How Much will a Volkswagen Polo GTI Cost if it's Sold Locally?

With a price tag that starts at PHP898,000, the Volkswagen Polo Hatchback is one of the most affordable models in the German carmaker's local lineup. At the other end of the spectrum is the Volkswagen Golf GTI which retails at PHP2.290 million; it's not the most expensive model--that honor goes to the Volkswagen Crafter at PHP3 million--but it's pretty close. Now, what if you wanted the stance and performance of the Golf GTI but your budget is hundreds of thousands of pesos off the asking price? Well, if you lived in Europe, you could have this instead:

It may look like the Golf GTI but it's not. It's actually the all-new Volkswagen Polo GTI and underneath its hood resides a 2.0-liter TSI engine that's mated to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, and with 197 hp and 320 Nm of torque on tap, propels the car to 60 mph (97 kph) in under 6.7 seconds before it reaches its top speed of 237 kph. Yet despite these performance figures, Volkswagen claims the Polo GTI has a combined city/highway fuel consumption of 16.949 km/l. Beyond the drivetrain, the Polo GTI is packed with feature that befit the badge, from the red stripe in the radiator grille to the legendary 'Clark' plaid seat covers. Optional features are the fully-digital instruments (Active Info Display), LED headlights, a whole armada of driver assistance systems, adjustable sports running gear, 18-inch alloy wheels for the first time, the largest panoramic sliding sunroof of any car in this class, and a 300-watt Beats sound system. As exciting a prospect as the Polo GTI is, it's a risky proposition that Volkswagen Philippines will not take because with a projected price of PHP1.5 million, it might prove to be a tough sell. If there was a free trade agreement between the Philippines and Germany--or the European Union even--then that would significantly push the price of the Polo GTI down to around PHP1.2 to PHP1.3 million, which is more reasonable. And then there's this: according to risk management consultancy firm Bähr & Fess Forecasts, the new Polo is the small car that will have the highest residual value in 2021. So, do you think there's a market for the Volkswagen Polo GTI locally?