Volkswagen LUPO GTI 6-SPEED
Volkswagens Lupo GTI Shows That Citycars Neednt Be Boring. Andy Enright Reports
Think Citycars and youll be beset with images of cramped buzzboxes inflicting their fat fuel economy figures on the poor unfortunates seized up over the wheel. The
Volkswagen Lupo was one of the first of the breed to show that fun, style and the Citycar werent necessarily mutually exclusive concepts and the Lupo GTI brought with it an as-yet unheralded dose of fizz.
Volkswagens GTI badge comes with some pretty serious historical baggage. The iconic Golf GTI of the seventies really built the hot hatch market before growing ever bigger and fatter, aiming itself upmarket in a clawing swipe at the coat tails of Mercedes and
BMW. Even the Polo GTI was far too sophisticated and sensible to be a spiritual successor to the original MK 1 Golf GTI, so maybe the mantle should really be passed to the smallest GTI in Volkswagens current range, the Lupo. Powered by a punchy 1.
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6-litre 125bhp engine and equipped with a six-speed gearbox, the Lupo is more powerful than the original Golf GTI and with a rest to sixty time of eight seconds will comfortably outsprint it too. The real measure of progress comes in offering greater economy, driver involvement, quality and reliability than the old car could ever muster. That engine will be familiar to anybody whos sampled the Polo GTI, and offers a zippy throttle response and a wide flat spread of torque. Which means that the lightweight Lupo, which tips the scales at just 978kg due to the extensive use of lightweight aluminium, is comfortably quicker than any existing Polo, or indeed Golf, GTI models including the punchy 1.
8 turbo variants.
"The Lupo GTI tries hard to look mean but the overall effect is of a kitten in a combat jacket"
The sixteen-valve engine eventually runs out of puff at 127mph, a figure that outstrips the original Golf GTI by 16mph a testament to the Lupos superior aerodynamics and power. The exterior of the car is distinguished by flared wheelarches, chunky side skirts a deep front spoiler with purposeful air intakes and fifteen-inch six-spoke alloy wheels. At the rear, twin centrally mounted chrome exhausts, a roof spoiler and GTI badge let other drivers know whats just blitzed them from the lights. Available in black, red, and for the first time on a Lupo, silver, the GTI tries hard to look mean, but the overall effect is of a kitten in a combat jacket.
The interior was given a makeover as well, with colour-keyed sports seats and belts, coordinated metal pedals, a chubby leather-trimmed steering wheel, the obligatory chrome ringed dials and a slightly dubious GTI gearknob. Otherwise its standard Lupo, itself no bad thing. Instead of the usual Citycar fare, the German designers decided on silver-rimmed Italianate twin instrument dials featuring Allen bolts and soothing blue backlighting at night. It would look so good cruising at night in Berlin that for a moment you envy the Germans until you remember their unusual hairstyles and penchant for manmade fibres.
The Lupo GTI wouldnt qualify as a Citycar if it had blotted its copybook with poor economy figures, and the
Volkswagen doesnt disappoint. Despite offering lively performance, the Lupo turns in a combined figure in excess of 40mpg, and will return nearly 30mpg in stop and start urban traffic. This is surely the environment the Lupo GTI will inhabit, fulfilling a role as the second quickest thing across the city centre after a pizza moped. Its compact dimensions naturally make parking simplicity and the quick steering give almost unrivalled manoeuvrability.
What marks the Lupo out as something special is the sheer attention to detail everywhere you look. The panels are separated by shutlines so tight they look like scribed details, and everything is screwed together with just the same kind of quality youd find in a £25,000 Volkswagen Passat. The expensively textured dash plastics, the soft-return grab handles, the standard
seat and wheel height adjustment are all indicative of more prestigious fare. In fact were it not for the proximity of your front seat passenger, you could be forgiven for thinking you were driving a car in the Golf class.
The chief complaint with most Citycars is that rear passengers feel exposed due to their proximity to following traffic, and the Lupo GTI is no exception in this instance. If its any consolation, at least youll have the power to accelerate from most other road users. Should the worst come to the worst, however, the Lupo is one of the safest cars in its class, with twin airbags and anti-lock brakes equipped with electronic brakeforce distribution. Continuing the practical theme, accommodation is good at the front but really comfortable only for nervous adults/kids at the back.
Dont go expecting too much of the boot either, though it should easily hold a weeks shopping. Anything bulky and youll need to fold the rear seats down. Although it plays the practicality card pretty well, the key reason for opting for the Lupo GTI is the driving experience which promises to be impressive and safe rather than being the sort of wild ride youd get from an equivalent
Peugeot. Likewise its appeal as cool, social transport will now be a bit more unisex.
Part of the Lupos problem before was that its cute styling really only appealed to the fairer sex, many men feeling slightly self-conscious in the standard car with its smiley visage, cartoon cat and mouse seat trims and loud colour schemes. The Lupo GTI still doesnt rival a
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo in the functional ugliness stakes, but at least its something you could conceivably step out of without feeling an overwhelming urge to shop for tofu or scented candles. In the final analysis, at £13,610, the Lupo GTI is one of the most expensive Citycars available. Whereas most cars would wear this title with a fair degree of discomfort, you could end up feeling that this one actually represents good value for money.
Heres a car which offers more options than most at a distinctly affordable price. A Citycar? Fun? The Lupo GTI rewrites the rules.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Volkswagen Lupo GTI
PRICE: £13,610 on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 11
CO2 EMISSIONS: 178g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 8.3s / Max Speed 127mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 28.2mpg / (extra urban) 53.3mpg / (combined) 40.4mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front airbags/ ABS/ EBD
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height" 139/71/57"
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