2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI On Sale In Australia

2011 POLO GTI

Volkswagen Australia has today announced availability of the range-topping 2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI, following its local unveiling in Sydney last month.

Powered by Volkswagen's turbo- and super-charged 1.4 litre TSI petrol engine, the 2011 Polo GTI delivers 132kW and a respectable 250Nm of torque, online between 2000 and 4500rpm. Fuel consumption is listed at 6.1 l/100km, with carbon emissions of 139g/km.

By comparison, the previous-generation Polo GTI, producing the same 132kW, consumed 7.9 l/100km of fuel and released 188g/km of CO2 - making the new GTI 25 percent more efficient than its predecessor.

Weighing in at just 1184kg, the Polo GTI rockets to 100km/h in 6.9 seconds, going on to a top speed of 228km/h.

Like the regular Polo and larger Golf GTI cousin, the Polo GTI is driven at the front wheels with power transferred through a seven-speed DSG transmission.

Upgraded sports suspension figures among the little GTI's performance features, along with a self-locking electronic differential.

The 2011 Polo GTI wears 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels that look significantly larger on the Polo body than on the Golf GTI it shares them with.

In true GTI fashion, the sporty Polo gets honeycomb upper and lower front grilles, a sports exhaust and a faux diffuser insert to the rear bumper.

Unlike the Golf version, the Polo GTI gets optional LED daytime running lights with its optional bi-xenon headlights, similar to those seen across the Audi range and with the new 2011 Volkswagen Touareg.

Inside, the GTI replaces the standard round steering wheel with a flat-bottomed unit similar to the Golf GTI's. While the regular Polo gets steering-mounted controls in some models, the GTI version replaces these sections with polished chrome-look inserts.

Local pricing and availability will be announced in the lead-up to the GTI's Australian debut in the coming weeks.

CLICK to read TMR's 'first drive' review of the all-new 2010 Volkswagen Polo range.

Pricing and Availability

• 2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI - Three-door - $27,790
• 2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI - Five-Door - $28,990

Prices are manufacturer list prices only, and do not include on-road costs or dealer delivery.