2020 Volkswagen up GTI - UK version

The up! GTI is powered by Volkswagen's 115 PS, 1.0-litre TSI, a three-cylinder turbocharged engine. It produces its peak torque of 200 Nm at 2,000 - 3,500 rpm, while its power peak is delivered at 5,000 - 5,500 rpm. Despite its performance focus, the up! GTI is the most fuel efficient variant in the petrol powered up! range, returning 53.0 mpg (combined) and 121 g/km CO2 both on the WLTP cycle.

The Volkswagen up! GTI uses a six-speed version of the MQ200 gearbox found on several other models. The MQ100 gearbox is unsuitable due to the up! GTI's 200 Nm of available torque being higher than the MQ100's 120 Nm maximum. Inside, the car gets its own exclusive GTI gear knob too. Gear ratios of 47:13, 37:19, 41:32, 36:37, 35:45 and 34:53 are used for the forward gears.

The car sits on 17-inch 'Oswald' alloy wheels, upon which the car's body rides 15 mm lower thanks to sports running gear. The GTI's track is also 8 mm wider front and rear, resulting in a more aggressive, sporting stance, and tangible handling benefits due to additional width and a lower centre of gravity. The up! GTI's 1,070 kg kerb weight also contributes to its much-lauded handling and dynamics, mimicking the attributes of the Volkswagen which sparked the hot hatch phenomenon - the original Golf GTI.

So celebrated are the up! GTI's handling and driving characteristics that the only option to change the drive of the VW up! GTI characteristics in any way is the Cruise and Park pack, which adds cruise control to the up! GTI's driver assistance systems. Other personalisation options - such as a beats audio sound system, 2 Zone climate control and a Light and Sight Pack (bringing a rain sensor and manual coming home, automatic leaving home lighting functions) - are also available.

Design

The Volkswagen up! GTI is identifiable by its bespoke bumpers, with a front splitter sitting at the bottom, and chrome-rimmed fog lights with cornering function set into the gloss black horizontal feature, flanked top and bottom by air intakes finished with the GTI honeycomb pattern. The grille also has a red trim strip befitting the hallowed sporting moniker, with the GTI badge sitting above it in the grille.

The front wings have a GTI trim badge on each side of the car - a further reminder of the car's special status, above the 17-inch 'Oswald' wheels. These diamond-cut, black-detailed wheels are the joint largest offered on the up! and were specially developed by R GmbH. Should the owner wish, contrasting decals can be applied to the car's sides, just above the sills.

At the rear, a bootlid-mounted spoiler adds visual impact, while the GTI badge replaces 'up!' lettering. A red trim strip further punctuates the rear of the car, linking the two light clusters. A sports rear bumper is fitted, beneath which a chrome-finish tailpipe hints at the VW up! GTI's potency.

The rich heritage of Volkswagen's GTI sub-brand continues inside. The 'Jacara' cloth upholstery clearly marks out the up! as a member of the GTI family. Black roof lining further amplifies the sporting ambience, while GTI badges in the steering wheel and gear knob set the model apart as the agility champion of the up! range. Red 'Pixels' dashboard trim, red ambient lighting and matt chrome trim across the interior bring the exterior themes inside, as do GTI-badged door sill protectors.