Volkswagen Polo GTI - First Photos

[jamie@vwvortex]

Volkswagen has released the first photos (but no text yet) of the new Polo GTI, presumably to be shown the Geneva Auto Show in a few weeks. Autocar in the UK is reporting that the new Polo GTI is powered by a 177hp 1.4l TSI (twin-charger) with a seven-speed DSG gearbox and VW's XDS differential found in the Golf VI GTI.

There are no current plans to offer the Polo here in the U.S. Volkswagen of America is always evaluating the possibility, particular with sub-compacts like the Honda Fit selling a bit better in recent months.

[lilredjettawagon]

Very nice!!

[Passat94VR6]

VWoA - what don't you get?! Small cars are BIG again in the US. Bring it over and you won't regret it!

[rico_arg]

Very nice... but the denvers.. Do i spy the new NAV?

[mister_g60]

give. me.

[quailallstar]

Like the lights and the LED's. Look like the ones in the all new T-reg. I see LED's trickling their way through the model ranges soon.

[Twelvizm]

Another awesome car that VW isn't bringing over. Maybe when the new plant in the US is done, we'll see cars that normally would be too expensive to bring over the pond.

[deleonl1]

4-doors please!!!

[VR6~aholic]

Quote, originally posted by rico_arg »

Very nice... but the denvers.. Do i spy the new NAV?

I normally hate those wheels but in silver they're tollerable on that car. Too bad they won't bring it here. That would make for a kick ass daily driver.

[OstTrefftWest]

In a four-door, I'd place a pre-order deposit right now. Even in a two-door, I'd consider taking on a new car payment and replacing my MkIV, which I'm still perfectly happy with.

Bring it, VW! Bring it! Bring it!!!

[paul99]

Quote, originally posted by Passat94VR6 »

VWoA - what don't you get?! Small cars are BIG again in the US. Bring it over and you won't regret it!

Agree !

[Seanele]

Quote, originally posted by jamie@vwvortex »

....is powered by a 177hp 1.4l TSI (twin-charger) with a seven-speed DSG gearbox and VW's XDS differential found in the Golf VI GTI

Twin Charger, is this means 2 turbos or 2 superchargers?

[GnarlyGash]

I'd buy this in a heart beat!

[quailallstar]

Quote, originally posted by Seanele »

Twin Charger, is this means 2 turbos or 2 superchargers?

No, 1 turbo and 1 supercharger.

More info here
http://www.vwvortex.com/cgi-bi...=1496


Modified by quailallstar at 12:42 PM 2-17-2010

[Dan Halen]

This is much more on-the-mark than the new Golf GTI, IMO. This looks like a logical progression rather than change for the sake of change (foglamps, instrument cluster for example).

Sharp car, VW. Good job. I just hope you fixed the crappy latch design on the MkIV armrests you appear to be finding for this car.

[FiveAinOne]

its the modern day mk2!!

[crawl]

other websites state it will be shipped exclusively with 7 speed DSG and will do 0-60 in 6.9sec.

the rest in Russian http://auto.lenta.ru/news/2010/02/17/polo/


Modified by crawl at 1:01 PM 2-17-2010

[Nemesis-Brad]

DO Want in the US !!!

[deleonl1]

Quote, originally posted by Passat94VR6 »

VWoA - what don't you get?! Small cars are BIG again in the US. Bring it over and you won't regret it!

As much as I like Volkswagen, I don't think they'll ever get "it." Just like they finally have a mini-van, which isn't even built by VW, that is 10 years too late.

[Steve Z1]

If VW had this car in the US, even without the twin charger, as in the already certified 2.0T, I'd buy it in a heart beat.

When will VW sell to us a high quality B segment car, don't dumb it down, built it in Mexico if that helps get the labor costs down, but keep the looks, quality and design intact.

VW are you listening?

Ford is doing it with the Fiesta and next generation Focus, please don't assume all US customers are not willing to appreciate this product.

Yes I know you will fall back on your customer survey's, guess what I have never been surveyed, I have owned over 40 cars, ranging in cost from $7K to over $100K, you think you would want to sell me one more car and have me continue to be your loyal customer?

