PoloDriver

In a repeat of August’s position, the Volkswagen Polo was announced as the fifth best-selling car in the UK during September according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) today. A total of 11,026 Polos were sold by Volkswagen UK last month. Seemingly unaffected by the ‘Dieselgate’ emissions ‘scandal’ (no UK-market Polo engine has so far been implicated), the Polo has sold 45,537 examples so far in 2015.

Highest September on record
Once again, the Ford Fiesta was both the best-selling small car and the most popular car overall with 22,807 examples finding homes in September alone, and an overall total of 108,054 units sold in 2015 thus far. The SMMT reports that September 2015 was the highest September on record in terms of sales with 462,517 cars registered (a rise of 8.6 per cent), undoubtedly helped by the now-traditional registration plate change.

It was the 43rd consecutive month of growth. Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive said: ‘September is traditionally one of the year’s biggest months for new car registrations, and last month set an autumn record. With plenty of attractive, affordable deals available on the new ’65-plate, Britain’s car buyers – whether private, fleet or business consumers – were busier than ever’.

The UK’s top 10 best-selling passenger cars during September 2015 and the year so far (sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 22,807 (108,054, 1st)
2 Vauxhall Corsa: 15,670 (72,835, 2nd)
3 Ford Focus: 14,258 (69,053, 3rd)
4 Volkswagen Golf: 13,603 (59,200, 4th)
5 Volkswagen Polo: 11,026 (45,347, 6th)

6 Nissan Qashqai: 10,119 (49,715, 5th)
7 Mini: 8,754 (35,679, 9th)
8 Vauxhall Astra: 7920 (42,687, 7th)
9 Vauxhall Mokka: 7670
10 Fiat 500: 7460

(The 2015 top 10 best-selling cars absent from last month’s sales figures are the eighth-placed Audi A3 and the Mercedes-Benz C Class in tenth place with 38,253 and 35,505 cars sold respectively.)

The petrol-powered version of the latest Polo BlueMotion has gone on sale in South Africa. The first Volkswagen BlueMotion model with a TSI engine, the 97g/km Polo BlueMotion TSI officially achieves 4.2l/100km (67.2mpg), as opposed to the standard 1.2-litre TSI model with 57.6mpg. Volkswagen South Africa claims it tops the class for fuel consumption.

1.0-litre, 94bhp engine
The same as other versions worldwide, the new Polo BlueMotion TSI for South Africa has a 1.0-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine which develops 70kW (94bhp) and can reach a top speed of 191km/h (118mph). Maximum torque of 160Nm (118lb ft) is available from 1500rpm up to 3500rpm. Maximum power is reached between 5000 and 5500rpm. The Polo BlueMotion TSI reaches 62mph from rest in 10.5 seconds.

A lowered ride height, rear spoiler, underbody aero-package and faired in front radiator grille are features carried over from the previous Polo BlueMotion. The latest car also shares its low rolling resistance tyres and longer gear ratios with its predecessor. A stop/start system is standard along with a regenerative braking function and a gear change indicator which informs of the optimum shift times.

Equipment highlights
Equipment highlights include – stylish and one of best rims available for the current Polo in our opinion – 15-inch ‘Buenos Aires’ alloy wheels, a six-speaker Radio Composition Colour touchscreen infotainment system with MP3/SD/USB/Bluetooth connectivity options. Volkswagen’s latest Automatic Post-Collision Braking (standard) and Driver Alert (optional) systems are also available.

Priced at R235,800, the new Polo BlueMotion TSI can be specified with bi-xenon headlights allied to LED daytime running lights, while cruise control is fitted as standard. Head over to the Polo pages of Volkswagen South Africa’s website to find out more.

New Polo TDI engines
Volkswagen South Africa has also announced the addition of two new common rail 1.4-litre TDI engines, which replace the 1.6-litre units used previously (and which are possibly part of the current worldwide ‘Dieselgate’ EA189 emissions scandal). Both offer improved engine acoustics and less vibration than their predecessors.

Two power outputs are available, 55kW (74bhp) and 77kW (103bhp). The 55kW unit develops 210Nm (155lb ft) of torque from 1500rpm, while maximum power is reached between 3000-3750rpm. Top speed is 173km/h (107mph) and the 0-62mph dash is reached in 12.9 seconds. It is only available in Trendline trim.

The more powerful 75kW version is offered to buyers choosing Highline and Cross (CrossPolo) trims. Torque of 250Nm (184lb ft) is available from a 55kW version-matching 1500rpm. Top speed is 194km/h while the Polo 1.4 TDI 77kW gets to 62mph from rest in 9.9 seconds. As with the 55kW variant, CO2 is 108g/km and fuel economy is a claimed 68.8mpg.

The Polo 1.4 TDI 55kW Trendline is priced at R223,500, with the 1.4 TDI 77kW Highline at R252,000. The 1.4 TDI 77kW CrossPolo costs R260,000. As standard, the new Polo comes with a 3-year/45,000km Service Plan, a 3-year/120,000km warranty and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty. Service intervals are 15,000km. The two new diesel and BlueMotion TSI models complete the South African range which includes the range-topping GTI.

