PoloDriver

The latest 197bhp Polo GTI is the most powerful ever, and with as much power as a fifth-generation Golf GTI of 2004, Barracuda Racing Wheels Europe thought VW’s small firecracker deserved a more striking set of rims.

The German tuner’s Tzunamee EVO alloys pictured here are 8×18-inches in size, wrapped in 215/35R18 rubber. With a dark gunmetal finish, the company quotes a pronounced concavity of fifty millimetres and state that as the brushed regions of the spoke ends extend to the edge of the rims, the wheels appear larger than they really are.

Priced from €299, optional €69 eight millimetre spacers on the rear ensure perfect alignment between front and rear and lend the sixth-generation Polo GTI a more aggressive appearance. This is helped on Barracuda’s show car by a set of €249 special “JMS made by H&R” springs which lower the pumped-up, go-faster Polo’s body by 40mm at the front, and 30mm at the rear.

Barracuda Racing Wheels’ range of rims are available from car dealerships as well as tyre and specialist stores. They can also be bought online from www.barracuda-europe.de, and the company has extensive social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

The latest 197bhp Polo GTI may be the most powerful version of Volkswagen’s smaller hot hatch icon to hit the roads, but it’s the not the most powerful series production Polo ever. That honour goes to the 217bhp limited edition 2013 Polo R WRC Street. But don’t worry: the take on the current Polo GTI offered by Siemoneit Racing blows the R WRC Street well and truly out of the water.

Based in Ottenbecker near Hamburg, the German tuner’s modifications packages will take the current Polo GTI’s power up to 316bhp. Siemoneit’s Stage 1 option boosts the standard car’s 2.0-litre engine from 197bhp to 242bhp (the same as the larger Golf GTI Performance in factory tune), with torque up to 302lb ft, 66lb ft over the original figure. The cost? Around £535 (€598). For a little extra, Stage 1+ adds a further 5bhp and 11lb ft.

2019 Siemoneit Racing Volkswagen Polo GTI

2019 Siemoneit Racing Volkswagen Polo GTI

2019 Siemoneit Racing Volkswagen Polo GTI

316bhp, 317lb ft
But the full-fat Stage 3+ is where the real fun and games begin. The Golf R-bothering 316bhp and 317lb ft comes courtesy of an enlarged turbocharger, a new intercooler and plumbing pipes, as well as a performance sports exhaust, and tweaks to the DSG gearbox to handle the beefed-up power. Super-Golf performance doesn’t come cheap, though: at £8,000 (€8,998) once the cost of the donor car has been factored in, the price is right in Golf R terrority, too.

But if that’s still not hardcore enough (rarely has the word ‘hardcore’ been used in conjunction with a Polo GTI before), for around £11,000 (€11,630), Siemoneit Racing will turn your Polo GTI into something of a Porsche 968 Clubsport. Kind of. The rear seats are ditched and replaced by a full roll-cage, Recaros with Sabelt harnesses keep you pinned in your seat as the Siemoneit Polo GTI’s pace catapults you towards the horizon and KW Clubsport suspension and 18-inch ATS rims wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sport rubber keep the performance Polo pinned to the tarmac.

2019 Siemoneit Racing Volkswagen Polo GTI

2019 Siemoneit Racing Volkswagen Polo GTI

2019 Siemoneit Racing Volkswagen Polo GTI

All that translates to a 0 to 62mph time of 5.2 seconds – 1.5 seconds faster than the standard Polo GTI – and a top speed of 159mph. With little evidence of a more powerful official Polo GTI Performance model in the offing, Siemoneit Racing’s programme of upgrades offer exciting, if expensive, ways to turn VW’s second-smallest hot hatch into a real road-burner. If you like what you see, find out more at www.siemoneit-racing.de.

Milltek Sport has announced a fully EC-approved exhaust system for the latest Polo GTI. Starting at £561.42 plus VAT, the system fits from the gasoline particulate filter (GPF) back, which allows drivers to stay within the confines of warranty as well as legislation.

