This week I joined hordes of other media and descended on Kariega (formerly Uitenhage) to drive South Africa’s favorite hatchback, the new VW Polo. And while I was there, not only did I get up close and personal with the going-away GTI model, but also got a look at their 2022 VW Polo Cup GTI race car. Updated VW Polo for sale Here’s a quick rundown of what’s available before I tackle the Polo GTI. Entry into the new Polo range starts at R311 800 for the 70 kW 1.0 TSI equipped with a five-speed manual transmission. An upgrade to…
This week I joined hordes of other media and descended on Kariega (formerly Uitenhage) to drive South Africa’s favorite hatchback, the new VW Polo.
And while I was there, not only did I get up close and personal with the going-away GTI model, but also got a look at their 2022 VW Polo Cup GTI race car.
Updated VW Polo for sale
Here’s a quick rundown of what’s available before I tackle the Polo GTI. Entry into the new Polo range starts at R311 800 for the 70 kW 1.0 TSI equipped with a five-speed manual transmission. An upgrade to Life spec comes in at R350 000, add a DSG gearbox and an extra 15 kW, and you’re now in for R370 700.
ALSO READ: Self-shifting, refreshed Volkswagen Polo priced
If you move up to the sportier R Line spec 85 kW 1.0 TSI DSG you’ll have to forgo R421 900, and the top-of-the-line hot hatch on display today comes in at R489 400. So, what do you get for your Polo GTI -money?
As part of the comprehensive upgrade of the model specifications for 2022, you now have a Polo GTI with a front with a new bumper, striking day and night light signature with LED light strip along the radiator grille in combination with what VW calls IQ LIGHT LED matrix headlights. At the rear you have new LED taillight clusters, a new bumper and tailgate.
On the inside, the digital technology everywhere. There’s the Beats sound system and the Discover Media System with navigation, wireless App-Connect, voice control, inductive mobile charging and the multi-colored Digital Cockpit Pro.
More options include the leather seat package, reversing camera, comfort park package (keyless entry, parking aid and reversing camera) and safety package (Travel Assist consisting of adaptive cruise control, ‘stop-and-go’ speed limiter and lane assistant, pedestrian monitoring and front assist).
The optional NCAP package includes electrically adjustable, folding and heated door mirrors, Lane Assist and Front Assist).
Polo GTI produces 147 kW
But it is the drive of the Polo GTI that always makes your heart beat faster. The proven 147 kW / 320 Nm, 2.0-litre TSI turbo engine continues its legacy and gives you plenty of options when you need them. And the 15mm lower sport suspension provides a firm ride that’s always fun and lets you know you’re not riding a garden-type Polo.
Speaking of your heart beating faster, you can get a brand new fully prepped pukka VW Polo Cup race car based on the Polo GTI you for quite a bit less than the price of a standard showroom car. For around R420,000 you can race the longest running single brand racing series in the country.
This year marks the 26th season of VW Polo Cup, and anyone who knows anything about motorsport knows that this is the breeding ground for most of our up-and-coming racing talent in SA. The success of this series is that it is strictly controlled and monitored and identical Polo GTIs battle it out in a split second to see who has the ultimate racing craft of tin.
As mean as a Polo can get
Should your adrenaline needs extend beyond this, and you’ve got another R460,000 or so lying around, you can opt for the even faster, more bespoke SupaPolo. These cars are all identical again, but now slightly more modified than the Polo Cup race car.
These VW beasts come with wide-body aero packages, X-Track sequential gearboxes, SAX shocks, a Motec engine management system to control the significantly more powerful Golf R engine up front. While big Powerbrake discs and tacky Dunlop rubber keep the cars on the black stuff, offering the same thrilling and close-knit racing as their Polo Cup siblings.
The SupaCup series now enters its third year and is reported to have some 20 drivers lined up for the 2022 battle. They will compete in the main GTC series, with the first race to be held at Killarney International Raceway on March 5 in Cape Town.
For more information about the VW Polo GTI, click here†