After showcasing it at the 2016 Auto Expo earlier this year, Volkswagen India has now launched the GTI. The Polo-based full-on hot hatch is now on sale at Rs 25.65 lakh ex-showroom, Mumbai with a limited run of just 99 cars.
Globally, the Polo GTI is offered in either three or five-door form but for the Indian market, VW India chose to bring the three-door model for exclusivity. Nevertheless, this high-performance model can be differentiated as the flagship model with the help of different bumpers and typical GTI insignia such as distinctive wheels, the red strips in the grille and the full LED headlights.
The highlight of the Polo GTI is, of course, its engine which is a 1.8-litre 4-cylinder TSI engine mated with a 7-speed automatic DSG gearbox. The familiar turbocharged unit pumps out a blistering 192bhp of raw power and 250Nm of torque, allowing the car to accelerate from 0-100kmph in just 7.2 seconds. The top speed, meanwhile, is rated at 233kmph.
The Polo GTI is available with four colour options and different wheel sizes. The hot hatch game has come a long way in the last few years here in India. What started as a humble beginning with the Fiat Palio 1.6 has now come to a point where several global manufacturers are contemplating bringing high-performance small cars. Volkswagen, for one, has marked its presence in this segment with cars like the Polo GT twins. Now, the brand has gone up several levels by officially bringing the Polo GTI to India.