‘Subtle enhancement in tone’
Milltek Sport claims the new system looks set ‘to equip Volkswagen’s latest hot hatch with higher levels of both sonic and dynamic ability’, although also states that enthusiasts looking for a ‘subtle enhancement’ in tone will be best served by the fitment. It would appear (initially anyway) that the exhaust is in keeping with the nature of the car…

All Milltek Sport exhaust systems are designed and hand-finished from aerospace-quality, non-magnetic stainless steel in the company’s Derbyshire factory, using both robotic and more traditional artisanal techniques to create parts that look and sound like factory option components. Milltek’s extensive R&D on both road and dyno ensures that its new systems deliver a crisp, attractive note, without ever droning or resonating on long motorway drives.

Sports cat and de-cat options
Once Milltek Sport’s road test programme is complete, sports catalyst and de-cat options will also be available. These will replace the OEM catalysts and GPF, and promise ‘dramatic improvements’ in flow rate as well as a useful aural enhancement says Milltek. More power is also stated to be unleashed!

Five trim options will be available for owners to match, contrast or accentuate their tailpipes to suit the look of their Polo GTI. Based on the popular and stylish ‘GT90’ trim, the pipes come in a choice of brushed titanium, burnt titanium, carbon, cerakote black or polished. Plenty of Polo pipe personalisation options then!

For more details, visit the Milltek Sport website to see when each new configuration is launched.

2018 was yet another busy year for the Volkswagen Polo. The launch and introduction of the all-new sixth-generation model into the UK and the debut of the Polo GTI R5 rally car have been the biggest happenings, while, yet again, the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo R has dominated the World Rallycross Championship in the hands of Johan Kristoffersson.

Historically featuring the current Polo, the South African Engen Volkswagen Cup also starred new sixth-generation Polo GTI racing cars, and while PSRX Volkswagen Sweden has bowed out of the World Rallycross Championship series for 2019, team boss and ex-rally champ Petter Solberg has promised there will be some action. Whether that turns out to be Polo-based or not, we’ve yet to find out.

Right now, though, we round up the Polo’s biggest achievements in 2018. (Bold entries are illustrated by the picture above that particular month’s list of events.)

January

• Sixth-generation Polo launched in South Africa
• Polo Vivo named the most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo is the fourth most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Fifteen orders confirmed for new Polo GTI R5 rally car as Petter Solberg tests the car in Sweden
• New Polo GTI chosen as basis for 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup circuit racer.

February

• Sixth-generation Polo launched in Australia from $17,990
• New-generation Polo Vivo launched in South Africa
• Sixth-generation Polo named the most popular passenger car in South Africa.
• Polo Vivo is the second most popular passenger car in South Africa.

March

• Polo claims Car South Africa magazine’s ‘Top 12 Best Buys 2018 – Small Hatchback’ award (Polo Vivo and Mazda 2 runners-up)
• Polo named as ‘Best Car 2018 – Sub-Compact Cars’ by Auto Motor und Sport
• Volkswagen India replaces Polo 1.2 with Polo 1.0 MPI
• Indian-market limited edition Polo Pace launched
• Polo Vivo is the most popular passenger car in South Africa for Q1 2018 with 7,027 units sold
• Polo is the second most popular passenger car in South Africa for Q1 2018 with 6,610 units sold
• Polo Vivo named the most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo is the second most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo announced as the World Urban Car 2018 winner
• 2018 World Rallycross Championship Volkswagen Polo R Supercar revealed
• Jeffrey Kruger wins race one of the 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup at Kyalami.

April

• Volkswagen Connect DataPlug and smartphone app-based connectivity system now standard on new Polo
• Polo named ‘Safe Car of the Year’ at inaugural FirstCar Awards
• 140bhp Polo VRS 1.2 TSI launched at 2018 Indonesia International Motor Show
• Volkswagen India launches the Vento Sport
• Polo Vivo is the most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo named the second most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo is the fifth most popular car in the UK
• Volkswagen Motorsport announces Polo GTI R5 set for competitive debut at 2018 Rally Spain
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar wins World RX of Barcelona; Petter Solberg fifth
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar wins World RX of Portugal; Petter Solberg third
• Jeffrey Kruger wins races two and three of the 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup at Killarney.

May

• Rear seat belt safety issue found on sixth-generation Polo models
• Polo is the most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo Vivo named the second most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo is the fifth most popular car in the UK
• Petter Solberg and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar finish second at World RX of Belgium; Johan Kristoffersson fifth
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar wins World RX of Great Britain; Petter Solberg seventh
• Tasmin Pepper wins races four and five of the 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup at Zwartkops.

