The latest generation of Volkswagen’s Polo GTI made its debut at the Paris Motor Show in October and is now available to order from Retailers across the UK, with first customer deliveries due in March 2015.  It will cost £18,850 RRP OTR for the three door manual with a £630 premium for five doors and £1,245 for the DSG gearbox.

The new Polo GTI is powered by a 1.8-litre (1,798 cc) turbocharged petrol engine delivering 192 PS between 4,200 and 6,200 rpm (5,400-6,200 DSG), marking an increase of 12 PS over the outgoing model.  And unlike the previous Polo GTI, this latest generation is available with a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox.

With a manual gearbox, the Polo has a maximum torque of 320 Nm (236 lbs ft) available between 1,450 and 4,200 rpm.  For the DSG these figures are 250 Nm (184 lbs ft) between 1,250 and 5,300 rpm due to technical differences in the design parameters of the gearboxes. 

The Polo GTI lives up to its performance badge, reaching 62 mph from standstill in 6.7 seconds and has a top speed of 146 mph.  But the Polo GTI’s power does not come at the expense of efficiency, with a combined fuel consumption figure of 50.4 mpg and corresponding carbon dioxide emissions of 129 g/km for the DSG (47.1 mpg and 139 g/km for the manual).

The Polo GTI follows the design cues of its ‘big brother’, the Golf GTI.  Compared with the standard Polo, new bumpers, GTI insignia, distinctive 17-inch ‘Parabolica’ alloy wheels and red radiator grille strips and honeycomb grille distinguish it from the rest of the range, along with standard sports suspension (lowered by 10 mm at the front and 15 mm at the back). 

At the front, LED lights are standard for the first time, while at the rear a GTI roof spoiler, taillight clusters in Dark Red, the black grained diffuser and chrome dual exhaust pipes continue the sporty theme.

On the inside, the Polo GTI features a leather sports steering wheel with logo and red stitching harking back to the Golf GTI, as do the gear and handbrake levers and floor mats with red beading.  The check design ‘Clark’ cloth seats with black bolsters have been a GTI emblem since the first GTI in 1976.

The Polo GTI has ESC Sport (electronic stability control).  Like on the Golf GTI this enables the ESC to be adapted for use on a track.  It works in two stages: first the traction control is switched off, then ESC Sport is activated which raises the ESC threshold and delays intervention (without ESC being completely deactivated).  XDS+ is also standard: another Golf GTI ‘import’, XDS compensates for the understeer which is typical of front-wheel drive cars, meaning driving characteristics are more precise and neutral. 

Available as an option on the new Polo GTI is a Sport Performance Pack with Dynamic Chassis Control which offers sportier steering, accelerator response and engine noise inside the car. 

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Electronic systems that provide both information and entertainment, such as our RNS radio navigation systems. To make life simpler for you, all infotainment system functions can be operated via a main menu bar, menu-dependent function keys and controls on the multifunction steering wheel*

*when multifunction steering wheel is specified.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

The Volkswagen Group opens the £270m "Autostadt" (City of Cars) next to Volkswagen HQ in Wolfsburg. As the communications platform of the Volkswagen Group, the Autostadt is the interface between customer and global company. In this visitor oriented service and competence centre, arrangements for deliveries to commercial customers can be made for the first time. A "Centre of Excellence", is how the Autostadt explains the innovative service with which it wants to promote customer loyalty to the Groups brands and to reach out to new customers. The Autostadt invites its visitors to journey into the world of mobility. The stunning 250,000 square metre complex, which features lakes and parks, marketplaces and streets and even its own train station, allows visitors to embark on a fascinating voyage of discovery. The Autostadt adopts the values of the Volkswagen Group and brings them to life: quality ensures safety, achievement and sustainability go hand in hand and customer service is uppermost. Each year, 1.2m visitors from all over the world visit the Autostadt to study the technology behind the Group's legendary reliability, and to share our vision of the future. The Marque Pavilions showcase the many faces of Volkswagen: famous brands like Audi, Seat, Skoda, Lamborghini and Bentley, each displayed in its individual setting. While in the Volkswagen Automuseum you can admire vintage Volkswagens and other landmark models and learn about the history of motorcars.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Tax-free allowances for diplomats

If you're a diplomat serving in the UK or you're an employee of an international organisation, you may be able to buy your Volkswagen VAT-free. Alan Day Volkswagen can give you all the information you need on this.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk