French registration papers

At the beginning of the 21st century, Volkswagen reigned supreme in the market for family cars and the ‘GTI’ logo remained synonymous in Wolfsburg with cars that had history and a soul. When Volkswagen decided to apply its recipe to the smallest model in its range, enthusiasts waited for the chance to catch it out. Transplanted into the Lupo, the 1600cc 16-valve engine developed a trifling 125bhp, while the numerous aluminium components allowed a weight saving of 110kg (240lb). Two versions of the manual transmission were available, with either five or six speeds. With its favourable power-to-weight ratio, some even saw in the Lupo a revival of the original GTI spirit. Despite this, the little Lupo GTI failed to find its place in the market, the result above all of an excessively high price, due in turn to the particularly high research and development costs VW incurred. But these costs resulted in a Lupo GTI which was very well resolved and had many undeniable qualities; today, it perfectly embodies the spirit of the modern classic movement.

Our Lupo is a rare version equipped with a 6 speeds mechanical gearbox which adds up the day of our teste drive a little more than 76000 kilometers. With German origin, it was delivered new in February, 2004 and maintained by his first owner in the Zellmann Volkswagen center of Berlin before knowing in 2015 his second and current Parisian owner. This one will pursue scrupulously the maintenance of its Lupo in at the dealer Poirier & Fils at l’Aigle in the department of the Orne where it has its habits. An important file of invoices and alls books of original maintenance are joined to the car. This Lupo is in a very beautiful state and has the advantage to present an exceptional level of options: leather, heating seats, electric opening roof, Sat-nav, ESP, wheel rims BBS …

The Lupo GTI has excellent roadholding and its feisty temperament came through straightaway as we stepped up the pace. The twin exhaust pipes also let us enjoy some of the typical GTI soundtrack at higher revs. Regularly serviced in the Volkswagen dealer network, this a youngtimer in power to be collected before any the world!