Someone's built a 316bhp Volkswagen Polo GTI

If you’ve always thought the VW Polo GTI is bit too soft and sensible, get Siemoneit Racing on the blower. For this German company, based near Hamburg, has just released some tuning packages for the second-littlest GTI. And the most serious of which sees it top a mighty 300bhp.

The firm’s ‘Stage 1’ tune turns the 2.0-litre turbo petrol’s wick up from 197bhp and 236lb ft to 242bhp and 302lb ft. The cost is €598 – or about £535. Its ‘Stage 1+’ tune, meanwhile, adds another 5bhp and 11lb ft for another €100.

You don’t want either of those, though. You want ‘Stage 3 +’, which gives you a bit more than just a recalibrated ECU. No, this pack deploys a bigger and better turbo, better cooling in the form of a new intercooler and pipework, and a proper sports exhaust. The cost is almost €9,000 - £8,000 – and the results are 316bhp and 317lb ft.

Another €11,630 buys you bodywork and suspension modifications – a full roll-cage, KW Clubsport suspension, Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres and Recaro seats with Sabelt harnesses. All in, you’re looking at a Polo marginally more powerful than a Golf R, but we suspect substantially racier. Oh, and quite a bit more expensive.

Has Siemoneit done a good thing here?