Volkswagen is all geared up to showcase the most powerful variant of the Polo, the Polo GTI at the Auto Expo 2016. While showcasing such performance oriented cars at a show is nothing new, the German carmaker has gotten us excited by also announcing a launch of the model for India. The car will be introduced in a 3-door format to the market
“In line with Volkswagen India’s Think Ahead. Think New philosophy, this would be a 3-door carline, a first of its kind in the Indian market. Ticking all the boxes of exhilarating performance, power and comfort, the Polo GTI is guaranteed to make heads turn with its striking redesign with instant recognition”, the company said in a statement.
The new Polo GTI is powered by a 1.8 liter TSI engine with 192 PS of power. Transmission is available in both 6-speed manual and 7-speed DSG auto flavours internationally, however India will get only the 7-speed DSG variant. For the manual variant, the Polo GTI produces its peak power between 4,200 and 6,200, while for the 7-speed DSG the range is from 5,400 to 6,200 rpm. In terms of torque, the DSG variant produces 250 Nm at 1,250 – 5,300 rpm, whereas the manual gearbox spouts 320 Nm between 1,450 – 4,200 rpm.
The Polo GTI gets newly designed bumpers and typical GTI insignia such as distinctive wheels and the red strips in the radiator grille and the H7 headlights or optional LED headlights. The Polo GTI also comes equipped with sports suspension as standard, lowering its stance on the road by 15 mm. The silhouette and the rear also boast sporty design features. The door sills are distinctively flared, adding further to the Polo GTI’s sporty appeal, along with GTI styled alloy wheels.
The suspension setup comprises a McPherson-type front axle and a torsion beam axle for the rear wheels. The 17-inch wheels come with 215/40 tyres. The vehicle’s handling is further refined through the addition of a new electro mechanical steering system. The Polo also has ESC (electronic stabilisation control) on board as standard.
Volkswagen also offers electronically adjustable dampers in the Polo GTI. The optional ‘Sport Select’ suspension for the GTI is only available in conjunction with the ‘Sport Performance Kit’. When the driver presses the ‘Sport’ button (in the upper area of the centre console) this activates an electro-mechanical switching valve in the dampers which alters their tuning to the stiffer characteristic of a true sports suspension. In addition, the ‘Sport Performance Kit’ lends the new electromechanical power steering an even sportier characteristic.
The car will be unveiled on February 4, 2016 at the Delhi Motor Show, and taking the CBU route, may be priced at around INR 20 lakh. Will it find any buyers here? Do let us know your thoughts. Check out the image gallery of the Polo GTI below
