2016 Auto Expo: Volkswagen unveils its Polo GTI hot hatch for India

  • Feb 4, 2016
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To be launched as a premium hatchback later this year, the 3-door Polo GTI will be the most powerful hatchback in the country

Polo GTI at the 2016 Auto Expo

German car maker Volkswagen today showcased its Polo GTI for the Indian market at the Auto Expo. Powered by its four cylinder, turbocharged 1.8 TSI motor, the Polo GTI will be India's most powerful hatchback with a power output of 192PS and 250Nm of torque. Interestingly, the GTI will only be sold as a three door version, unlike the regular five door Polo. The Polo GTI already enjoys popularity in Europe as a hot hatch with its stylish looks and powerful turbocharged petrol engine.

The Polo has enjoyed reasonable success in India as a regular hatchback, and the GTI version, though a niche product, should help Volkswagen highlight the Polo better as a brand. The car is expected to command premium pricing in the region of Rs 15-18 lakh though, as the 1.8 TSI engine is not manufactured in India and will be imported from Germany, apart from the car getting better interiors.

Volkswagen Polo GTI

Disappointingly, apart from its three door design the Polo GTI looks a lot like the regular Polo from the outside, especially from the front and rear, with only subtle differences and GTI badging to tell it apart. The Polo GTI creates a new niche in the hatchback space for a lot of reasons. Its performance is better than executive sedans like its own sibling, the Volkswagen Jetta and the Skoda Octavia and Toyota Corolla, not to mention luxury hatchbacks like the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, Volvo V40, Mini Cooper and the Volkswagen Beetle. When launched, it will be the most powerful hatchback in India, irrespective of the price, and while significantly more affordable than luxury hatchbacks, it will also be significantly more expensive than other go-faster hatchbacks like the Abarth Punto Evo.

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