PoloDriver

In a repeat of its sales performance in March, the Volkswagen Polo was the sixth best-selling car in the UK during April 2015. According to the latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 4674 examples found new homes last month. Once again, the Ford Fiesta was the top-seller, with 10,294 cars sold.

The SMMT reported that 2015 was the strongest April for a decade, with demand rising by 5.1 per cent to 185,778 units – the month’s best performance since 2005. So far, 2015 year-to-date registrations are up 6.4 per cent to 920,366. The UK’s top 10 best-selling passenger cars during April 2015 and the year so far (sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 10,294 (50,098, 1st)
2 Ford Focus: 6347 (28,634, 3rd)

3 Volkswagen Golf: 24,789 (24,789, 4th)

4 Vauxhall Corsa: 4951 (34,051, 2nd)

5 Nissan Qashqai: 4697 (23,383, 5th)

6 Volkswagen Polo: 4674 (19,495, 6th)
7 Audi A3: 3981 (18,339, 8th)
8 Vauxhall Astra: 3613 (18,622, 7th)
9 Mercedes-Benz C Class: 3351 (17,326, 9th)
10 Mini: 3000

(The 2015 top 10 best-selling car absent from last month’s sales figures is the Fiat 500 in 10th place, selling 15,470 units.)

Top Car magazine in South Africa has reported that Volkswagen Australia has issued a recall for 1.2-litre TSI-engined Polo models. Reports state the the four-cylinder engine recall is related to a potential camshaft adjuster pulley weakness. The component may break and the resulting oil loss could damage the internals of the engine itself, rendering cars immobile.

There is no confirmation whether the potential issue affects both 66kW/89bhp and 81kW/109bhp units, or if the problem is confined to just one. At the moment, only Australian models seem to be affected, with Volkswagen Australia commenting that around 2508 examples from the 2015 model-year production are potentially at fault.

Volkswagen Australia General Manager Karl Gheling said: ‘It’s a repair job rather than a full engine replacement.’ For further information, or if you think your car is affected, visit the ‘Contact Us’ page on the Volkswagen Australia website here.

After appearances at last year’s Paris motor show and a track-based launch to the press, the fourth-generation Polo GTI has finally landed in the UK. We managed to nab the keys for a first drive at a recent Volkswagen UK range review day around the leafy lanes of Buckinghamshire. The most potent version yet, has Volkswagen finally added some dynamic sparkle?

Three generations of the Polo GTI have come and gone since 2000, and now, there’s a new version. Based on the updated and revised fifth-generation model launched last year, the small VW GTI newcomer has more power, a better gearbox, and, with the addition of the optional Sport Performance Kit, a welcome spot of adjustability.

More power
First, as it’s a GTI, the issue of more power. Now the most powerful production (possibly the most powerful) Polo to date, the 6C GTI gets its motive power courtesy of a version of the Volkswagen 1.8-litre ‘EA888’ turbocharged engine. From the same series of engines fitted to the Golf GTI, with 189bhp and 236lb ft (320Nm), the new Polo GTI comfortably beats the figures of the outgoing 1.4-litre twin-charged car, with an increase of 12bhp and 52lb ft (70Nm).

On the road, it feels more powerful, too. The 0-62mph dash now takes just 6.7 seconds (just 0.2 seconds faster than its predecessor) but, more importantly for a GTI, the car feels quick. Volkswagen quotes top speed as 146mph, an increase of 4mph over the old car. The new engine really suits the new hot Polo much better than the old one did. There’s now the classic big-engine-in-a-small-car impression, something which was lacking in the 6R GTI.

Manual gearbox
There are other changes, too. At last, the manual gearbox is back. Bucking the current – and increasingly alarming – trend for automatic drivetrains, the Polo GTI brazenly welcomes the stick shifter back with open arms. A six-speed unit, the action is very positive and snicks home through the gate very nicely.

Its return is a good move by Volkswagen – it brings a very welcome level of interactivity which was previously just not there. The DSG hasn’t died yet, though: the seven-speed semi-auto is available for a £1245 supplement. We’d take the manual every time.

But, the decision may not be that clear cut. There’s an important difference between the two gear selecting options to consider. Choose the semi-auto gearbox and torque will be limited to 184lb ft (250Nm) between 1250-5300rpm compared to the manual’s 236lb ft (320Nm) between 1450-4200rpm. Volkswagen states ‘technical differences in the design parameters of the gearboxes’ as the reason why. It’s a toss up between simply more torque or less torque available over a larger rev range.

> Read More

‘Volkswagen is introducing the eagerly anticipated new Polo GTI with power output of 141kW (9kW more than its predecessor). The new Polo GTI is clearly recognisable as the sporty flagship derivative of the new Polo model range.’

Volkswagen South Africa has officially launched the latest version of the Polo GTI today. As with European models, six-speed manual gearbox and seven-speed DSG semi-automatic versions are available. The appearance is the same, too, with 17-inch ‘Parabolica’ alloy wheels fitted as standard as well as a smattering of ‘GTI’ badges. The DSG-only at launch (manual transmission is expected to arrive in the second half of the year) 141kW 2015 South African Volkswagen Polo GTI is priced from R326,400.

0-100km/h in 6.7 seconds
Performance of the new South African Polo GTI is on a par with European and UK models. Featuring the same 1,798cc single-scroll turbocharged ‘EA888’ petrol engine, power is up 9kW from the 1.4 TSI Polo GTI to 141kW (189bhp).

