• The official world premiere of the new Polo GTI will take place at the end of June this year.
• Design sketch reveals first impression of the new Polo GTI model.
• VWSA has confirmed that the new Polo and GTI derivative will arrive locally in the first quarter of 2022.
• For more motoring stories, visit Wheels24.
Volkswagen has teased design sketches of the new Polo GTI ahead of a world premiere presentation that will take place at the end of June 2021.
The new derivative is based on the recently launched Polo and will become the premium version of the product line.
Volkswagen South Africa says on local availability: "The Polo GTI forms part of our launch plans and will be available in the country from the first quarter of 2022."
The baby GTI
Technical details are vague at the moment, but it will almost certainly employ a turbocharged unit and make use of a DSG transmission with a range of options inclusive.
The current Polo GTI has a starting price of R453 700 and uses a 2.0-litre TSI engine that delivers 147kW and 320Nm mated to a six-speed DSG transmission.
Just in time for the traditional #GTI weekend meet on Lake #Wörthersee, which is again unable to take place due to COVID-19, we are offering a first peek at the new #VWPolo GTI.
— Volkswagen News (@volkswagen) May 10, 2021
What do you think? ??
?? More information here: https://t.co/crAhGvIHjA pic.twitter.com/8FYUErOVFZ
From the sketches, you can already see the LED daytime running lights and honeycomb air intakes, along with the signature GTI horizontal red strip that runs across the grille and inside of the headlights.
READ | Volkswagen reveals new Polo - What you should know ahead of its 2022 arrival
The Playa was the first Polo model to be sold in South Africa in 1996, while the GTI badge was introduced in the facelifted 9N hatchback. It employed a turbocharged 1.8-litre engine - the same one used in the MK4 Golf GTI - that made 110kW and 220Nm.
