There is more to a real Volkswagen GTI than impressive acceleration and a powerful engine. The handling and road holding also need to live up to the high standards of this sporty legend. The new Polo GTI is no different. It combines agile handling with impressive comfort properties and the usual Volkswagen safety reserves. This front-wheel drive car is incredibly good fun to drive – whether on closed race tracks, on winding country roads or over long stretches of motorway.
The 110kW/150hp GTI clearly indicates the potential of the Polo chassis. It features a proven layout with a front suspension using the McPherson principle and lower wishbones. An additional subframe ensures a precise self-steering effect. It decouples the front axle acoustically from the body and further improves the crash safety. The rear wheels are mounted on a semi-independent axle. The separate configuration of springs and dampers is beneficial for the boot as it allows a wider cargo space and thus makes access to the boot easier.
Shorter springs with stiffer characteristic curves reduce the car height by 15 millimetres. The centre of balance is therefore lower increasing the dynamic capabilities of the agile Polo GTI. This means that the compact sports car responds particularly directly and immediately to the commands from the electromechanical power steering. This speed-dependent system, which works independently of the engine speed, has been specially configured to the qualities of the fast Polo.
205/45 16-inch low-profile tyres ensure safe road holding. Rated with speed index V, they are approved for speeds up to 240km/h. At the same time, the high-performance tyres highlight the dynamic look of the Polo GTI. Fitted on 6.5-inch alloy wheels with an exclusive GTI design, they fill the wheel arches and almost merge into the body.
The red painted brake callipers show without a doubt that this Volkswagen is also one of the masters in its class when it comes to braking. They are combined with large-sized brake discs on all four wheels (front: 288 mm diameter; rear: 232 mm). The front discs are ventilated. A hydraulic anti-lock brake system with brake assist is included in the standard equipment as are the ESP electronic stabilisation programme, the TCS traction control system and the EDL electronic differential lock. A standard tyre pressure monitor (TPM) ensures that the tyres are always inflated to the correct pressure. Better to be safe than sorry.