Take the long way home: Waze and Volkswagen UK launch ‘GTI Superdrives’
If you’re reading this website, we’re assuming you already know how good a drive the Volkswagen range of GTIs is, but the German manufacturer has partnered up with Waze, the Google-owned navigation app to allow its two million users (and not just drivers of GTIs) to experience a selection of the UK’s best driving roads via a new ‘GTI Superdrives’ campaign. Up to 75 of the country’s finest driving roads will be offered through the partnership, which will be discoverable in-app for a limited period over the summer months.
Launched just after the new Polo GTI hits UK roads, Waze’s team of data scientists has selected the GTI Superdrives after analysis and ranking of roads based on a number of key variables. Perhaps obviously, GTI Superdrive routes are scenic, but are close enough to points of interest; have the right driving conditions – including engaging corners; low amounts of traffic; as well as low incident reports. The data has also been cross-referenced by volunteer Waze map editors from across the UK. Volkswagen states that all GTI Superdrives routes ‘fit with the GTI ethos of driving enjoyment’. Game on, then!
To enjoy a GTI Superdrive, Waze users need to look for a GTI badge when the app is active. If they are within 12 miles of a GTI Superdrive road, drivers will be able to tap on the badge – which has designed to reflect the famous brown UK road signs for tourist destinations – to receive directions to the road. Once a GTI Superdrive has been found, the driver simply follows in-app instructions to discover the road. When they are not driving, users can find out more about the route and discover its ranking among the top routes.
The top 10 roads from Waze’s analysis of proximity to urban areas, number of points of interest nearby and driving stats are:
- B3135 from Cheddar to Ashwick
- 940-A939-A944-A97 (from Forres to Alford)
- From A701 Moffat to A700 Edinburgh
- A4069
- A82
- A308, B3021, B3026, Old Windsor – Dorney
- Alcester to Wilmcote
- Draycote Water to Warwick
- Hard Knot Pass: Skelwith Bridge to Gosforth
- A675 Bolton to Blackburn.
Of course, as well as the new 197bhp Polo GTI available in standard (£21,260) and enhanced GTI+ (£22,760) specifications, there is also the smaller £14,055 113bhp Up GTI, and above them, the legendary £28,205 227bhp Golf GTI*. So there’s never been a better time to get out and veer off the beaten track – go discover a GTI Superdrive!
*Standard Golf GTI models are only available from Volkswagen Retailer stock and not available for factory order. Enhanced specification 242bhp Golf GTI Performance models are available to factory order from £29,930.
About Waze
Waze is a social navigation pioneer using mobile technology and a global community to redefine expectations of today’s maps. Home to the world’s largest network of drivers who work together daily to outsmart traffic to save time and money. The app consistently recommends the fastest routes based on real-time driving and data from two million users, as well as traffic re-routes and low fuel price alerts.
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