Polo gets a power boost

Volkswagen's new five-speed GTiPolo has the most grunt of any model in the 30-year series.

The new five-speed Volkswagen GTi Polo is the most powerful since the series was introduced 30 years ago.

It uses a 1.8-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 110kW (150bhp) of power and 229Nm of torque, get-up-and-go that launches the Polo from zero to 100km/h in just over eight seconds.

The exterior and interior of the powerful compact deliberately bears a resemblance to the bigger Golf GTi.

Outside, it displays the typical radiator grille theme of the GTI - black, V-shaped, and with a honeycomb-shaped protection grid.

The dual headlights are cased in black, just like the standard equipped foglights in the outside air vents.

The brake calipers front and rear are red, along with the GTi insignias. The Polo rides on 16-inch alloys and 205/45 R 16 tyres. The sports suspension set-up gives the car a 15mm-lower ride than the standard model.

Black side skirts visually underline the chassis design, and the rear of the vehicle features a rooftop spoiler (with integrated third brake light) and a chrome-plated double exhaust pipe.

The interior is also in the style of the Golf GTi, right down to the checkered design on the sports seats.

Sports steering wheel, gearshift knob and handbrake grip are covered in leather. The foot pedals are aluminium.

A level of passive security is also provided by the front and side airbags.

"We are keenly anticipating the arrival of the Polo GTi early in the New Year," said Dean Sheed, general manager of Volkswagen New Zealand. "This will follow nicely on the success of its big brother, the Golf GTi.

"The first six months of the Golf GTi being on sale resulted in over 100 vehicles sold, and we anticipate finishing the year with double that number, well above our forecast.

"The Polo GTI will add some pure excitement to the small car segment."