New 2018 Volkswagen Polo GTI revealed

The next Polo is also the biggest yet, with a wider and longer wheelbase. And it gets a bigger engine…

VW’s bargain compact hot hatch will now be powered by a 2.0-litre TSI engine, which results in a 147kW power output, a modest 6kW increase over the previous 1.8.

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It’ll need the extra few kilowatts, however, as larger dimensions will probably mean a heavier car.

With a wider and longer wheelbase, plus the Volkswagen Polo GTI’s standard ‘sport’ chassis and optional ‘Sport Select’ chassis, the slightly bigger car shouldn’t lose any of its hot hatch credential.

It’ll also feature 17-inch or optional 18-inch wheels, a different body kit with lip spoilers and sill extensions, the iconic red stripe across the grille and, of course, GTI badges to separate it from the masses.

Also optional are LED headlights which feature a red stripe to extend the grille accent line through to the sides for the car.

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It seems to have achieved the brief set by VW Design boss Klaus Bischoff: “All Polo models should be made more sporty, more powerful, fresher, more masculine and more charismatic”.

Inside, the next Polo GTI will look somewhat familiar, with iconic GTI tartan seats and red contrast stitching throughout.

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The steering wheel is wrapped in leather, the roof and pillars are lined in black, and the gearshift is GTI-specific.

The gearbox the shifter is connected to can be either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DSG.

The new Polo is due to launch in Europe before the end of 2017, but pricing and timeframes for Australia have not yet been announced.