2011 VW Polo GTI

[Canadian Turbo]

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.

[VwSweetHeart]

Re: 2011 VW Polo GTI

Love it!!! Nice looking car!! Too bad they will never bring that here...

[BaggedGLI]

Re: 2011 VW Polo GTI

Thinking there might be a bit more of a market here, with what's been going on with Toyota and all, might not hurt to bring some over for those people in smaller cars that are iffy about toyota and don't want to drive a honda.

[longsock]

Re: 2011 VW Polo GTI

love the interior, the front is good looking but the rear is a bit awkward..especially the tailights

[Kor]

Re: 2011 VW Polo GTI

I'm totally in love with the Polo GTI, I would be getting one tomorrow if they came over here and looked like that!

Edit: Not available in Manual at all??

[Tuna]

Re: 2011 VW Polo GTI

I'm still so mad they won't bring the stupid polo here, there are so many Fit's, Echos, Minis, Yaris's, SMART's. Even if the #'s per capita in the US are less I still can't believe they don't think they'd sell enough to make it worth it.

I like the Mini but it's pricey for what it is, plus the Polo is often available in 4 door.

Ford is bringing the Fiesta back and it looks surprisingly good. I'm going to have to be careful I don't end up with all fords in my driveway.

[jacktown]

Re: 2011 VW Polo GTI

I really like this car but I would have to disagree with some of the above. There isn't the same kind of demand here in Canada/USA as there is in Europe. Take Britain as an example. When I was 19 and looking to buy a used golf GTI 10 years ago in the UK, I could not find an insurance company that would touch me. They would tell me to come back when I was 21 or 25. The golf GTI (last time I checked) is insurance group 17 out of 20 insurance groups in the UK meaning that for a lot of people it is completely out of reach. A Polo GTI (again - last time I checked) is group 12 out of 20. Therefore the 18-30 market in Britain who really really want a GOLF GTI but cannot afford the insurance buy a POLO GTI or LUPO GTI (or whatever their european micro is called now) instead.

If the POLO GTI was sold in the North American market where it is already pretty easy for 18-30's to buy a GOLF GTI it would, in my opinion, completely canibalise the sales of the current GTI. Im sure VW would see a slight increase in ownership amongst both models but they would be right in assuming that it would be no where near enough to make it worth their while.

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: 2011 VW Polo GTI

True but a GTI is pushing 30K to start here so if this car was a lot closer to the 20K mark I think you could see more sales, and also the non-GTI versions would be nice too. Think there is a TDI version rocking close to 70mpgs.

[luunta]

Re: 2011 VW Polo GTI

true but a gti is pushing 30k to start here so if this car was a lot closer to the 20k mark i think you could see more sales, and also the non-gti versions would be nice too. Think there is a tdi version rocking close to 70mpgs.

70 mpg!!!

[Wildfire]

Re: 2011 VW Polo GTI

I really like this car but I would have to disagree with some of the above. There isn't the same kind of demand here in Canada/USA as there is in Europe. Take Britain as an example. When I was 19 and looking to buy a used golf GTI 10 years ago in the UK, I could not find an insurance company that would touch me. They would tell me to come back when I was 21 or 25. The golf GTI (last time I checked) is insurance group 17 out of 20 insurance groups in the UK meaning that for a lot of people it is completely out of reach. A Polo GTI (again - last time I checked) is group 12 out of 20. Therefore the 18-30 market in Britain who really really want a GOLF GTI but cannot afford the insurance buy a POLO GTI or LUPO GTI (or whatever their european micro is called now) instead.

If the POLO GTI was sold in the North American market where it is already pretty easy for 18-30's to buy a GOLF GTI it would, in my opinion, completely canibalise the sales of the current GTI. Im sure VW would see a slight increase in ownership amongst both models but they would be right in assuming that it would be no where near enough to make it worth their while.

You raised some good points.
But I partially disagree....I think there is a demand for smaller vehicles in North America. But the American and Jap companies have been dragging their feet. When they do produce a small car, the design is very feminine and puny. The problem with that is that it creates a mindset.. i.e to have a small car is very unmacho and you must wear pink knickers.
European design has proved thats not really the case, Golf GTI, Polo, Seat Cupra+Ibiza, Fiesta RS Turbo (oh god yes!), Peugeot 307+207+107, Renault Clio v6 being good examples.







Now what is the north American equivilant?

Cherolet Aveo, Pontiac G3, Toyota Yaris



Look at the differences, that kinda says it all. No wonder there is no market for small cars... Its like their intentionally designing them to look bad so that there is no small car market.
But then again who is going to buy the Polo GTI? You might be right, People who might have bought the Golf may opt for the Polo instead. But if they brought over a standard version of the vehicle (non GTI) and brought out the same engines as they have back in the UK i.e TDI engines or even their 1.0. Then Toyota and GM have some serious problems on their hands as they have some proper competition. Who will buy a Yaris or a G3 when you can have a Polo..?

[jacktown]

Re: 2011 VW Polo GTI

Some great points there. I guess I was thinking more specifically about the GTI version of the POLO but it would be really great to see some more standard specifications of the POLO to compete with our asian friends!
My friend back home used to have a Cupra R just like the red one in your pic above. That thing was fast!!

[eirjordan337]

Re: 2011 VW Polo GTI

VW, please stop holding out on us!

I love the fact that you never feel like you're driving a big or little heap of plastic in a VW. The interiors have always been more inviting and a better place to be than the Japanese counter parts. On that note, let's not even go near the little GM cars....

I think there is a market for people who want a 'small car' so far all we have been getting like Wildfire says are weird plastic toy cars that feel cheap and make you sad when a GTI pulls up next to you

[luunta]

Re: 2011 VW Polo GTI

my girlfriend would hands down buy the polo. no problem.

[jacktown]

Re: 2011 VW Polo GTI

Im pretty sure those Clio V6's are mid engined. That would be a lot of fun!

[Kor]

Re: 2011 VW Polo GTI

Polo GTI is official today. 177hp 1.4L twincharged. DSG Only though :(

Wish I could get a manual Polo with a 2.0T