It's Official: The VW Up GTI Is Happening

The sporty VW Up we've all been waiting for has at last been confirmed, with a 114bhp 1.0-litre turbocharged triple at its heart
It's Official: The VW Up GTI Is Happening

Thanks to a bunch of rumours from earlier in the year, we’ve been fairly sure that VW is in the process of making a hotter Up. Now, we at have official confirmation from VW, via Autocar.

Given the drought of dinky warm hatches we’ve had in recent years, we’ll heartily say hell yeah to that news. So what will it be like?

A prototype exists with a 104bhp version of VW’s turbocharged inline-three petrol engine, although the production version will have 114bhp. Not a huge figure, but enough to make the lightweight Up a jolly entertaining steer. The prototype features a five-speed manual gearbox, but it’s possible that VW will offer the production car with both that and a seven-speed DSG automatic.

The suspension will be heavily revised, with the Up sitting lower on stiffer springs and fettled dampers. It’ll receive a sportified GTI makeover on the outside, and - hopefully - lashings of tartan on the inside.

The downside? It won’t be here until 2018. So, the Abarth 595 is safe for now…

Comments

iCypher(Joel Chan)

Good….Except for the fact that it’s only coming in 2018…Well then, back to waiting for…Wait, what was it again? New Supra? A replacement to the Vantage?

12/16/2016 - 12:32 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

2018: the year that the world will go biserk. Or was that this year?

12/16/2016 - 12:33 |
2 | 0
iCypher(Joel Chan)

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Might be this year…Or the next, who knows..

12/16/2016 - 12:35 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

What an UPgrade! Thanks CT for the UPdate

12/16/2016 - 12:35 |
194 | 1
Quack

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I’m UPvoting this

12/16/2016 - 12:39 |
29 | 0
Matt Robinson
Matt Robinson

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Shut Up with your puns! ;)

12/16/2016 - 12:40 |
114 | 2
Car_spot_NLSC

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

gave this a UPvote, now going UP UP and away.

12/16/2016 - 12:57 |
4 | 0
Eythan Aldrich

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

By the time it arrives…..It’s going to be an UPhill battle with the Abarth

12/16/2016 - 12:57 |
11 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Maybe the police should drive these. So they can UPhold the law.

12/16/2016 - 13:09 |
8 | 0
ShadowHuayra (HemiPower)

Volkswagen Up! your power so you can Up! your fun

12/16/2016 - 12:37 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

What’s next, a VW Kombi GTI?

Wait, that actually might be a good idea..

12/16/2016 - 12:37 |
13 | 0
RoyP

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

12/16/2016 - 12:38 |
38 | 1
Roadster / Tail Red
12/16/2016 - 12:37 |
6 | 1
RustX7 2.0

Hopefully it can go UP the Nurburgring.

12/16/2016 - 12:38 |
12 | 0
JenstheGTIfreak (pizza)

YEEEEEESSS

12/16/2016 - 12:39 |
0 | 0
German Perfectionist

Can’t wait for the Amarok GTI

12/16/2016 - 12:46 |
19 | 0

Can’t wait for Crafter GTI.

12/16/2016 - 12:50 |
16 | 0
Gabriel Porfirio

in brazil we have the vw up tsi and in some dynos the car acuses more than 125cv and 18kgfm of torque, its an awesome little car…

12/16/2016 - 12:49 |
4 | 0

And is not even considered a GTI…

12/17/2016 - 10:26 |
0 | 0

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