Volkswagen has brought back the Up! GTI to the UK market, after a short hiatus, launching it in two versions, three- and five-door, with generous equipment and the brand’s new logo. Sitting at the top of the range, it packs a model-specific body kit, 17-inch alloy wheels, chequered cloth upholstery and ambient lighting. The 115 PS 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine carries over, matched to a 6-speed manual transmission, which lets it sprint to 100 km/h in 8.8 seconds.
New to Volkswagen’s city car family is the Up! R-Line, with bespoke body elements, black roof and side mirror casings and standard 16-inch or optional 17-inch wheels. This version sits lower to the ground and comes with front fog lamps, R-Line badging, heated front seats, heated and electrically adjustable side mirrors and a few other extras.
The Up! Beats is still part of the offering, with Beats badging, 15-inch alloy wheels, red or black mirror casings, exclusive interior add-ons and 300-watt premium sound system complete with subwoofer mounted under the boot floor.
The automaker is also accepting orders for the White and Black Edition versions of the Up!, with their white or black highlights, contrasting roof, mirror caps and dashboard pads, 16-inch wheels and others. These are only available in the five-door body style, as the three-door is reserved for the entry-level and Up! GTI. Speaking of the base variant, it arrives with 15-inch alloy wheels, 5-inch Composition screen, smartphone navigation interface and DAB radio.
Pricing starts at £ 12,440 on-the-road for the 3-door and £ 12,840 for the 5-door. The White/Black Editions cost £ 13,125, the Beats £ 13,490 and the R-Line will set you back £ 14,280. For the 3-door Up! GTI, you’re looking at £ 15,895, and the 5-door adds a £ 400 premium. Finally, the lineup will shortly be joined by the electric e-Up!.
