Finally the Polo GTi

kliis · Post by **kliis** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 8:04 pm

Finally arrives the new Polo GTi! ...or so says the spansih edition of the Car and Driver magazine!
In this magazine there is a notice about it, to be launched Spring 2004!!
They say it will have the well known 1.8 Turbo with 150HP and will reach 230Km/h, NICE!!

There is a small picture with the text, and it looks like the pictures we saw here some time ago.

Nelson_Wilbury · Post by **Nelson_Wilbury** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 8:48 pm

I'm skeptical about this. Even if that prototype is a concept (I think those pictures were taken just before the unveiling of the GT anyway) I very much doubt it would use an engine with 'only' 150bhp. Thats simply not enough power to match todays competition!

I tend to avoid magazines like Autocar and Auto Express nowadays as they seem to find/take these pictures and then let there minds go wild

tornado_ally · Post by **tornado_ally** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 9:00 pm

I agree, 150bhp is not enough baring in mind its diesel rivals are 130bhp!
I heard through the grapevine that the Polo GTi wil have 180bhp/ps and the 1.8T is confirmed. the Ibiza FR 1.8T is coming out next month with 148bhp so he Polo has to do a bit better. Baring in mind the Ibiza Cupra R is around the corner VW will need to beef it up a bit

kliis · Post by **kliis** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 9:01 pm

I am also a bit skeptical about it, until an official statment is done.
Anyway I think it's possible that it has "only" 150BHP. Think that the "soprtive" brand in the VAG group is SEAT, and I think they'll let the Ibiza with 180BHP as the "top" model, and the Polo GTi with 150BHP. I don't think they'll have two models with 180BHP.
Or maybe they'll do the GTi with 150BHP and let the 180BHP for a "R32 Polo"? It is just my imagination, don't take it seriously!

Anyway, if they do it with 150BHP, will they use 5 or 6 speed gearbox? What do you think?

Scorpio1 · Post by **Scorpio1** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 9:05 pm

I am guessing it will be a 6 speed?

SilvaGTI · Post by **SilvaGTI** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 9:07 pm

I'm guessing that the odds are the mk6 Polo GTi will have the current 150bhp 1.8t in it. They'll probably save the 180 version for the new Seat Ibiza Cupra R. It's a worrying trend of late that the VW seems to always put a less powerful engine in their cars than the one's in the Seat's (or other competitors for that matter). Just look at the evidence from the last couple of years :-

mk5 Polo Gti = 1.6@ 125 bhp / Mk2 Seat Ibiza Cupra 1.8t @150 bhp

Mk4 Golf Gti = 1.8t@180bhp / Seat Leon Cupra R 1.8t @ 225 bhp

I'm sure I've mentioned this before but it's really starting to pi$$ me off cause I really like VW motors but I refuse to pay several thousand more than the equivelant Seat motor and get second rate performance

VW are gonna have to seriously rethink this policy if they want me to buy another car from them

Nelson_Wilbury · Post by **Nelson_Wilbury** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 9:16 pm

The least I think they'd go for would be the 160bhp 1.8T out of the A4/A4 Cabriolet

tornado_ally · Post by **tornado_ally** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 9:28 pm

The FR 1.8T will be 148bhp and it's definalty going to be released with titanium effect wing mirrors, alloys and smoked titanium effect rear lights and traction control control as standard
The FR wil have the following as standard: Climate control, electric heated mirrors, CD player, 8 speakers, Fogs and a bit of chrome here and there.
I think the Polo GTi sadly will end up with the 150bhp 1.8T but there is a possibilty of VW putting the 2.0T in the Polo R if not a highly tuned 1.8T like in the new A4. Ouch, Insurance companies here we come!

toXXin · Post by **toXXin** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 11:19 am

That could just be some guy driving around with Golf GTI wheels on his 9N!

Has anyone seen the Ibiza FR? It's awful!

tim · Post by **tim** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 12:44 pm

yeh i think that the new polo gti will have to look a bit more special than that, i also cant believe that the first photos to be seen of the GTi are in 5 door guise, it looks pants, it looks just like any other polo like toxxin
says "with golf alloys" it cant be it man.

blackgti · Post by **blackgti** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 12:54 pm

I think VW haven't got a new design or a decent engine that they could use for a new Polo GTi. VW in germany should take note of our forum and take ideas to help produce/brainstorm a new Polo GTi to meet today competition

Hell I won't drive anything else or buy another car now, unless it a new Polo GTi with big Potential and lots of Power @ least near 180/200 bhp.

Thats what I would like.

Nelson_Wilbury · Post by **Nelson_Wilbury** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 1:16 pm

Those aren't 'Golf alloys', they're 9n San Marino wheels...

tornado_ally · Post by **tornado_ally** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 3:02 pm

The Golf alloys dont have bolts on them. Little things like these add a lot of character to the wheel. The Golf ones are the Montral 2s and the ones on the "Polo GTi" are San Marinos as Nelson said. Its still doesn't change the fact that for a Polo GTi neither are quite good enough. Santa Monicas on the Polo GTi however.... now that will do the bizz.

It would be nice if KarlM can do a photoshop of the Polo(9n) GTi with Santa Monicas

rooboy · Post by **rooboy** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 3:04 pm

SilvaGTI wrote:I'm guessing that the odds are the mk6 Polo GTi will have the current 150bhp 1.8t in it. They'll probably save the 180 version for the new Seat Ibiza Cupra R. It's a worrying trend of late that the VW seems to always put a less powerful engine in their cars than the one's in the Seat's (or other competitors for that matter). Just look at the evidence from the last couple of years :-

It's not volkswagens choosing. SEAT is effectivly owned by AUDI with Lamborhini. VW own Bently, Bugatti, Skoda and each are treated as seperate companies that share and develope their own technology. Hence why the Audi TT and SEAT Leon Cupra R have the 225bhp version of the 1.8t, yet does not appear in the other brands. It seams they are setting up a seperate strategy for each VAG brand....

Lambo,Bugatti,Bentley - Nuff said
Audi - Quality
VW - Fords main european competitor with prices and specs that match
SEAT - sporty but functional
Skoda - the value brand.

The problem with this is that SEAT has very little individuality, with it's segment being a cross between VW and Skoda which is why the Octavia vRS has been so sucsessful. Why pay Â£18000 for a Golf GTI when you can pay Â£16000 for a better looking SEAT leon with the same engine. But why pay Â£16000 when you can buy the Skoda Octavia vRS that gets more plaudits and fares better in surveys for Â£15100.
Which is why SEATs are not really big sellers in this country, they are better value than VW but not as good value as Skoda.

tim · Post by **tim** » Mon Jan 12, 2004 4:24 pm

yeh, who cares what wheels they are they still look balls, it needs wheels that dont look like they r nicked off a golf, BBS jobbies would do