Volkswagen’s Polo GT TSI has started
a new revolution that will go a long, long way. We drive India’s first true hot
hatch
A race seems to be on among car
manufacturers in India to produce the most efficient hatchback. And in order to
make cars more efficient the manufacturers often take the excitement out of
their products, which results in economical cars that are no fun to drive.
However, Volkswagen recently decided to deviate from all that. They already had
the resources to do so and it was only a matter of bringing the finished
product to India. And now that they have done so, ladies and gentleman, here is
India’s first hot hatch: the VW Polo GT TSI. This car ushers in a revolution
that will inspire many. The Polo was already a nice hatchback and the CT has
taken it to another level. We recently test-drove the car in order to bring you
this review and I can happily say that we had a lot of fun while driving this
magnificent hatch.
A
race seems to be on among car manufacturers in India to produce the most
efficient hatchback.
VW’s popular hatch, the Polo has already
proved its mettle in India, leaving no doubt about its capability. And the GT
is no exception. It’s simple yet gorgeous design now looks even more appealing
with the CT branding all around the car. The build quality is excellent and
everything looks and feels quite solid. The exterior of the CT is not entirely
different from a regular Polo, but there are changes like body- colored door
handles, halogen headlamps with black trim, VW’s Estrada alloy wheels, heat-
insulated windscreen and side glass, bold GT badge on the front grille, CT TSI
stickers on the side and GT and TSI emblems at the rear that set it apart from
the normal Polo. However, inside there are not many changes, though the GT is
loaded with stuff like chrome interior trim, Milan Titanschwarz fabric
upholstery, leather trim on the steering wheel and gear knob, aluminum pedals,
Bluetooth, steering-mounted controls and a pulse racing CT door sill. The seats
are comfortable and the fabric covers feel rich and classy. However, the rear
seats are still short on space, but then you will be spending most of your time
driving the GT and not sitting at the back.
The GT doesn’t just look good, it is quite
safe too as V’W have put in extra safety features that come in handy. Like the
traction control system that ensures you stay safe even if you get carried away
a bit. Dual air-bags, anti- lock braking system (ABS), engine immobilizer, disc
brakes and also hill hold function ensure you stay safe at all times.
Volkswagen have made sure that you enjoy the added power and performance in
great safety.
Like
the traction control system that ensures you stay safe even if you get carried
away a bit
But the biggest change that you will notice
once you step inside the car is the seven-speed DSG gearbox. Yes, a
seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic gearbox in a hatch. VW wanted the GT to be a
top-notch hatch with the latest technology, and so the DSG box. That’s not all,
once you start the engine you can hear the changed exhaust note, which has more
grunt to it and the engine produces a very nice and exciting sound. Rev up the
car a bit and you can clearly hear the sweet sound of performance that will
inspire you to nail the throttle at every green light. The Polo GT uses a
1.2-liter petrol engine, but this is not just any 1.2-l engine. It has four
cylinders, a supercharger and a turbocharger and it’s called the TSI. This
deadly combination has resulted in a displacement of 1,197 CC, 105 PS of power
and a breathtaking 175 Nm of torque that is available from as low as 1,500
revolutions per minute. And the good news is that this much power propels a
Polo that weighs just 1,140 kilos. Simply sinful.
