Four dynamic decades. The Polo has been available for decades as a Gran Turismo model – a GT. Initially, however, without the 'I' for injection. The fact is that dynamic handling is in this product line's DNA. A look back sees the history of the sporty Polo versions beginning in 1979 with the GT. Delivering 60 PS, it was the most powerful first-generation Polo. And even back then, it already had the legendary red stripe in the radiator grille. The story continued in 1985, when Volkswagen unveiled a successor GT based on the second-generation Polo. In order to deliver its 75 PS – over 30 years ago a lot for a small car – safely onto the road, this second Polo GT had sports running gear and a brake pressure regulator.
Supercharging added for the first time in 1987. By 1987, the 115 PS Polo GT G40 was already endowed with the dynamism of a GTI, with a top speed of 200 km/h. One of the drive system refinements was a 'G-Lader', a scroll-type supercharger developed by Volkswagen that took on the job of a turbocharger and was used at that time in the Golf and Corrado as well. In 1991, a second G40 followed, based on the third-generation Polo. Already equipped with a catalytic converter, it produced 113 PS and a top speed of 196 km/h.
First Polo GTI debuts in 1998. With 120 PS and still based on the third model generation, the first Polo GTI launched in 1998. By 2006, an engine with classic turbocharging had already made its entry, in the 150 PS GTI of the fourth Polo generation. Also sold from 2006 onwards was a 180 PS Polo GTI Cup Edition, which was derived from the ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup's motorsport version of the same name. Intermezzo: for the sporty Polo versions 2012 was an exciting year. It saw the debut of the Polo BlueGT – its fuel-efficient 140 PS four-cylinder engine was equipped for the first time with Active Cylinder Management (ACT). Another car to appear in 2012, in a limited edition of just 2,500, was the Polo R WRC.
With output of 220 PS, the most powerful Polo to date was derived directly from the motorsport version of the same name, which from 2012 to 2016 won four world titles in the World Rally Championship. Back to the Polo GTI: in the GTI of the fifth Polo generation power output remained initially in 2010 at 180 PS, before going up in 2014 to 192 PS. In 2017, the new Polo GTI is for the first time now breaking the symbolic 200 PS barrier.