PoloDriver

Volkswagen is having a busy time of it at the moment. The company pulled the covers off the Indian version of the new Polo last week at the Auto Expo in New Delhi, and yesterday unveiled the New Compact Coupé (NCC) concept car at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Two debuts at two motor shows in two regions of the world a week apart is no mean feat.

Premiering both the upcoming Jetta (or ‘Mid-Size Sedan’ being developed especially for the US market) and a hybrid powertrain, the NCC is powered by a 148bhp 1.4-litre TSI engine coupled with a 25bhp electric motor using lithium-ion batteries. The German automotive giant states that 48mpg is achievable, along with 98g/km of CO2, a top speed of 141mph and 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds!

Of more interest to us, though, is the styling. There’s no denying the NCC is a handsome piece of kit, but take a second look at the frontal aspect. There’s more than a hint of Polo to the forward-facing styling elements of the NCC and although the looks will no doubt be referred to as VW’s ‘new corporate face’ (which is partly true), there’s definitely more Polo-inspired DNA in there than either Golf or Scirocco.

A new notchback version of the fifth-generation Polo has been widely reported as on its way, but the question that begs to be asked is, does the NCC at least give a subtle hint to how the still-to-be-unveiled saloon will look? We know the smaller car will be a traditional four-door and not the more rakish two-door of this concept, and that the NCC is slated to be positioned between the Scirocco and Passat CC (Golf Coupé then) if it ever makes it to market. But, if the new Polo saloon looks this good, it should banish the memories of the awkward Series 3 notchback of 1996 forever.

With 2009’s Up! Lite concept (above) unwrapped at the Los Angeles Motor Show pointing the way for possible future Polo styling references, Volkswagen seems to be pushing its new-found small car styling confidence and visuals onto many new and forthcoming models. Exciting times. What do you think of the NCC: does it premier the likely new look of the Polo saloon, and, if so, would you buy one? Join the discussion and leave a comment below.

Here’s the TV commercial from the campaign for the Team range of models of which the Polo TEAM we highlighted last week is one. First aired on 23 December 2009, the ‘Winter Fairy Tale’ spot is just one part of a multimedia campaign and along with its print and online equivalents, the 30-second ad promotes the group of Volkswagen special editions made to highlight Germany’s 2010 World Cup entry.

Paraded through the streets of Germany like heroes who have already won football’s biggest prize, the TEAM special editions are given an ovation usually reserved for top players of the sport. German rock band (I know, we thought so too) Revolverhead provide the soundtrack, reworking their 2008 fan anthem Helden 2008 exclusively for VW to become Helden 2010 for the German car maker to take to South Africa in the summer.

The latest issue of Volkswagen Golf+ magazine has a two-page feature on PoloDriver in the club profile section. Showcasing the newest online Polo resource, the article tells the story of how the website came about and details the developments we hope to make, as well as featuring founder Rich Gooding’s 1994 Polo GT Coupé. The February issue of Volkswagen Golf+ magazine is on sale now until 29 January 2010.

Not only has Volkswagen revealed the Indian market new Polo at the Auto Expo in New Delhi today, it also, more excitingly, announced plans for the Volkswagen Polo Cup India 2010, a one-make racing championship. It will be the world debut for the new Polo as a racing variant once the season gets underway on 30 May. Volkswagen report that only a few days after the production car makes its debut in New Delhi, the racing version will turn a wheel in anger, so we think it’s fair to expect some action in the next few days.

The new Polo racer is powered by a 1.6-litre TDI engine, developing 129bhp and linked to a six-speed manual gearbox. Adjustable race suspension also features, along with 17-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels and 200/60 section slick tyres. Distancing itself from the showroom model, the circuit Polo has an aerodynamic body kit, consisting of redefined rear bodywork with a distinctive ‘deflector vane’ and special wind tunnel-developed front, rear and side skirts. An uprated exhaust system emphasises the sporty looks, producing a more angry sound. Design work for the new Polo Cup car was carried out by Volkswagen Design in Braunschweig, so it should be a proper piece of racing kit.

‘The new road-going Polo’s attractive design makes it a veritable eye-catcher. Apart from the demands which motorsport makes on a car, this was a major development objective for the new racing version as well,’ explains Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. ‘At Volkswagen, production development and motorsport work hand in hand, parallel to the presentation of the road car.’ In the cockpit, a Volkswagen sports-style steering wheel and a new shift gate add to the interior’s sporty appeal.

Just like the German ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup series which ran from 2004 to 2009 (above), the Volkswagen Polo Cup India will nurture fledging racing talent. Twenty drivers aged 16 to 24 will be plucked from driving camps all over India and the series could be a launch pad into a professional touring car career. And, just like the German series, all 20 cars will be built centrally by motorsport engineers at Volkswagen (this time at the Pune factory) and feature professional data logging and analysis.

The Volkswagen Polo Cup India 2010 will be run by Volkswagen India Motorsport in conjunction with JK Tyres. We’ll bring you more details of this exciting new chapter in the Polo’s motorsport career as we get them.

Volkswagen Polo Cup India race car specification
Model Polo Cup India race car
Displacement (cc) 1598
Power output 129bhp
Engine Modified ECU, engine mounts, flywheel, inlet and exhaust system
Transmission Front-wheel drive, six-speed manual with modified final drive and gear ratios, limited slip differential
Front and rear suspension Modified spring-damper units
Steering Electro-mechanical steering rack
Brakes 344mm discs, racing ABS system
Wheels 17-inch multi-spoke alloy
Tyres JK 200/60 R 17 racing slicks
Unladen weight (kg) 1060
Safety system HANS (head and neck support) with tubular steel integrated roll cage, racing seat with head protector
Dimensions (l/w/h mm, approximate) 3970/1901/1462

It’s been coming for a while, but today Volkswagen finally unveiled the newest version of the fifth-generation Polo today at the tenth Auto Expo in New Delhi. It joins the German carmaker’s line-up which already includes the New Beetle, Jetta, Passat and Touareg and was rumoured to be a traditional notchback saloon. That still may come of course, but at last Indian buyers can at last take a look at the car which will be produced locally at Volkswagen’s new high-tech Chakan, Pune plant.

Long-awaited, the new Indian market Polo will appear in the country’s 40 dealers in March, in the three basic continental market trims (Trendline, Comfortline and Highline), and with two engines – a 74bhp petrol and a TDI unit with the same output. All versions will come with a five-speed manual gearbox. Changes over the European version are minimal. Going by the supplied pictures, the headlights have silver upper edges (the European versions are shaded) and as anticipated, there may be a minor rise in ride height.

Speaking at the Auto Expo unveiling, Prof Dr Jochem Heizmann, Member of the Board of Management, Volkswagen AG with responsibility for Group Production, said, ‘The Volkswagen brand plays an important role in our success story. The new Polo is a key player in our ongoing strategy. It is an outstanding model in the exceptional range of the Volkswagen Group.’ Almost 50 percent localisation has already been achieved for the new Polo at the Pune factory with a target of around 80 percent within the next two to three years. The first Indian market production Polo rolled off the lines on 12 December 2009.