-door version revealed in Paris and pictured here, with only the five-door set for release here.

The other interesting news is that, while the new Polo GTI six-speed manual will offer 340Nm of torque, buyers of the seven-speed DSG automatic version will forego 70Nm because the twin-clutch transmission is limited to 250Nm of torque – the same as before.

However, all Polo GTIs will deliver 141kW of power from a larger 1.8-litre turbo-petrol engine -- up from 132kW in the outgoing Polo GTI DSG, powered by a 1.4-litre 'twin-charger' engine.

The latest VW hot hatch will come with all the technological advances of the , including electric steering, revised suspension and the Golf’s classy touch-screen new multi-media system including Bluetooth phone connectivity and in-dash satellite-navigation.

The addition of a manual transmission to the range will come as a welcome announcement to many potential Polo GTI buyers, who were only offered an auto option with the previous model.

Volkswagen Australia said it couldn’t confirm exactly when the new Polo GTI will go on sale here next year, and would not be drawn on specification and pricing, but it will be in the first half.

And given the increasing competition in the light-size hot hatch segment and the addition of a manual transmission to the range, expect a price drop from the $29,540 (plus ORCs) of the current Polo GTI five-door with DSG, which costs $2500 in other VW models.

Even without a three-door, the 2015 Polo GTI could be priced as low as $27,000 in six-speed manual form  -- $1000 more than Ford’s manual-only Fiesta ST, which musters up 'just' 134kW.