Kit Car Magazine

"GTI" is a weighty name for public, and models with GTI are all very interesting, for example, Golf GTI, familiar to us from China. However, GTI is currently being used in other Volkswagen models, most special of which is Up GTI, but this smaller steel cannon, like other peers, will eventually open its final chapter.

Volkswagen Up GTI is still full of energy from current point of view, even if it is a model released in 2018, it still won't feel old. After all, Up is only an entry-level model and overall design is relatively simple. Even in GTI version, headlights still don't have lenses, but they still have LED light sources and lighting effect won't be too bad. The front bumper didn't add any exaggerated aerodynamic kits, but replaced it with a more eye-catching color scheme to match shape of front bumper. Of course, iconic GTI badging and red badging are also standard configurations.

This generation of Up has only a three-door body style. The taller bodywork makes it look like little bread, but once fitted with 17-inch wheels, it also has a certain performance flavor to it. Compared to normal Up version, difference in rear is not obvious, only a chrome exhaust pipe is added, LED daytime running lights are quite beautiful with a black tailgate, and a rear spoiler is also added, but there is not much difference overall.

The interior is also very traditional: center console has an integrated design, air conditioning panel is integrated with multimedia system, and the sides are painted in a bright spray can, which does not seem cheap, as expected.

The seat has a classic mesh pattern, combination of red stitching and white mesh will never get boring, and wicker seat also adds personality. Rear row space is also larger than expected, and design of four wheels close to four corners improves space utilization, and there are no problems with occasional seated people.

In terms of power, this car is powered by a 1.0T three-cylinder engine. Don't think it's a three-cylinder engine. Its maximum power is 115 horsepower and maximum torque is 200 Nm. weighing only 1,070 kg, it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 196 km/h. Of course, most important thing is that it is equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission, which is a guarantee of pleasure of Volkswagen Up GTI and perhaps also main advantage of this car.

Overview

The reason why production of Volkswagen Up GTI was stopped is also very simple: on one hand, due to gradual shrinking of small car market, this kind of expensive small cars has faced many problems in Europe. On other hand, electrification is an irreversible trend, and living space of this type of economy car is gradually being absorbed by electric vehicles. However, in future, Volkswagen will also launch a related pure electric vehicle, which could be named ID.1 or ID.2, to fill vacancy in this market segment.

Volkswagen's previous generation Up, Up! It has also been introduced to China. The starting price of this small car made in Mexico is less than 120,000. As an imported car, it is not really expensive. In addition, halo of Volkswagen brand at that time also attracted some people who liked it at very beginning. Personalized car owner. However, due to fact that this car itself is positioned as an entry-level model, performance of model itself is not very good, it is only equipped with a 1.0L three-cylinder engine with a maximum output of 75 horsepower and a torque of less than 100 Nm. It can be said that it barely copes with everyday use. Coupled with feeling that interior and equipment are cheap entry-level cars, there is no clear advantage over A0 class cars of same period, subsequent sales are not very good, and new models are not introduced.