Rejoice, the VW up! GTI is back in the UK

The VW up! GTI is back with a new look and added tech after the hot hatch was removed from sale in the middle of last year due to WLTP emissions testing. 

The up! GTI will be the first Volkswagen to wear the firm’s redesigned logo on the nose. It’s on sale now priced from £15,895 for the three-door and £16,295 for the five-door model.

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Under the skin, the GTI sticks with the 115bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo, which comes as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox. VW says 0-62mph is possible in 8.8 seconds.

All up! GTIs come fitted with 17-inch alloy wheels, checked cloth upholstery and ambient lighting. A multifunction camera with lane assist, curtain airbags and a smartphone integration cradle have also been added as standard equipment. 

Elsewhere in the up! range, VW has added its familiar R-Line specification to the lineup. It brings 16-inch alloys, black roof and door mirrors, heated seats as well as sportier R-Line bumpers with integrated fog lamps. It also sits on lowered sports suspension. Prices for R-Line models start from £14,280. 

The only other engine option in the up! range is a 60bhp 1.0-litre unit. The fully electric e-up!, which is now capable of covering up to 162 miles on a single charge, will go on sale later in the year.

Are you happy to see the return of the Volkswagen up! GTI? Let us know your thoughts below...