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The Up! GTI Debuts in Austria

 

Volkswagen is adding another member to the GTI family. Not solely the preserve of Golfs anymore, the Up! GTI made its global debut Thursday on the banks of Lake Wörth in Austria.

The lake is the home to the GTI Treffen, a get together of mammoth proportion for lovers of all things Volkswagen. The Golf GTI is a tough act to follow, given its history and reputation, but the Up! Comes out of the gates with that history on its size.

Roughly the same size as the original, 41-year-old Mk1 GTI (Mk1: 3,705 mm long, 1,628 mm wide (without exterior mirrors), 1,390 mm high; Up! GTI: 3,600 mm long, 1,489 mm high and 1,641 mm wide (without exterior mirrors). Furthermore, the Up! GTI, thanks to its size can keep its kerb weight to under the magical mark of 1,000 kg (997 kg, to be exact).

Volkswagen Up! GTI

While that’s a little more weight than the original GTI, unburdened as it was by airbags or high strength steel, the Up! GTI has a little more power to make up for it.

Coming from a 1-liter, three-cylinder unit first seen in the updated Mk7.5 Golf, the new engine combines efficiency (not that you care) and grunt. Making about 115 hp and 140 lb-ft of torque low down in the rev range, the Up! GTI will more than be able to cash the checks its tartan seats and red grille stripe are writing.

That engine comes with all the latest VW technology, which has come a long way since the jetronic 1,500 cc engine of 41 years ago. The new 999 cc engine features a turbocharger with an electric wastegate control, an intake manifold with an integrated charge air cooler, and an exhaust manifold integrated into the cylinder head.

To keep the Up! GTI friendly in the city, it’s been fitted with a sound actuator that lets you hear the engine without bothering the neighbors. It’s up to you to decide if that’s something you like. It will also by the first gas-powered VW to come with a standard particulate filter, to help keep emissions down.

Volkswagen Up! GTI

Paired to a six-speed manual, the little Up! GTI channels all of its power, in GTI fashion, to the front wheels. Volkswagen hasn’t forgotten about the rear-end, though. This callipygian beauty features a functional rear spoiler to help keep the rear wheels planted when the twisties get quick.

With the back-hatch painted black (standard on all Up!s) the little GTI shares this design feature, along with a host of others, with the original GTI.

A red stripe under the grille follows through to the back, along with stripes along the side panels, black mirror caps, and plaid seats. The ride height is also lower by 15 mm, and the GTI comes with a bunch of unique features including front fog lights, “Composition” radio system, heated seats, and a six-speaker sound system.

Wearing 17-inch “Brand’s Hatch” wheels, the Up! GTI will look the part. It will come in four colors: “pure white”, “tornado red”, “dark silver”, “black pearl” and “costa azul.” The Up! GTI comes as standard with two-doors.

Volkswagen Up! GTI

The post The Up! GTI Debuts in Austria appeared first on VWVortex.



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