VW Polo GTI starts testing in India with 1.8L engine - Spied

Will target the Mini Cooper S on the performance front.

Rumors have been doing the rounds that VW India is keen to introduce a performance-oriented GTI variant on the Polo. Seen here are the first spyshots of the VW Polo GTI (Euro-spec) test on Indian soil, lending credence to those rumors, courtesy of IndianCarsBikes reader Mr. Abhijeet Mukherjee.

A search on import-export website Zauba.com confirms that VW India has imported a unit of the GTI for testing purposes.

The latest iteration of the Polo GTI made its premiere at the Paris Motor Show last year. It gets a honeycomb-mesh grille with a subtle red insignia, LED headlights with integrated daytime running lights, redesigned front and rear bumpers, dual exhausts and subtle side skirts.

Inside, the Polo GTI is equipped with a sport steering wheel, aluminium pedals, and sports seats with the fabric inspired from the Golf GTI. However, most importantly, the Polo GTI is powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder TSI engine delivering 192 PS and 320 Nm of torque to the front wheels. This particular iteration of the GTI is also optionally available with a 6-speed manual transmission, or a 7-speed DSG.

VW claims the GTI can hit 0-100 km/h in 6.7 seconds, while the top-speed is rated at 236 km/h. An optional Sport Select suspension allows the driver to adjust the dampers as well.

Also read: Exterior and interior of the 2016 VW Tiguan (India-bound) – Rendering

The Polo GTI, if launched in India, will rival the forthcoming Abarth Punto Evo, though on performance, it will have the new Mini Cooper S as its primary rival.

[Source - IndianCarsBikes]