Volkswagen Polo GTI

After the Golf GTI last year, now is the time of "small": more than 190 hp, 23 thousand euro and a sister in the house overlooking the WRC

It's been a time from one turbo and the Peugeot 205 GTI ... Those cars in the 80 depopulated, were a symbol of freedom and often extreme challenges, able to create a passion that still does not lose its audience: the sub compact segment sports, in fact, now lives in a different appeal, in its own way, defying the rules again today, respecting others, but continuing to ensure equally the same emotion, when pushed on the accelerator.

More than others, Volkswagen maintains the lively strand of large tourist road that rhymes with GTI: after the saga of Golf (the most recent dated 2013), now it is the turn of the younger sister. The heir of the Polo G40 (the forerunner of 1987), will arrive in dealership in February, ready for yet another confrontation with other "racy" as Ford Fiesta ST, Peugeot 208 GTi, Clio RS.

Unfortunately, the charm of yesteryear will not speak. Polo GTI hits instantly probably not for the restyling minimized. To understand the evolution, you have to get behind the wheel: the Germans concentrated their efforts under the hood and in the heart of the car. The mission for this car, after all, has never been easier: who chose her over the years wanted the clothes of a small car with no frills, under that soul from hell. It still remained so, serious and rational, but ready to welcome the driver and to be guided: it is only by pressing the pedal you feel sensations worthy of a sports car.

And in 2015 Polo GTI gets better. It is powered by the 1.8 TSI Golf sister, replacing the previous 1.4 turbo, gains 12 hp more, 192 in all, so as to reach a top speed of 236 km / h, almost the Polo R WRC car that triumphed in the World Rally. The real treat, however, are the electronically controlled dampers, technology hub buoyancy Sport Select. From basic calibration "comfort" with which to proceed on a daily basis in the city without many pretensions, just a button to change things to the car. You switch to a stiffer and, with the aid of Sport Performance Kit, you also interacts with the electric power steering mechanic, an accelerator more ready and more roaring sound. Harmonious between the curves, takes a markedly almost wild, but at the same time appears to be more stable and dynamic, keeps the trajectory clean and correct even in sudden changes of direction. For those who like to have fun on the track, the ESC here is two-phase: the acceleration skid control can be turned off to see the different responses by car, or by pressing the same button for more than three seconds to activate the Sport mode ESC. In this case, the threshold adjustment is raised by delaying the intervention, with the benefit of performance. In addition to the DSG dual-clutch 7-speed, the Polo GTI this time also has the six-speed manual: for Italy is not present in the list but may still be required for a more genuine, also to the benefit of consumption that totaled about 5.6 l / 100 km with DSG. The choice of transmission will not affect the performance, however: at the traffic lights the GTI takes the same way from 0-100 in less than 7 seconds. A guarantee, after all, for those in search of emotions buys a road without spending a fortune. Prices start at 23,450 euro.