This means the sports-orientated flagship Polo can do the 0-100km/h dash in just 6.7 seconds and has a top speed of 236km/h (146mph). Peak power comes in between 4,300 and 6,200rpm in the manual car and from 5,400 to 6,200rpm when the DSG gearbox is specified.

Torque for the DSG-equipped car is limited to 250Nm between 1,250 and 5,300rpm, but the manual model gets a full fat 320Nm to play with between 1,450 and 4,200rpm. Performance figures are the same whichever version is chosen.

Volkswagen states that the DSG transmission was specially configured for the 141kW GTI engine across a variety of individual parameters, characteristic curves and engine mappings. CO2 emissions are improved when compared to the outgoing TSI twin-charged car, with the manual version recording 139g/km, the DSG 129g/km.

‘Exceptionally agile and secure handling’
The suspension of the new Polo GTi has been retuned to deliver ‘exceptionally agile and secure handling’ handling. The chassis of the Polo GTI is 10mm lower at the front and 15mm at the rear when compared to its regular Polo siblings. A beefier anti-roll bar helps keep body movement in check.

Increasing the wheel width by half an inch – now 7.5 inches wide – also plays its part. Like other market versions, Volkswagen South Africa is offering the new Polo GTI with an electronically-adjustable damper system, the ‘Sport Performance Kit’.

The ‘Sport Select’ suspension is adjusted by a ‘Sport’ button in the centre console of the Polo GTI, which activates an electromechanical switching valve in the dampers. This alters the tuning from a comfort-orientates basic setting to one which exhibits the stiffer characteristics of a more traditional sports suspension set-up.

The new electromechanical steering system also gains more weight, and the accelerator pedal gains sharper responses. A sound actuator filters a more tuned engine noise into the cabin. Braking is taken care of by 310mm brake discs at the front of the car with 230mm discs at the rear.

Standard safety systems
The new Polo GTI also features Volkswagen’s XDS+ electronic differential lock, ESC Sport electronic stability control, engine drag torque control, ABS and Hill Hold Assist.

Further standard safety systems include an Automatic Post-Collision Braking System which automatically brakes the car in the event of an impact to prevent a secondary accident, and a Driver Alert System which detects falling levels of driver concentration, firing a warning alert in the instrument panel accompanied by an audible alarm.

Prominent red striping
Of course, the Polo GTI has to look like a GTI, and there’s definitely no mistaking the latest hot Polo for anything else. Prominent red striping on the front grille stretches into the headlights (LED units optional) and honeycomb patterns adorn the covered openings. Flared door sills, 17” “Parabolica’ alloy wheels, and red brake calipers add more visual presence in profile.

Moving to the back, ‘Dark Red’ rear lights, a gloss black rear roof spoiler, grained diffuser and twin exhausts differentiate the sportiest production Polo to date. Inside, a leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel features red stitching, and the floor mats are trimmed with red edgeds.

The heated sports seats feature leatherette and alcantara trim (they miss out on the ‘Jacky’ tartan cloth of European and UK models), while footwell lighting, black headlining and aluminium pedal caps add the final sports touches.

Phone and audio streaming
The 5.8-inch ‘Composition Media’ infotainment system with colour touchscreen offers Bluetooth connectivity for mobile phone and audio streaming, and a proximity sensor (menu details are shown when hand approaches the screen).

There is also a CD-player, USB connection, MP3 functionality, and auxiliary and SD-card inputs for external audio source as well as six loudspeakers. The MirrorLink function also allows Android smartphones to be displayed and controlled on the Polo GTI’s infotainment system.

Available to order now, the new South African Polo GTI also features a 3-year/45,000km Service Plan, 3-year/120,000km warranty and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty. Service intervals are 15,000km.

Options offered include LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, panoramic sunroof, Park Distance Control (front and rear), Climatronic air-conditioning and a Rear Assist Camera system. Visit www.volkswagen.co.za for more details.




It may have been absent in February, but the Volkswagen Polo re-entered the top 10 UK best-selling cars chart last month according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Sitting at number six in March’s best-seller list, the Polo sold 10,038 units, contributing to its total of 14,821 for the year so far. The new UK ‘15’ registration plate change may have boosted the Polo’s success, along with the introduction of new models, including the performance-orientated GTI.

The Ford Fiesta was still overall market leader with 27,034 examples finding homes, while the revitalised Vauxhall Corsa also had a strong showing, one place behind the small Ford with 19,391 cars sold. The SMMT reports that March 2015 was the best month this century for new UK car registrations with 492,774 vehicles registered in March, up 6.0 per cent on the same month last year.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: ‘The best month this century for new car registrations is a welcome boost for the UK’s thriving automotive sector. The challenge for a new government will be to maintain this momentum and to strengthen Britain’s manufacturing capabilities through continued investment, innovation and policies which maintain our global competitiveness.’

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

1 Ford Fiesta: 27,034 (39,804, 1st)

2 Vauxhall Corsa: 19,391 (29,100, 2nd)

3 Ford Focus: 15,442 (22,287, 3rd)

4 Nissan Qashqai: 12,210 (18,686, 5th)

5 Volkswagen Golf: 11,871 (19,435, 4th)

6 Volkswagen Polo: 10,038 (14,821, 7th)
7 Vauxhall Astra: 9,617 (15,009, 6th)
8 Audi A3: 9,101 (14,358, 8th)
9 Mercedes-Benz C Class: 8,755 (13,975, 9th)

10 Fiat 500: 8,662 (13,243, 10th)