Driving along a coast can be a simple necessity, because no other way leads to the destination. Or sharp turns and tight bends entice you with the finest in driving fun. Like on the 50 km long spectacular Costiera Amalfitana, which connects Positano with Vietri sul Mare in southern Italy, but which is so narrow in parts that cars can only get by a hair's breadth. Advantage for the Polo and the up !, the smallest from Volkswagen, which are now available in their sportiest versions as GTI for the test drive south at Naples Airport. The unmistakable distinguishing feature of both power packs is the classic red stripe on the front, 17 inches or, for the Polo 18, also like inch alloy rims, from which red painted brake calipers blink cheekily, Roof spoiler, a double-pipe exhaust system and a radiator grille in honeycomb structure on the cheeky nose. Inside, the sports steering wheel, GTI labels, red bezels and the nice, traditionally checkered seats with red seams leave no doubt that you can take a seat in the most agile representatives of their series.
For the first time, the POLO GTI is based on the group platform MBQ
Gianna Nannini roars her “Bello e impossibile” from the loudspeakers in the 200 PS strong Polo GTI. The Amalfitana winds its way through narrow gorges, under rugged rocky overhangs, which give a view of small towns that stick to the mountains like swallows' nests. Sky and sea vie with an almost outrageous blue. Of all places, a bus comes towards the narrowest point, the side mirrors almost scrape against the rock. With a length of over four meters for the first time and a width of 1,75 meters, the sixth generation of the Polo has grown far beyond itself. The “little” Wolfsburg, which is only around 20 centimeters short of its big brother Golf, is based for the first time on the MQB A0 group platform, which enables greater flexibility and, for example, the fully digital cockpit and numerous assistance and comfort systems that are known from higher classes ,
Depending on the driving style, a grab handle could be useful for the passenger
The way is clear again and the 1355 kilogram Polo GTI wobbles through the hairpin bends in sport mode. When accelerating, the four-cylinder appears willing and balanced, the 320 Newton meters of torque deliver the power in a controllable manner and in no way ruffically on the front wheels. Nevertheless, a grab handle for the passenger would not be a bad measure. The manual six-speed manual transmission with short shift travel and clear lanes suits the route just as well as the direct steering with good resistance. The Polo GTI takes 100 seconds to sprint to 6,7 km / h. If necessary and possible, it can go up to 237 km / h. The Volkswagen Polo GTI starts at just under 24.000 euros, with a few extra wishes you can easily scratch at the 30 euros mark.
The sportiest up! are available from 16 975 Euro
The smallest GTI from Volkswagen comes along cheaper, with its performance data and dimensions close to that of the first Golf GTI. For a basic price of 16 euros you can get the sporty up! with a three-cylinder with 975 HP and a maximum torque of 115 Newton meters. Lots of power for a car that weighs just over 200 kilograms and then tears at the front wheels when it starts off. But that is also the only boisterous thing that connects it to the riotous Golf GTI of the first generation, which gladly approved 1000 liters per 9 km. For the up! GTI gives VW after the new consumption - and exhaust gas measurement method WLTP, which is used as the first VW model, a consumption of 5,7 liters per 100 km. According to the previous less realistic NEDC procedure, it would have been 4,8 liters per 100 kilometers. Bello y impossibile. Nice and impossible. Especially on one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the Mediterranean.
Text: Solveig Grewe
Photos: Solveig Grewe, VW