The Golf GTI's little brother has undergone a facelift with the big news for the 2015 Polo GTI being the introduction of a new 1.8-liter turb'd engine that replaces the previous 1.4-liter turbo.

The four-cylinder unit is from the VW Group's new EA888 engine family and it produces 190PS (187hp) and 320Nm (236 lb-ft), an increase of 10 horsepower and 70Nm (52 lb-ft) over the smaller displacement 1.4-liter turbo.

In addition, whereas the pre-facelift Polo GTI was available exclusively with a DSG double-clutch transmission, the new model can be fitted with a 6-speed manual gearbox as well for those who prefer working with three-pedals.

VW quotes a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 236km/h (148mph). By comparison, the 180PS (178hp) Polo GTI 1.4 TSI completed the standard run in 6.9 seconds before reaching a top speed of 228 km/h (142 mph).

As with the regular facelifted Polo range that is already on sale, the GTI gets some faint styling changes, including re-sculpted bumpers and available LED headlights on the outside, and new instrument panel, steering wheel design and center stack controls inside.

We'll see the updated Polo GTI at next month's Paris Motor Show.

Features a 192 PS 1.8-liter engine

Volkswagen has released new photos and details about the facelifted Polo GTI.

Revealed back in September this year, the model is already available to order in Germany, while the European launch will begin in February 2015.

As we have already informed you, the model is powered by a new 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 192 PS (141 kW) and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque. Power is sent through either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox to the front wheels. The 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration is done in 6.7 seconds, while the top speed is rated at 236 km/h (148 mph).

Volkswagen says this is the first time the Polo GTI will be offered with electronically adjustable dampers, which form the core technology basis of the optional Sport Select suspension.

Polo GTI’s fuel consumption figures show that the car needs 5.6 l/100 km (50 mpg) in combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 129 g/km when equipped with the 7-speed DSG and 6.0 l/100 km (47 mpg) with 139 g/km of CO2 with the 6-speed manual variant.

Delivers 95 HP & 118 Nm

Volkswagen has announced the Polo 1.0 TSI BlueMotion is now available on order in UK from £14,730.

It's the first time ever when a BlueMotion-badged Polo is offered with a gasoline engine and for this application it's a three-cylinder, 1.0-liter TSI developing 95 HP (70 kW) between 5,000 and 5,500 rpm and 118 Nm (87 lb-ft) of torque in the 1,500 and 3,500 rpm range. It's enough power to allow the facelifted supermini reach 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standstill in 10.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 119 mph (191.5 km/h).

The Polo BlueMotion is based on the S trim and can be had also in the five-door variant but the price rises to £15,360. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox which enables both versions to return 68.9 mpg UK (57.3 mpg US or 4.1 liters / 100 km) with corresponding CO2 emissions of 94 g/km.

On top of the S trim you also get 15-inch Buenos Aires alloys wrapped around in low-rolling resistance tires, an aerodynamic body kit, cruise control, front center armrest, alarm with remote central locking and a multi-function leather-covered steering wheel. There's also an infotainment system with a color touchscreen display and support for DAB radio, SD cards as well as USB and AUX connections.

Volkswagen UK says deliveries of the Polo 1.0 TSI BlueMotion will begin in March.

Prices start at 15,200 EUR

Volkswagen has added the Lounge special edition for the Polo lineup in Germany.

The package includes only visual improvements for both the interior and the exterior. Outside, the model features smoked taillights, tinted rear windows, a gloss black radiator grille, ‘Lounge’ badges and a set of new 15-inch alloy wheels.

Inside the cabin, the German manufacturer has equipped the vehicle with a cruise control system, rain-sensing wipers, automatic climate system, auto-dimming rear view mirror, infotainment system with six speakers and ‘coming home’ headlight function.

The Lounge special edition will be available with a choice of four petrol and three TDI diesel engines. Prices for the base 1.0-liter 5-speed model start at 15,200 EUR (18,140 USD), while the range-topping 90 HP (66 kW) TDI version with DGS gearbox costs 20,375 EUR (24,300 USD).

Having dominated the World Rally Championship in the past two years with the Polo R WRC, clinching both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ titles, VW unveiled its second generation a week before the season opener.

The most obvious change is the new Red Bull livery, which goes from blue up front to white in the back. Also, the new Polo R WRC features new headlights, as per the production car, a new rear wing and a host of improvements under the skin.

“Not only does it look even more dynamic and sporty than it did before, but our engineers have also been working meticulously on technical innovations under the bonnet and improved many detailed aspects of the package that has been so successful for the past two years”, said Dr. Henz-Jakob Neusser, VW’s Board Member for Technical Development.

The company says a new, hydraulically activated gearbox, which is operated via steering wheel-mounted paddles, is the main innovation. In addition, three quarters of last year’s car components were checked and many of them were optimized to make everything “simpler, lighter and stronger”, since the focus in developing the new car was on efficiency, reliability and, of course, performance.

“I am very optimistic that the new car will get off to just a good a start as its predecessor”, said reigning champion Sebastien Ogier. “We have done a lot of testing and put a lot of effort into developing the new shift paddle, which represents real progress. The Polo R WRC is even better than it was before.”

VW will compete in the 2015 season, which kicks off on January 22 with the Monte Carlo rally, with three cars. Its driving line-up remains the same, with Sebastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia, Jari-Matti Latvala/Miika Anttila and Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Floene.

The previous incarnation of the VW Polo GTI was always seen as competent but a bit soulless and it also didn’t come with a manual gearbox. Now, VW has given it a bigger and slightly more powerful engine, several tweaks and improvements and the option of a manual shifter.

The German automaker promises this revised GTI is more engaging and fun to drive than before; we like the fact that it has the biggest engine of any hot hatch this size – a 1.8-liter unit.

If you want to know more about the car and what’s changed, then do scroll down to after the virtual jump. The review by Autogefühl looks like it covers all that’s new and worthwhile mentioning.

The Polo GTI is obviously based on the most recent version of the Polo hatch, which we tried and found quiet, well built and well sorter, if a bit dull.