Volkswagen
Polo GTI (6N)

Why it matters

In 1998 the Polo carried the GTI name for the first time, as a limited special edition that sold out quickly.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Following the Polo G40, Volkswagen revived the special-edition idea in 1998 with a limited run of 3,000 Polo GTIs, built only as a three- and five-door hatchback. A facelift in 1999 raised the 1.6-litre 16V engine to 125 PS using a variable camshaft, and ESP became standard on the GTI.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Factory-listed features of the 1998 edition: 15-inch BBS alloy wheels, a lowered chassis, white indicator lights and a higher-quality interior. Colours were limited to red, silver and black.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   Polo III (1994–2001) Level A Volkswagen Newsroom (Volkswagen AG)

   • a limited edition of 3,000 Polo GTIs
   • new 1.6-litre 16V engine with 120 PS accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.1 seconds
   • new 1.6-litre 16V engine with 120 PS
   • 1.6-litre 16V engine with 120 PS
   • from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.1 seconds

   Accessed 2026-11-12
2. 2
   Polo III (1994–2001) | Volkswagen Newsroom Level A

   • 3000 limited-edition Polo GTIs produced

   Accessed 2026-11-12