Volkswagen Polo GTI With 189bhp Launched At Rs. 25.65 Lakh

Volkswagen are the inventors of the hot hatch and the GTI badge is synonymous with quick affordable family hatchbacks that can shame quite a few sportscars on the street. And we finally have a GTI in India. Volkswagen has finally launched the long awaited Polo GTI at Rs. 25.65 lakh (ex-showroom, Thane). The 189bhp hot hatch is one of the most affordable performance cars you can buy in India today and we've already driven it and told you all about it.

The GTI in India will only be available in a two door variant initially but could get a 5-door version eventually if there is enough demand for the hot hatch. The Polo GTI is one of the most popular hot hatches in the world and is also the base car for the rally-winning Polo WRC car that has dominated world rallying for the last few years. In India, the Polo GTI will get the 1.8-litre TSI engine that makes 189bhp of peak power and 250Nm of peak torque. The only gearbox on offer in India will be the 7-speed DSG which also does duty on the Polo GT TSI.

Although we would have loved a 6-speed manual in the Polo GTI with 320Nm of torque, Volkswagen India currently has no plans to introduce it in the near future. The Polo GTI does the 0-100Km/h sprints in a quick 7.2 seconds with a top-speed of 233Km/h. The GTI gets disc brakes all around with callipers painted in a shade of bright red.

Apart from being a two-door hatchback, the Polo GTI will also get visual upgrades like LED headlamps, a new honeycomb GTI grille and a different set of bumpers. The GTI will also get an integrated spoiler, 16-inch wheels and a dual tip exhaust setup. The trademark red FRI accents and strategically placed GTI badges will further accentuate the subtle design highlights.

Although the Polo GTI will not be a volume product for Volkswagen India, it will defiantly go a long way in establishing Volkswagen's brand image as a sporty automotive manufacturer. We hope the likes of the Golf GTI (or the Golf R) follow suite in the next few years. We also hope other manufacturers like Hyundai and Maruti Suzuki take notice and bring us the hot hatch variants of their popular hatchbacks soon at a more affordable price point.