June

• New South African-only Volkswagen Polo Vivo Maxx revealed
• Volkswagen South Africa launches new Polo GTI from R375,900
• Polo Vivo is the most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo named the second most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo is the fifth most popular car in the UK
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar wins World RX of Norway
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar wins World RX of Sweden
• Jonathan Mogotsi wins races six and seven of the 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup at East London.

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Building on the success from last year’s inaugural event, Volkswagen hosted its second ‘GTI Coming Home’ meeting at its Wolfsburg headquarters at the end of August. With cars littered around the nearby Volkswagen Arena and Autostadt visitor attraction, GTI fans from far and wide converged on Wolfsburg to celebrate all things sports VW.

Neil Birkitt from Volkswagen Driver magazine was one of the few UK journalists at the event, and he sent us a selection of images detailing the Polos in attendance. Unsurprisingly, not only was the new Polo GTI a star attraction, with road-going and new GTI R5 rally versions on display, but a large number of Polo R WRC road cars also turned up. The 217bhp limited edition models from 2013 lined up alongside examples of the World Rally Championship-winning title car itself, and made quite a sight.

As with last year’s debut meeting, one of the highlights of the GTI Coming Home event was the cavalcade of around 250 cars through the Wolfsburg plant itself, driving down Mittelstrasse to Südstrasse, passing the iconic Brand Tower – with it large and illuminated VW roundel – before ending at the Kraftwerk, the instantly-recognisable power station. The meeting also saw the covers pulled off the new Golf GTI TCR production car for the first time in Germany, while the all-electric, all-conquering I.D. Pikes Peak racing car was also on show.

A gallery is featured below, but a full five-page report appears in the November 2018 issue of Volkswagen Driver magazine, on sale now. It also includes the second part of PoloDriver.com editor Rich Gooding’s Polo GTI retrospective, focusing on the 9N3 GTI 1.8T. For more pictures and information, head down to your local newsagent, visit the Volkswagen Driver website, or download the magazine digitally at pocketmags.com.

GTI Coming Home 2018 event (Image: Neil Birkitt, Volkswagen Driver magazine)

Volkswagen Polo R WRCs at GTI Coming Home 2018 event (Image: Neil Birkitt, Volkswagen Driver magazine)

Volkswagen Polo R WRCs at GTI Coming Home 2018 event (Image: Neil Birkitt, Volkswagen Driver magazine)

Volkswagen Polo R WRCs at GTI Coming Home 2018 event (Image: Neil Birkitt, Volkswagen Driver magazine)

Volkswagen Polo R WRCs at GTI Coming Home 2018 event (Image: Neil Birkitt, Volkswagen Driver magazine)

Volkswagen Polo R WRCs at GTI Coming Home 2018 event (Image: Neil Birkitt, Volkswagen Driver magazine)

Volkswagen Polo R WRCs at GTI Coming Home 2018 event (Image: Neil Birkitt, Volkswagen Driver magazine)

Volkswagen Polo R WRCs at GTI Coming Home 2018 event (Image: Neil Birkitt, Volkswagen Driver magazine)

Volkswagen Polo R WRCs at GTI Coming Home 2018 event (Image: Neil Birkitt, Volkswagen Driver magazine)

Volkswagen Polo RX and Volkswagen Polo R WRC at GTI Coming Home 2018 event (Image: Neil Birkitt, Volkswagen Driver magazine)

Volkswagen Polo RX and Volkswagen Polo R WRC at GTI Coming Home 2018 event (Image: Neil Birkitt, Volkswagen Driver magazine)

2016 Volkswagen Polo R WRC at GTI Coming Home 2018 event (Image: Neil Birkitt, Volkswagen Driver magazine)

2018 Volkswagen Polo GTI at GTI Coming Home 2018 event (Image: Neil Birkitt, Volkswagen Driver magazine)

2018 Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 at GTI Coming Home 2018 event (Image: Neil Birkitt, Volkswagen Driver magazine)

2018 Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 at GTI Coming Home 2018 event (Image: Neil Birkitt, Volkswagen Driver magazine)

GTI Coming Home 2018 event (Image: Neil Birkitt, Volkswagen Driver magazine)

GTI Coming Home 2018 event (Image: Neil Birkitt, Volkswagen Driver magazine)