Oh well, I am sure this will be ignored by VWAG and VWOA

[antichristonwheels]

Very nice execution VW.

Another car we'll never see.

[radiospace]

Bring it!

[911dub]

Holy Mini stomper! Bring it!

[Green Hare]

Quote, originally posted by jamie@vwvortex »

There are no current plans to offer the Polo here in the U.S. Volkswagen of America is always evaluating the possibility, particular with sub-compacts like the Honda Fit selling a bit better in recent months.

Ah, so the Polo is off again... brilliant...

[Pelican18TQA4]

VWoA, you give me agita. I would take a fully-loaded Polo GTI in less than a heartbeat. It's like a smaller and lighter Golf GTI; what could be wrong about that? And what's with the MkIV armrest


Modified by Pelican18TQA4 at 3:46 PM 2-17-2010

[Brush]

Dear VWoA, and VWoC

Please bring this car over here. My neighbourhood is full of Minis, Smarts, Aveos, Fits, Yaris, etc.

What don't you folks get. If you want to increase your N.A. sales to 800,000 (U.S.) as I've read about, then you need to bring us more models, and choice within those models.

Some other manufacturers have introduced small models to Canada first, before the intro to the U.S. - perhaps VWoC could consider that!

So, make mine specifically a Polo GTI, stick-shift, sunroof, a decent colour choice, and I am yours forever.

[Eurofan4eva]

VW needs this car here...

[Chimera]

The half-black roof looks nice. Odd they won't bring this here, probably too close to the higher margin golf space.

[nate@NGP]

An amazing looking car. Perfectly balanced, a true successor to the Mk2 GTI IMO...

I'd love it if they brought this here.

[swags]

VWoA get of your duffs! and bring that Polo here!!!!! looks as fun as my MK1! ;-)

[wky]

Again, is it because of the margins VWoA is worried about or it just won't sell because of the price that they have to place it at? How long do they have to 'study' if this car will work here or not? Their excuses are just soo lame now.

[AudiVwMeister]

study, study, study. it took them till '83 to bring the "rabbit gti" here. even though we did have the rabbit before that.

i would buy this car... in a stick.

[TechEd]

Quote, originally posted by Passat94VR6 »

VWoA - what don't you get?! Small cars are BIG again in the US. Bring it over and you won't regret it!

With USD 1.40 for every Euro, there's plenty to regret. Right now, importing any form of Polo would be a reckless act on the part of VWGoA, and it would further deepen their existing Eurozone product losses. A lemonade stand business sense is not appropriate when you have to multiply your production and import costs in Euros times 1.4 or worse.

Just to break even on importation to the US, they'd have to price the car well beyond what the current market segment would bear ...this is obviously the reason why they did not pull the trigger sooner. The break even scenario starts to crumble in the fact that they would be restricted in the range of build variants and they'd have to commit to export production volumes on par with the European home market in order for the build factory to make any money.

Small cars are indeed bigger in the US/CDN, but the total market saturation for this class in the US alone is chump change compared to Europe, and let's not get started on discussing the up-and-down volatility and fickle nature of the total US market. Importing the existing car from Germany simply is not feasible right now.

Regardless, rumour has it that a US market specific Polo is being considered, and that the Honda Fit was used as the benchmark. Production would have to be local (Puebla, Curitiba, Chattanooga?), or if built in the Eurozone, have the losses of these offset fully by profits from future Chattanooga production.

Don't get me wrong or shoot the messenger, ...I dearly love the Polo (I always drive Polo on business in the Fatherland) and would spring for one in a New York minute if offered here. I'd just prefer to see the VW brand survive in the US, have VWGoA continue to live within their means and keep their employees, contractors and their families safe and sound. Don't forget that they currently are the only importer subsidiary of a global OEM that does not produce volume product on US soil ...allowing US product profits to offset Eurozone losses as is the case with Mercedes and BMW.

[Shawn O]

Sell a 4 door Polo GTI here and I'll buy it in a heartbeat.

[Yorch]

I want this car !!

Is amazing the performance and balance of this beauty !

Like you said guys, Is the truly MK2 of these days !

Perfect Design
Great Engine
Sport Interior

Do you need more ??

Yes, just offer in America