PoloDriver

Volkswagen Mexico has recently launched the revised Polo 6C, with first exports of the model coming from Volkswagen India’s Pune factory. While the Mexican Nuevo Polo receives most of the visual refinements the refreshed 6C model brings, it keeps simpler head and tail light graphics, and uses the older style of alloy wheel to keeps costs down.

The range is simpler, too. Only one version is available, fitted with a 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine. Five-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearboxes can be chosen, while standard equipment includes 15-inch alloy wheels, ABS, fog lamps, and an FM/CD/MP3/AUX-IN/Bluetooth-compatible radio system.

While appearing similar, the interior of the Mexican Polo 6C does without the new colour touchscreen infotainment systems seen in Europe (instead relying on a monochrome white on black display), and is fitted with a simpler, non-multifunction steering wheel.

The manual version of the Mexican Nuevo Polo is priced at 189,700 pesos. Volkswagen India’s Pune plant also builds the Polo’s saloon sister model – the Vento – for export to Mexico. It is the largest single export market for Volkswagen India.

More details on the Mexican Nuevo Polo can be found here.

Volkswagen has announced that the mainland Europe order books for the new Polo TSI BlueMotion are now open. There has been a BlueMotion model in the Polo range since 2008, but it has always been powered by a TDI diesel engine.

The TSI BlueMotion however breaks that template and comes with a new three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine with Volkswagen’s TSI technology. The German company says that the Polo TSI BlueMotion has best-in-class emissions at 94g/km, and also class-beating fuel economy, with the car theoretically capable of 70.6mpg (4.1 l/100km).

The Polo TSI BlueMotion is the first petrol-powered Volkswagen BlueMotion model. Improvements to the engine management system result in the headline-grabbing figures, and the new eco Polo is the first petrol-driven Polo to receive a class A label for energy efficiency.

As with all new Polo models, the TSI BlueMotion meets the strict EU6 emissions standard. The new engine is rated at 88bhp and has a top speed of 118mph. Changes over the regular Polo include a lowered ride height, improved radiator grille and underbody aerodynamics.

As with previous Polo BlueMotions, reduced rolling resistance tyres and longer gear ratios in the upper transmission stages are the mechanical tweaks. A stop/start system, regenerative braking and a gear-change indicator are also part of the eco diet.

As with other new Polos, a range of safety assistance systems are available incuding the standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System (which automatically initiates braking after a collision) and the optional Driver Alert System, Front Assist ambient traffic monitoring system with City Emergency Braking and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).

Prices for the new Polo TSI BlueMotion start at €15,925 for the three-door model. A TDI BlueMotion will also join the TSI BlueMotion, and both models will come to the UK in early 2015. Prices and exact specifications are yet to be announced.

It may have fallen two places compared to September, but the Volkswagen Polo is still one of the best-selling cars in the UK, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Figures released for October 2014 see the Polo sitting at number seven, with 3968 examples sold last month.

The SMMT figures show that UK new car registrations jumped 14.2 per cent in October to 179,714 units, marking the 32nd consecutive month of growth. The Ford Fiesta again topped the chart, selling 9157 cars, while the Vauxhall Corsa shifted 6184 units, before a refreshed model went on sale.

The UK’s top 10 best-selling passenger cars during October 2014 and the year so far (sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 9157 (116,987, 1st)

2 Ford Focus: 7116 (74,131, 2nd)
3 Vauxhall Corsa: 6184 (68,877, 3rd)

4 Volkswagen Golf: 5683 (64,347, 4th)

5 Nissan Juke: 4311 (32,658, 10th)
6 Nissan Qashqai: 4287 (43,207, 6th)
7 Volkswagen Polo: 3968 (40,740, 7th)
8 Audi A3: 3902 (39,498, 8th)
9 MINI: 3755
10: Vauxhall Astra: 3561 (51,043, 5th)

(The 2014 top 10 best-selling car absent from last month’s sales figures is the Fiat 500 with 38,096 units sold.)

The Polo Vivo’s recent model refresh seems to have made Volkswagen’s South African entry-level model even more appealing, as it was once again the top-selling passenger car in the country during October. In total, 3491 Polo Vivos found buyers last month.

In a repeat of September, the current Polo 6R was also in the top three best-sellers, sitting in third place. The also recently-refreshed model sold 2333 units, with an additional 5972 exported from Volkswagen South Africa’s Uitenhage plant.

The latest figures released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA), show that once again the Toyota Corolla/Auris/Quest was in-between the two Polo models, with 2398 examples sold.

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.

Costing from R142,700 for the base-model 1.4 Conceptline hatchback to R180,900 for the top 1.6 Polo Maxx, the 2014 Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo (9N3), built from 2005 to 2009.

A new version of the fifth-generation Polo (6R) is now available as a three and five-door hatch, in addition to the four-door Polo Sedan. Prices start at R194,500 for the Polo 1.2 TSI Trendline, rising to R253,000 for the Polo Sedan 1.6 TDI Comfortline.

The Volkswagen Polo Vivo once again claimed its best-selling car in South Africa crown last month. A total of 4263 Polo Vivos found new homes in September 2014, no doubt buoyed by the launch of a refreshed model.

The recently revamped fifth-generation Polo (6R) was in the top three, too, sitting in third place with 2152 units sold. A total of 5726 Polo 6Rs were also exported from Volkswagen South Africa’s Uitenhage factory.

Sandwiched in-between the Polo Vivo and Polo was the Toyota Corolla/Auris/Quest, selling 2320 examples, according to the figures released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA).

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.

Costing from R142,700 for the base-model 1.4 Conceptline hatchback to R180,900 for the top 1.6 Polo Maxx, the 2014 Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo (9N3), built from 2005 to 2009.

A new version of the fifth-generation Polo (6R) is now available as a three and five-door hatch, in addition to the four-door Polo Sedan.