VW has just released pictures and information on the latest Polo GTi.
Will it arrive in Malaysia? This is the first question most of our readers will be asking since the GTI has been famously known for its entertaining acceleration and nimble handling. The second question will be selling price.
The 4th generation Polo GTI was launched in August 2011 and since then the follow up 5th generation model did not get launched in Malaysia due to rising brand uncertainties and the surging after sales problems and DSG (gearbox) failures. The 6thgeneration was launched in Singapore in November 2018 and now comes the GTI version.
This all new Polo GTI comes with so much DNA carried over from its big brother, the Golf GTI. Like the Polo, the Golf has also been missing from the Malaysian product lineup and only low cost ‘made in India’ models like the Vento and basic 4th generation Polo are on sale together with the Arteon, Passat and Tiguan Crossover range.
So, it looks like hot hatch excitement is missing from the small number of Volkswagen dealers in Malaysia (many have closed down in the last 4-5 years, the most recent being the oldest and biggest dealer, Cergazam in Ara Damansara).
So, we will have to wait and see of this hot hatch will arrive in Malaysia in the coming years or will Volkswagen AG wake up and return to Malaysia to take charge of their brand and business before it disappears all together.
In April, Volkswagen presented the latest evolutionary stage of the sixth generation of Polo. Now comes its sportiest version: the new Volkswagen Polo GTI.
Kicking things off with the exterior aesthetics first, the face-lifted Polo GTI has essentially gained a shrunken version of the Mk8 Golf GTI’s front fascia. Coming complete with IQ.Light LED matrix headlights and illuminated light-bar running right across front grille, as well as the hexagonal fog lights that are integrated within the honeycomb-shaped air intakes of its refreshed front bumper.
Speaking of bumpers, the rears are similarly refreshed to complement its new LED rear lights with animated brake light and integrated dynamic indicators. The updated Polo GTI also gains new design 17-inch alloy wheels as standard, with 18-inch items available on the options menu.
Driving those wheels meanwhile is the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-pot as per its pre-facelift predecessor, which is mated to the same 7-speed DSG dual clutch transmission. Despite being the essentially same powertrain package however, VW has nevertheless managed to eke out 7 more ponies for a total power and torque output of 204hp and 320Nm respectively.
On the topic of performance upgrades, the updated Polo GTI also gains the typical smattering of sporty chassis enhancements over its standard siblings. These includes a sport chassis that sits 15 mm lower to the ground, an electronic front differential, and three driving modes to choose from: Eco, Normal and Sport.
Much like any other GTI too, this sporty Polo features the typical red interior trim and the iconic tartan seats. New on this face-lifted sporty subcompact hatchback however is the 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and VW’s updated 8.0-inch central infotainment touchscreen, which can be optioned to 9.2-inch Discover Pro unit with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality.
Other desirable options that can be had with this face-lifted Polo GTI ranges from a panoramic sunroof, voice control, a Beats sound system and Volkswagen’s IQ.DRIVE Travel Assist partially autonomous driving suite. Bringing with it adaptive cruise control, lane assist, side assist and rear traffic alert to the standard autonomous emergency braking and driver alert system.
Volkswagen has yet revealed the pricing and official arrival date for the face-lifted Polo GTI yet, though it is safe to say that it shouldn’t vary far from the £25,000 (which is about RM145,000 before delivery costs) region the pre-updated model currently costs in the UK when it arrives over there later this year. Safe to say too that this face-lifted sporty super-hatch won’t be making it to Malaysia soon, which is a shame.
