Volkswagen Australia have announced pricing and the specification spread for the all-new Polo GTI ahead of the start of its local availability this August. Naturally, at $30,990, it will sit on the peak of the 6th-generation Polo range, which is comprised of the entry 70TSI Trendline, 85TSI Comfortline, and more luxurious Launch Edition.
Unlike those other variants, which begin at $17,990, the Polo GTI arrives with a far more serious engine over the modest 1.0-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder that the Trendline and Comfortline are starting out with. The hot Polo’s EA888 motor is mechanically identical to the ones in the larger Golf GTI at 2.0-litres, matching the output from VW’s signature hot hatch in its Mark V form.
The TSI motor generates 147kW and 320Nm, posing a significant step up in power and torque over the previous Polo GTI, and is even matched to a clever locking electronic front differential to manage power delivery to those front wheels.
As suspected, though, the units destined for Australian shores will not come in manual guise, instead using a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic for shifting duty. The extra power will be appreciated thanks to the new Polo having grown noticeably larger than its predecessor, being built from VW’s modular MQB platform. Despite this, the car’s weight hasn’t increased by much, easily marking this as the most potent Polo GTI ever offered from the factory.
Once it does arrive on our shores, the Mk6 Polo GTI will come equipped with 17-inch Milton Keynes alloy wheels, Clark tartan cloth upholstery, Sport Select suspension with Driving Profile Selection, leather multi-function sports steering wheel with shift paddles, LED interior lighting, Keyless Access and Start, dual zone climate control, rear view camera, and an 8-inch Composition Media infotainment system with 6-speaker audio array.
The car also comes with a respectable suite of safety features that include Front Assist with Emergency Brake (City EB) and pedestrian monitoring, tyre pressure monitoring rain sensing wipers, static cornering lights, and cruise control. Shelling out an $1,400 more for the Driver Assistance pack will yield even more goodie such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, rear traffic alert, and Park Assist.
Speaking of optional extras, Volkswagen will also offer the Polo GTI with a Sound & Vision pack ($1,900) that adds an Active Info Display similar to Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, a more advanced Discovery Media infotainment system with in-built satellite navigation, and a premium 300W audio system by Beats.
Lastly, the Luxury pack delivers posher 18-inch Brescia alloys, a panoramic electric glass sunroof, tinted rear glass, LED headlights and LED daytime running lights, heated front seats, and upholstery in Art Velour microfleece. For all that, you’ll need to lay on an additional $3,900.
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