PoloDriver

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)

The Volkswagen Polo may have slipped out of the UK’s top 10 best-selling cars chart for February 2015, but in Europe it’s still doing big business. A total of 21,495 Polos were sold across Europe last month (45,102 for the year-to-date), a 7.2 per cent increase on the same period in 2014. It was the second most popular car across the continent during February.

What was number one? The Golf, of course. In a repeat of January, the ever-dependable Volkswagen family hatchback ruled the roost, selling 36,292 examples. A 5.8 per cent boost over the same period in 2014, the popular Renault Clio rounded off the top three, only 91 units behind the Polo.

The new Volkswagen Passat helped increase that particular nameplate’s sales by 63.8 per cent year-on-year compared to last February. A year-to-date increase of 44 per cent made it the most improved performer across both measures among the top 10 best-selling models, where it placed eighth.

Once again, the picture was an upbeat one. European new car sales for February were up a total of 7.8 per cent over the same period last year, JATO Dynamics’ latest figures state. Volkswagen, Ford and Renault were again the best-selling brands, while the five biggest markets in Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) all recorded growth, as was the case in January.

The top 10 best-selling cars in Europe (sales figure in thousands) in February 2015 were as follows:

1 Volkswagen Golf: 36,292

2 Volkswagen Polo: 21,495

3 Renault Clio: 21,406

4 Ford Fiesta: 17,053
5 Peugeot 208: 16,047

6 Vauxhall/Opel Corsa: 16,719
7 Skoda Octavia: 16,407
8 Volkswagen Passat: 15,711

9 Nissan Qashqai: 15,682
10 Audi A3/S3/RS3: 14,036

Remember the limited-edition Polo R WRC road car from 2013 built to commemorate the advent of Volkswagen’s World Rally Championship campaign? The 217bhp 2.0-litre Polo instantly became sought after and the most powerful to date and the 2,500-unit production run sold out quickly.

KW Automotive certainly remembers the white, grey and blue-striped small car from Wolfsburg and before the 2015 Geneva motor show announced a new coilover suspension kit for the road car version of Volkswagen’s rally Polo.

The ST X, ST XA and ST XTA kits allow continuous lowering via the front or rear damper trapezoid threads. The front of the standard Polo 6R can be lowered between 20-50mm, while a 40-65mm lower ride height can be optioned at the rear. As the R WRC is already lower from the factory, a maximum adjustment of -30mm is permitted.

The ST X coilovers have a factory-fixed damper setup, but the damping forces of the ST XA and ST XTA can be set more to be more comfortable or to give a more sporty set-up. The front axle adjustable aluminium Unibal top mounts come as standard and by changing the camber angle, the tyres get an optimum contact area when cornering.

Even though the KW kits are of the coilover type, by using shorter damper housings, the spring travel can be one centimetre more than the standard suspension, allowing for more comfort. All KW ST Polo coilover kit settings are determined from extensive road and long-term tests, the company states.

Prices start at €699 for the basic ST X coilover kit, rising to €1,099 for the ST XA version. For more information and full pricing details, visit www.st-suspensions.net/produktfinder/?typ=26482

With a name which could have been taken from a magician in a faraway fairy tale, the new Vento Magnific has been launched by Volkswagen India. Based on the Comfortline and Highline versions of the Polo 6R-based saloon, the Magnific special edition costs no more than the standard models it is based on.

In a nod to 1980s and 1990s VWs, the Vento Magnific Highline serves up a Blaupunkt touchscreen infotainment system with 3G internet connectivity in the centre console, as well as an Android-based tablet also made by the German entertainment company.

The Comfortline version receives alloy wheels, a Garmin-made satellite navigation system, ‘Vento’-embossed scuff plates as well as special ‘Magnific’ badging. Standard equipment from the regular cars includes twin front airbags and a multifunction steering wheel.

The mechanical package which underpins the magical new model is carried over from the donor cars. That means a choice of 104bhp 1.6-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engines, both with five-speed manual transmissions.

Available from Volkswagen’s Indian retailers today, 10 March, the Vento Magnific is just the latest model to offer enhanced value, according to Michael Mayer, Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt Ltd.

‘We always strive to go the extra mile and provide more value to our customers. The Special Edition Vento Magnific is a step in that direction. Along with high standards of safety and impeccable build quality, the Vento Magnific is also equipped with high-end extras,’ he said.

The refreshed version of the Volkswagen Polo has recently gone on sale in the Philippines. The evergreen small VW first hit the Philippines market last year in sedan form, and now the hatchback joins it as the refreshed fifth-generation 6C package. Available to order from PHP950,000, an ‘attractive’ financing scheme is offered to entice buyers, as well as a low PHP95,000 downpayment.

Polo hatchbacks in the Philippines are powered by a 1.6-litre, 104bhp petrol engine married to a six-speed automatic gearbox. Equipment includes 15-inch ‘Riverside’ alloy wheels, multifunction leather steering wheel, ‘Livon’ upholstery, 60:40 split-folding rear seats, RCD320 radio/CD/MP3/aux-in/SD card/USB multimedia system, Bluetooth connectivity, and air-conditioning.

Available in five colours – Copper Orange, Candy White, Night Blue Metallic, Flash Red, and Carbon Steel Grey – all Polo hatchbacks bound for the Philippines are produced at Volkswagen India’s Pune factory which exports Polos and Polo saloons (also called Vento/Polo Sedan) to a total of 32 global markets.

‘The Polo hatchback is indeed a perfect combination of quality and driving pleasure and is targeted to be one of our volume sellers. Now on its fifth-generation, the Polo hatchback offers excellent levels of comfort, functionality, reliability, and long-term quality,’ said John Philip Orbeta, President and CEO of VW Philippines.