VW Up GTI order books are now open in the UK

The order books have officially opened for one of the most anticipated cars of the year – the Volkswagen Up GTI.

The Up GTI is a throwback to hot hatches of old. In a world of bloated quick little cars, the Up GTI is a lightweight pocket rocket in the vein of the original Golf GTI.

Even the colour choices are inspired by Volkswagen GTIs of old – there's pure white, red, dark silver metallic and black pearl available, and if you buy a white, red, or silver one, you can even spec a black roof. Other cosmetic touches include red brake callipers underneath the striking 17-inch alloy wheels, a chrome tipped exhaust, plus side stripes and subtle red touches that remind you this is no ordinary city runabout.

'The buzz around our newest GTI is remarkable, and rightly so. This is a wonderful little hot hatch that simply makes driving truly fun once again,' said Geraldine Ingham, marketing chief at Volkswagen UK. 'The fact that it is so accessibly priced, and yet so generously equipped, will I’m sure only add to our charming new little pocket rocket’s irresistible appeal.'

Power in this pocket rocket comes from a turbocharged, three-cylinder, 1-litre TSI engine with 113bhp. The 0-62mph dash is handled in 8.8 seconds and top speed is a brisk 122mph.

The price for this tribute act is £13,750 for a three door, or just over £14K for a five-door version, making it cheaper than its rivals. There's attractive PCP options too. With a deposit of £3,493 and a deposit contribution of £500, it'll cost just £139 a month over 48 months (providing you stick to less than 10,000 miles a year), with a final payment of £4,559 (plus an option to purchase fee of £10).