The new Volkswagen Polo GTI.
01-07-2021 19:41 - CAR NEWS
In April, Volkswagen presented the new evolutionary stage of the sixth generation of the Polo. Now follows the sportier version: the new Polo GTI. The variant that bears the legendary GTI acronym has 207 HP of power and a specific sports suspension, for the first time in the history of the Polo GTI, also allows partially automated driving (standard or optional depending on the markets).
The design, revisited from both an aesthetic and technical point of view, is marked by red lines on the grille, the honeycomb structure of the air intake and the top-of-the-range sports seats with the characteristic Clark check pattern on the central bands.
The new Polo GTI comes as standard with the new LED Matrix IQ.LIGHT headlights and an illuminated transverse element in the grille, which integrates the daytime running lights. The most novelty on the rear are the LED light clusters which push towards the center of the tailgate and feature animated brake lights; the dynamic direction indicators integrated into the headlights indicate the direction of the turn with a fluid movement of the light. The Adaptive Frontlightning System (AFS) has been redesigned.
The new Polo GTI is fitted as standard with a specially tuned sports suspension that lowers the body by 15 millimeters and guarantees the typical GTI synthesis of high driving dynamism, safe neutrality and excellent comfort. In fast cornering, the electronic XDS locking improves the traction behavior. As an integral part of the electronic control program for ESP stabilization and ASR anti-skid regulation, the XDS controls the braking pressure on the front wheel inside the curve, preventing it from skidding and the driver losing control of the car in extreme situations.
Like all its predecessors, the new Polo GTI is also front-wheel drive. The engine with direct injection of gasoline and turbocharging develops 207 hp and allows a top speed of 240 km / h. Shifting between gears is done via a 7-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox (standard). Since the 2006 Polo GTI, the powertrains have always been supercharged and thus carry on the tradition of the 1987 Polo GT G40. The current evolutionary stage enables extraordinary road performance for a compact sports car like the Polo GTI. Sprinting from 0 to 100km / h takes just 6.5 seconds. The maximum torque is 320 Nm between 1,500 and 4,500 rpm. Technological highlights of the 2.0 TSI (displacement 1,984 cm3) mounted in the transverse front position of the new Polo GTI include features such as a dual injection system with combined direct and indirect injection, an engine control unit with four central processors and electronic switching of the valve lift on the intake side. Despite the high power, the engine shines for efficiency and moderate consumption. The low DIN curb weight of 1,286 kg also contributes to this.
The new Polo GTI can be equipped, on request, with the Sport Select suspension. The driver can choose between two different levels for adjusting the shock absorbers. The standard driving profile selection in the new Polo GTI offers four modes: Eco, Individual, Normal and Sport. The different modes allow the driver to set individual parameters that vary the car's driving behavior. With the Sport Select suspension it is possible, for example, to change steering behavior, engine mapping and gearbox control, depending on the selected profile. In addition, the sound of the exhaust system is automatically modified to make it even sportier in Sport mode; a feature that can also be selected in the Individual guide profile Page 8. In addition to adjustable shock absorbers, the Sport Select suspension includes a larger front stabilizer bar with stiffer coupling elements, and stiffer rear axle bearings. In addition, the bodywork is also lowered by 15 mm in this case. This reduces the height of the Polo GTI to 1,439mm compared to the Polo, with an identical length of 4,074mm and a width of 1,751mm. In particular, with the Eco profile, the operation of the engine, air conditioning and auxiliary units is managed with a view to maximizing fuel consumption. Also, in this mode the DSG activates a coasting function. If the driver lifts his foot from the accelerator pedal (for example, traveling downhill), the DSG "releases" the clutch and the engine runs at idle. Thus the kinetic energy of the Polo GTI can be optimally exploited and consumption can be further reduced.
City emergency braking function is an evolution of Front Assist and monitors, by means of a radar sensor, the space in front of the car. The system operates at speeds below 30 km / h. In the event of an imminent collision with a vehicle in front (moving or stationary), if the driver does not take any action to avoid the collision, the braking system is set up as in the case of Front Assist. If necessary, within the limits of the system, the City Emergency Braking function intervenes with an automatic braking to reduce the consequences of an impending impact and, if the driver does not brake with sufficient force, makes all the braking force available to him. . Driver's fatigue recognition system. The Fatigue Detection driver fatigue recognition system, offered as standard on the entire Polo range, detects a possible decrease in the driver's concentration and alerts them by means of an acoustic signal lasting five seconds and a message in the instrument cluster, inviting them to do so. a break. If in the next 15 minutes the driver does not take breaks, the warning will be repeated. Multiple anti-collision braking. Almost a quarter of all accidents with personal injury result from multiple collisions that occur after the initial actual accident. In this respect, multiple collision braking can help avoid subsequent collisions altogether or at least mitigate their severity. After the first impact, within the limits of the device, the multiple anti-collision system automatically brakes the car, even before the driver can react. By doing so, the device can reduce the severity of the accident or, at best, can avoid it altogether.
The optional Park Assist parking assistance device automatically guides the Polo GTI into parking spaces parallel to the carriageway and transversal and also performs maneuvers to exit parallel spaces. The system is activated by pressing the relevant button on the center console. The driver will then choose the side of the roadway to park on using the direction indicators. If the Park Assist, through the ultrasonic sensors, detects a parking space of sufficient size (length of the car + 40 cm in front and 40 cm behind), assisted parking can be started: the driver will engage reverse gear, after which he will only have to measure the accelerator or brake pedal, while the car will operate the steering. An automatic braking function will support it in the event of an impending collision.