PoloDriver

Valid from 8-25 July, Volkswagen customers in India can buy a Polo or Vento with extra benefits under the ‘Fully Loaded’ scheme. Volkswagen India offers car finance, an annual maintenance contract, insurance, an extended warranty and roadside breakdown cover, all for a single EMI (Equated Monthly Installment) payment. Buyers pay 20 per cent of the car’s price upon purchase and the remaining amount over a period of 36 months. The Polo’s EMI is Rs 9999, while that on the Vento is Rs 14,699. The Polo is priced from Rs 4.95 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) while the Vento saloon costs from Rs 7.32 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

In related news, the CrossPolo has been seen testing in India. Not sold in the UK, the SUV-styled CrossPolo is popular in Europe. Indian Autos Blog reports that Volkswagen India has completed all the ARAI homologation formalities for the CrossPolo, so it’s ready for a market launch. The motoring site also claims that the car will only be launched as a diesel version, costing INR 25,000- 35,000 more than the Polo Highline TDI.

The Polo Dune lives again! The faux-by-four Polo Dune (or CrossPolo in Europe) which was introduced to the UK in 2004 lives again in South Africa as the Polo Vivo Maxx. Volkswagen South Africa has this week announced details of the new high-riding model, which it hopes will bolster sales still further of South Africa’s best-selling passenger car.

Only available in hatchback guise, the Polo Vivo Maxx borrows much from the previous UK-only Polo Dune, including raised suspension and aluminium roof rails. It also has painted exterior door mirrors and special ‘Maxx’ decals. There are no new bumpers or plastic cladding parts, though. In a nod to the new CrossPolo available in South Africa and mainland Europe, the Polo Vivo Maxx is fitted with that car’s 17″ ‘Budapest’ alloy wheels.

Inside, the Polo Vivo Maxx gets aluminium pedals, a titanium-painted centre console, front electric windows, manual air-conditioning, three-spoke leather sports steering wheel with grey stitching, radio/MP3/CD system with four speakers, and grey-edged floor mats. Driver and passenger airbags, ABS with EBD, an immobiliser and central locking also add to the equipment count. Only one engine choice is available – the 1.6-litre petrol engine developing 103bhp (more than was ever offered on the Polo Dune) from the Polo Vivo Trendline and GT powers the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox.

The Polo Vivo Maxx costs R160,300 (VAT and emissions tax included). In 2012, Volkswagen South Africa sold 34,873 Polo Vivos, which is manufactured at the company’s plant in Uitenhage, alongside the current Polo and CrossPolo (6R).

India could possibly be the latest market to receive the rugged-looking but two-wheel drive CrossPolo reports Autocar India. Expanding on the already popular Polo hatchback range and its saloon sister, the Vento, the CrossPolo would build on their success. With the non-built-up nature of the roads in the country, the CrossPolo with its 15mm raised suspension and 17-inch alloy wheels would appear to suit India well.

In line with South American versions of the smaller CrossFox, the Indian CrossPolo could even differ from European and South African versions by having a spare wheel mounted in the tailgate, adding to the go-anywhere looks. It’s not all visual tricks, though – Autocar India states that a CNG tank could be installed in the resulting empty spare wheel well. As well as a possible economic gas option, the CrossPolo is also likely to receive Volkswagen’s new 1.5-litre TDI engine, developed solely for India.

[Source: Autocar India]

The popular CrossPolo is now available with an ‘Urban Ice’ package, similar to the CrossPolo ‘Urban White’ available in Europe. The special Urban Ice package features Oryx White pearlescent paint, black roof rails, privavcy-tinted rear windows, gloss black side mirrors and 17-inch Oryx White ‘Budapest’ five-spoke alloy wheels. A silver-painted centre console, black headlining, grey carpet and handbrake gaiter stitching, and heated Alcantara/Meteor sports seats characterise the interior. The price for the Urban White package is R9800 on top of the standard cost of the CrossPolo. Standard retail prices (VAT and Emissions Tax included) for the CrossPolo are as follows:

CrossPolo 1.6 77kW: R214,200
CrossPolo 1.6 TDI 77kW: R238,500

Volkswagen South Africa has today announced price realignments for its wide and varied range of cars. Of course, we’re only concerned with the new costs for the Polo and Polo Vivo models, and the modest rises are detailed below. The Polo Vivo was launched in March 2010 as an entry-level model for the South African market, replacing the Series 1 Golf-based CitiGolf, and is available as a three or five-door hatchback and four-door booted saloon with 74bhp/84bhp 1.4-litre and 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engines. The Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo (9N3), built from 2005 to 2009. The fifth-generation Polo (6R) has been available as both a three and five-door hatchback since 2009, in addition to the traditionally styled four-door Polo Sedan. The rugged CrossPolo arrived in 2010.

2013 VOLKSWAGEN POLO VIVO PRICES
Hatchback (model: kW rating/CO2, g/km/retail price)
1.4 three-door: 55/147/107,200
1.4 five-door: 55/147/119,500
1.4 five-door Zest: 55/147/123,500
1.4 five-door BlueLine: 55/128/125,100
1.4 five-door Trendline: 63/147/131,300
1.4 five-door Trendline auto: 63/156/145,200
1.6 five-door: 77/157/140,600
1.6 five-door Trendline: 77/157/148,800
1.6 three-door GT: 77/157/153,900

Sedan (model: kW rating/CO2, g/km/retail price)
1.4 four-door: 55/147/125,400
1.4 four-door Trendline: 63/147/137,200
1.4 four-door Trendline auto: 63/156/151,100
1.6 four-door: 77/157/146,500
1.6 four-door Trendline: 77/157/154,700

2013 VOLKSWAGEN POLO PRICES
Hatchback (model: kW rating/CO2, g/km/retail price)
1.4 five-door Trendline: 63/144/155,400
1.4 five-door Comfortline: 63/144/178,700
1.6 five-door Trendline: 77/153/174,400
1.6 five-door Comfortline: 77/153/197,600
1.6 five-door Comfortline auto: 77/157/211,600
1.6 five-door Comfortline TDI: 77/120/221,700
1.2 five-door BlueMotion TDI: 55/89/185,300
1.4 five-door GTI DSG: 132/139/272,200

Sedan (model: kW rating/CO2, g/km/retail price)
1.4 four-door Trendline: 63/139/164,200
1.4 four-door Comfortline: 63/139/178,800
1.6 four-door Trendline: 77/143/184,000
1.6 four-door Comfortline: 77/153/197,000
1.6 four-door Comfortline auto: 77/154/211,000
1.6 four-door Comfortline TDI: 77/120/220,200

CrossPolo Hatchback (model: kW rating/CO2, g/km/retail price)
1.6 five-door: 77/154/212,200
1.6 five-door TDI: 77/120/236,300

Visit www.volkswagen.co.za for the latest information and updates on the award-winning Polo Vivo, Polo and CrossPolo ranges.