In a sporty car like a Polo GTI, you want nothing more than to drive yourself, right? Volkswagen apparently thinks otherwise and supplies IQ Drive Travel Assist on the fast Polo as standard, so that it can drive partly autonomously. The über-Polo can be ordered from now on for 37,990 euros. A hefty price, but then the Polo GTI is really fully equipped.
The term ‘supermini’ seems to have been invented for the Volkswagen Polo GTI. From the first generation, the fast but compact Volkswagen guarantees driving pleasure. The specifications for the latest edition therefore promise a lot: 207 hp, 0-100 in 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 240 km/h. The power of the 2.0 TSI turbo engine is transferred to the front wheels via a seven-speed automatic transmission. Combine this with the standard adaptive Sport Select suspension and electronic differential lock, and you can’t get behind the wheel anymore.
Get help when driving in the Polo GTI
So it is all the more striking that partially autonomous driving is one of the options. Volkswagen prides itself on Travel Assist, a chain of driving assistants that, among other things, help with steering, braking and acceleration. “All you have to do is keep your hands on the wheel,” the proud Germans shout about the system. Initially, this is at odds with the sporty ambitions of the Polo GTI. But besides Max Verstappen, nobody is always on the cutting edge, right? Especially in quiet everyday traffic you want your Polo to be just a Polo. Then the driving aids offer extra comfort and safety. Think of automatically keeping a distance from vehicles in front, or staying neatly within the road markings.
The Volkswagen is richly equipped
For the price of 37,990 euros you get more than just a lightning-fast, partly self-driving Polo. A digital cockpit, 8-inch multimedia system, Apple Carplay or Android Auto, climate control, parking sensors, a leather-covered sports steering wheel and sports seats, it’s all standard. From the outside, the new Volkswagen Polo GTI can be recognized by its sporty bumpers, honeycomb grille, black side sills and red accents.