VW has finally unveiled a version of the Up wearing their infamous GTI frock. Compared to today’s crop of hot hatches, It may lack the kind of eye-widening performance figures we’ve become accustomed too, but it’s frighteningly similar to the original Golf GTI. If that car is anything to go by, the Up GTI will be a huge amount of fun.
Straight away you can see the Up GTI is lower than standard – 15mm to be precise. The Up GTI also receives exclusive 17-inch wheels, the somewhat legendary GTI tartan patterned seats and happily, a DIY attitude to changing gear.
Driving the Up is a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder outputting 113bhp and 147b ft of torque. The Up GTI weighs in at just 997kg resulting in a modest 0-62mph time of 8.8 seconds. Top speed is similarly tame 122mph.
Now I know what your thinking. By today’s standards, the Up may not be as ‘hot’ as you’d like. But that’s the point. You’ll have to drive it hard to cover ground at today’s hot hatch pace, which can only mean one thing. Fun. By the bucket load.
Before you get too excited though, you should know that this is still a concept. VW have confirmed it’s coming, but not until later next year. When it does eventually hit the showrooms, price should be around the 15k mark.