Tag Archives: VW Polo

2021 VW Polo GTI Shows Its Sporty Face Ahead Of June Premiere

Almost three weeks after the unveiling of the facelifted Polo, Volkswagen has released the first official teaser of the 2021 Polo GTI.

The hot version of the subcompact hatchback will sit at the top of the range when it premieres at the end of June. It will follow the traditional recipe, with “high-torque front-wheel drive, dynamically tuned sports chassis and expressive design”, according to the automaker, which will help it “stand out from the crowd”.

Also Check Out: We’d Love To See A New VW Polo R Like This Render, But Ze Germans Disagree

The official sketch released by Volkswagen previews the hot Polo’s Golf GTI-inspired styling. It has a different grille pattern over the regular variants, with red trim on the lower part and a GTI emblem on the right side, and a bumper with two fog lamps flanking the central air intake. The GTI logo also adorns the front fenders, the side skirts appear to be bulkier and the roof-mounted spoiler seems to be a tad bigger. Model specific wheels and new paint finishes are expected to be introduced too.

We have yet to take a peek inside, but we know what to expect: front seats with extra side bolstering and tartan upholstery, GTI logos on the steering wheel and gear selector, and probably revised graphics for the infotainment screen and digital instrument cluster.

Promising sportier driving dynamics compared to the rest of the family, the 2021 Polo GTI will likely feature a stiffer and lower suspension and uprated brakes. The 2.0-liter turbo-four of its predecessor should soldier on. The mill develops 197 HP and 236 lb-ft (320 Nm) of torque in the outgoing car, which hits 62 mph (100 km/h) in 6.7 seconds, en route to a 147 mph (237 km/h) top speed.

The 2021 Polo GTI, which has the Ford Fiesta ST and Hyundai i20 N in its sights, will not launch in North America.

VW Temporarily Stops Taking New Orders For Polo GTI Due To “High Demand”

Volkswagen has temporarily stopped taking new orders for the Polo GTI hot hatch, the automaker told CarScoops.

While researching for another Polo-related story, we discovered that the Polo GTI can no longer be configured on VW’s German customer website. Prospective buyers wishing to virtually build their Polo GTI are accompanied by the following message.

“The Polo GTI can no longer be ordered with individual equipment. However, finished, already produced vehicles are available for you. Simply contact your Volkswagen partner or find your dream vehicle online in the car search.”

See Also: Does The VW Polo Look Better With A Golf Mk8-Inspired Face?

Upon further digging, we’ve discovered that the same situation applies to other major European markets, including the UK, France, Italy and Spain. When something like this usually happens, it means that production has stopped for one reason or another.

We reached out to Volkswagen to find out if the Polo GTI has indeed been discontinued after just three years on the European market. Fortunately for fans of small hot hatches, the Polo GTI has not been axed.

“The Polo GTI cannot be ordered for the time being due to the high demand. The volume planned for this year has already been sold. We have therefore decided to take the Polo GTI out of the sales range for the time being,” VW spokesman Christoph Peine explained the situation to CarScoops.

So what happens if you want to buy a VW Polo GTI but don’t like being limited to choosing one from stock? Well, you just need to have a little patience. “The Polo GTI will be available to order again at the end of the year,” the representative said.

That’s all Volkswagen was willing to share with us, but don’t be surprised if this temporary interruption is also related to a mid-cycle refresh planned for the entire Polo range – and, subsequently, the Polo GTI.