When we were given the opportunity to drive the new Polo GTI, I knew that it would be special. The car was not just any ordinary test car, after all – this was a vehicle that Volkswagen had selected for its employees only (and even then, only if they booked it at least one day in advance).
Naturally, this made us wonder: How is an ordinary Volkswagen employee going to get his hands on one of these cars? Surely there won’t be enough supply to go around! So far as we know, Volkswagen hasn’t released any information on how many Polos will be made or when they’re going into production yet; however, given that this is the company’s smallest hot hatch ever made (see Reason #1 below), we suspect there will be plenty for everyone who wants one.
Volkswagen has just taken the wraps off its all-new Polo GTI, which will be launched in Europe next year.
Based on the standard Polo, this new version is all about performance. It features a 2.0-litre TSI engine that produces 204 hp and 280 Nm of torque (up from 197 hp and 280 Nm), along with a seven-speed DSG gearbox and electronic differential lock. There’s also an optional Performance Package that adds larger brakes as well as sportier suspension tuning for improved handling over road imperfections or rough surfaces.
2022 VW Polo GTI At A Glance
The GTI has always been the hot hatch of choice for those who want plenty of driving pleasure, but aren’t ready to make concessions to pure performance. The Volkswagen Polo GTI is no exception in this regard, and yet, even without the visual cues that usually accompany test drives (cars moving and scenery whooshing past), we still have the impression that this is not your average Pol.
In fact, the car feels more like a GTI than ever before thanks to its new engine combination: a turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder TSI engine with 195 horsepower (one up on last year’s model) that’s paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission; this powertrain produces 228 pound-feet of torque. Although it doesn’t quite reach Golf R levels on paper—or sound like one—we found ourselves disappointed at how quickly our drive was over when we returned from testing its performance potential at VW’s proving grounds in Germany last week.
