VW Lupo Sport
by Rob Shaw
I bought a VW Lupo 16V Sport a couple of months ago, and still can't stop grinning from ear to ear when I drive it!
The subtle styling tends to make other drivers assume you'll be sticking to 40 on the motorway, but the exhaust note is so fruity that you really can't help flooring the gas at every opportunity. Though not a true hot hatch, it will happily leave most other everyday cars standing at the lights, thanks to its light weight and 100 bhp 1.4 engine. And the sensation is even better because it comes as such a surprise to the other drivers. The handling of the Sport is superior to the other models in the Lupo range, courtesy of lower, firmer springs and dampers, and fatter tyres. Understeer on damp corners is gentle and progressive, and only really noticeable if you are driving very hard. Lift-off oversteer is difficult to achieve, but when it finally does arrive the rear end can be a little snappy due to the short wheelbase.
True, the Lupo Sport can seem a little pricey, but it is far better made than, say, a Saxo VTR, and has commendable, if not earth-shattering, performance. The interior is bright and cheerful and adds to the whole happy experience. I would say with no doubt at all that the price premium over the Seat Arosa is well worth it for the styling alone.
I only hope that not too many people take my advice and buy one, because I've not seen any other Lupo Sports in the past six months, and having a unique car is usually the preserve of the phenomenally rich. The Lupo Sport turns heads like few other cars, and the fun factor is fantastic.
I just hope the rumours of a 200 bhp 4wd Lupo are correct. I'll be first in the queue!
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