The Volkswagen Up! GTi goes to B&B Automobiltechnik to get 145 CV

The concept of sportiness stopped being an exclusive feature of the most exotic vehicles a long time ago, since today it can be found in virtually every segment. The Volkswagen Up! was introduced into a family that invented the idea of the hot hatchback and, although in our country we cannot enjoy the GTi variant of the small city car, the Up! has become considerably more “radical”. Now the tuner B&B Automobiltechnik arrives to squeeze even more out of the German urban runabout and offer its customers a tune even more in keeping with the GTi name it represents.

This long legacy began with the Volkswagen Golf, a model considered the precursor of sporty compacts, which handed that honour over to other models such as the Lupo, from which the Up! is directly derived. Today, numerous brands have made this segment part of their line-ups, but the bet of Volkswagen has just received a boost that will set it considerably apart from the competition.

Although it is common for tuners to alter the styling of their creations, B&B Automobiltechnik has decided to keep the exterior appearance of the Up! GTi completely intact. This way, we still have the characteristic front grille with its red line, 17″ alloy wheels and its specific diffuser. However, the Up!’s mechanics have undergone considerable improvements that turn it into a very capable small sports car.

As standard, Volkswagen offers a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine capable of producing 115 CV of power and 200 Nm of torque. Thanks to the work of B&B Automobiltechnik, these figures can vary considerably, since the German tuner lets its customers choose between two different power levels that enhance the performance of the Up! GTi and allow it to rival more powerful vehicles.

In the first instance we find the Stage 1, which raises the power of the small Up! to 136 CV through a higher turbo boost. If we are not satisfied with this first step, we can always opt for the Stage 2, which allows the German city car to reach 145 CV of power and 260 Nm of torque. To improve the Up!’s handling after this mechanical upgrade, B&B Automobiltechnik also offers a stiffer suspension that lowers the ride height by 30 millimetres, resulting in more precise and effective cornering.

At the same time, the Up! GTi is capable of blasting from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds with the Stage 2, and reaching a top speed of 210 km/h. However, accessing this performance comes at a price, and B&B Automobiltechnik allows its customers to fit the Stage 1 on the Up! GTi for 998 euros, while the Stage 2 is available from 1,498 euros.