THE POLO IN SOUTH AFRICA
The Polo first came to South Africa in October 1996, and sat between the Citi Golf and Golf in the model line-up. A booted sedan/saloon model, it was based on the contemporary SEAT Cordoba. A hatchback version, the Polo Playa, joined it in July 1998 and was similarly based on another SEAT, the Ibiza.

October 2002 saw the all-new Polo 9N hit South African shores, and promptly won the 2003 South African Car of the Year title. It was joined by a notchback Polo Classic saloon version in March of that year.

The fifth-generation Polo was launched in South Africa in 2010. The hatchback and saloon range has has consistently been the second best-selling car in the country. The best-selling model in South Africa since 2010 has been the Polo’s sibling, the Polo Vivo which was also launched in the same year to replace the Citi Golf.

The Polo has sold over 14 million units and is now available worldwide. The factory in Uitenhage is one of the two plants in the Volkswagen production network that assembles the Polo hatchback. In South Africa, the Polo is produced for both the local and export markets.

To celebrate Volkswagen Motorsport and the Polo R WRC’s success in the FIA World Rally Championship, Volkswagen Group Malaysia has launched the special edition Polo Trophy. Very limited in number, only 100 units will be available.

While the body work and paint scheme bring to mind the all-conquering and three-times world championship winning 318bhp Polo rally car, that’s where the similarities end. The Polo Trophy is unchanged mechanically from the 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol-engined Polo on which it is based. It even has the same wheels!

‘Designed especially for Malaysian WRC fans’ according to Volkswagen Group Malaysia, the six-speed automatic-only Polo Trophy is priced at RM89,888 plus on the road costs. WRC-inspired cosmetic touches include blue and grey Volkswagen Motorsport-type decals on the bonnet and sides and black wing mirror caps.

There is also a Polo R WRC Street-look rear hatch spoiler, ’Ecotint’ darkened window film and a seven-inch Blaupunkt Philadelphia 835 infotainment unit with satellite navigation.

Celebratory it may be, but the Polo Trophy isn’t quite the four-wheel drive super-Polo Volkswagen should be building to celebrate the Polo R WRC’s rallying successes…

Appetite-whetted? To see more pictures of the Malaysian-only Polo Trophy head here.

The Volkswagen Polo was the fifth best-selling car in the UK during August, the latest monthly sales figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) state. A rise of two places from July’s chart position, 1911 Polos found new owners last month. In a repeat of past months, the Ford Fiesta was the most popular new model, with 4753 examples sold.

A total of 79,860 cars were registered in August, a rise of 9.6 per cent on the same month in 2014 with gains made across the business, fleet and private markets. It was the 42nd consecutive month of UK car sales growth. 2015 year-to-date sales meanwhile are up 6.7 per cent to 1,634,369 units.

The UK’s top 10 best-selling passenger cars during August 2015 and the year so far (sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 4553 (85,247, 1st)
2 Ford Focus: 2673 (54, 795, 3rd)
3 Volkswagen Golf: 2456 (45,597, 4th)
4 Vauxhall Corsa: 2154 (57,165, 2nd)
5 Volkswagen Polo: 1911 (34,511, 7th)
6 Audi A3: 1838 (31,334, 8th)
7 Vauxhall Mokka: 1751
8 Vauxhall Astra: 1614 (34,767, 6th)
9 BMW 3 Series: 1337
10 Ford Kuga: 1325

(The 2015 top 10 best-selling cars absent from last month’s sales figures are the Nissan Qashqai in fifth place, the Mercedes-Benz C Class in ninth place and the Fiat 500 in tenth place with 39,596, 28,488 and 27,104 cars sold respectively.)

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has released its monthly UK sales figures and once again the Volkswagen Polo sits in the top 10 best-selling car chart. One place higher than in June at number seven, Volkswagen UK sold 3620 Polos in July. The Ford Fiesta was the most popular new model once again, with a total of 8504 examples finding homes.

A total of 178,420 cars were registered in July, a rise of 3.2 per cent on the same month in 2014. Year-to-date sales in 2015 are up 6.5 per cent to 1,555,309 units: July 2015 was the 41st consecutive month of growth with the biggest volume rises seen in the supermini an SUV markets. The UK’s top 10 best-selling passenger cars during July 2015 and the year so far (sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 8504 (80,494, 1st)
2 Ford Focus: 7044 (52,122, 3rd)
3 Vauxhall Corsa: 4886 (55,011, 2nd)

4 Volkswagen Golf: 4880 (43,141, 4th)
5 Nissan Qashqai: 3789 (38,290, 5th)
6 Audi A3: 3731 (29,496, 8th)
7 Volkswagen Polo: 3620 (32,600, 7th)
8 Fiat 500: 3191 (25,815, 10th)
9 Vauxhall Astra: 3187 (33,153, 6th)
10 Mercedes-Benz C Class: 2868 (27,544, 9th)