JUST imagine travelling zero to 100km in 6.9 seconds and hitting a top speed of 229kph as you play with a seven-speed close-ratio DSG (direct shift gearbox).
Although these specifications are associated with a sports car, the new Volkswagen Polo GTi delivers a similar performance.
And at the asking price of RM135,888 (five-door model) and RM132,888 (three-door model), everyone can now afford to drive fast.
Recently launched by Volkswagen Group Malaysia (VGM), the Polo GTi is sure to get hearts pumping and the adrenaline flowing among the young and young-at-heart here in Malaysia.
The exciting performance actually comes from a 1.4-litre twin-charged engine that has a mechanical supercharger and an exhaust-driven turbocharger that work together to give the Polo GTi 180 eager-to-go horsepower.
This exciting powerplant replaces the Polo GTi’s predecessor’s 1.8-litre engine with 150 horsepower.
Translated to the road, the new Polo GTi is even more of a ‘pocket rocket’ than its predecessor – I liked the previous one, and I love the current one even more.
Carrying a kerb weight of 1,194kg, the power-to-weight ratio of the new Polo GTi is about the same as that of its bigger brother, the Golf GTi, and will give it a good run for its money.
The very attractive retail price makes the Polo GTi affordable to a wider range of buyers. The fact that the first batch of 70 units has been snapped up, and that the waiting period now is close to six months if you sign up for one now, is testament to the popularity of the Polo GTi.
The standard 1.2-litre Polo shares the same body as the Polo GTi, and sells for RM30,000 less. Let’s see what you get for the difference.
The Polo GTi comes with an additional 200cu cm in engine displacement, basically the same engine that powers the Golf 1.4 TSi and the Scirocco 1.4 TSi.
But with some tweaking of the ECU (engine control unit), and what I suspect is a larger intercooler, the power is boosted from the standard 160 horsepower to 180 horsepower.
Whereas the drive system in the Polo is quite basic, the Polo GTi is equipped with ESP (electronic stability programme) and hill hold control. The transaxle comes with an electronic transverse differential lock that enhances handling around corners.
Bi-xenon lights illuminate the road at night while during the day there are LED-type daylight running lights. Wheels are the familiar ‘Detroit’ 17-inch rims shod with low profile tyres.
Paddle shifters, not available on the Polo, come as standard equipment in the Polo GTi. The steering wheel is leather-wrapped and the seats are adjustable buckets with fabric covers.
In addition, there are the usual front and side airbags. I would venture to say that the additional price one has to pay for the GTi is well worth it.
The media attended a preview and a test drive session of the new Polo GTi a couple of weeks ago at the Sepang International Circuit in conjunction with the Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup races, and I was among the fortunate ones who got to drive it both on the road and around the famed race circuit.
Despite the fact that the rear suspension was of the torsion beam type, the Polo GTi handled well and the overall performance is nothing short of thrilling.
On the road drive, there is a tendency for the rear to get some bump-steer over small humps but the overall performance makes up for this small shortcoming.
All things said and done, the Polo GTi is a fantastic performance-for-value package that cannot be ignored.
Just go and test drive one before you make your decision to purchase it, and you will see exactly what I mean.
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