PoloDriver

Even though full specifications for the refreshed model have been announced by Volkswagen UK, buyers are still flocking to buy the fifth-generation Polo. UK buyers bought 8306 examples of Volkswagen’s small car last month, no doubt buoyed by the introduction of the new ’14’ registration plate. That puts in seventh place in the UK top 10 best-selling cars chart, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

New car registrations rose by 17.7 per cent to reach 464,824, a figure which was only bettered in March 2004 (466,954). Year-to-date tallies are up 13.7 per cent on 2013. Among the Polo’s contemporaries, once again the Ford Fiesta topped the top 10 table, with 25,753 units sold. The Vauxhall Corsa was third with 16,231 cars finding new homes. For the first time, the Toyota Yaris entered the UK’s best-sellers, coming in at number 10, selling 7438 cars.

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

1 Ford Fiesta: 25,753 (39,240, 1st)

2 Ford Focus: 16,680 (24,759, 2nd)

3 Vauxhall Corsa: 16,231 (23,839, 3rd)

4 Volkswagen Golf: 13,142 (19,160, 4th)
5 Vauxhall Astra: 11,359 (17,465, 5th)

6 Nissan Qashqai: 8858 (12,937, 7th)

7 Volkswagen Polo: 8306 (13,631, 6th)

8 Fiat 500: 8136 (11,685, 8th)

9 BMW 3 Series: 7782 (11,027, 10th)

10 Toyota Yaris: 7438


(The 2014 top 10 best-selling car absent from last month’s sales figures is the Audi A3 with 11,583 units sold.)

Our friends at Indian Autos Blog have today confirmed that Volkswagen Russia has just sold the 200,000th Polo Sedan. Based on the fifth-generation Polo hatchback (6R), the Polo Sedan (or Vento in India) is also sold in South Africa. The 200,000th milestone car was a Comfortline petrol model.

The Polo Sedan was introduced in 2010, a year after the 6R hatchback. It is produced at Volkswagen Russia’s Kaluga factory, which itself produced its 700,000th car in November 2013.

A new version of the Polo Sedan, the ‘Style’ (above), hit the Russian market in January 2014. With a special Toffee Brown Metallic body colour, chrome detailing, dark-tinted rear windows, ‘Spokane’ alloy wheels, the Polo Sedan Style also features rear LED numberplate lighting and unique badging. The interior boasts chrome door sills, gloss black trim, climate control, Volkswagen’s latest design of radio system, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear knob.

As with most other markets offering the car, Volkswagen Russia sells the notchback Polo with a 1.6-litre petrol engine, coupled to either a five speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox. The base Trendline variant is available only with the manual gearbox and is priced at 473,900 Roubles, while the mid-level Comfortline costs 558,900 Roubles. The range-topping Highline costs 639,900 Roubles.

[Source: Indian Autos Blog]

Today, the New Polo is available to order in the UK, and Volkswagen has released prices for the rejuventated model. Available from £11,100 ‘on the road’, the new car packs more technology and cleaner engines into a familiar yet subtly revised shape. Deliveries start in July.

The revised range sees the SE variant re-instated (with a new SE Design model), while the Match, R-Line, and R-Line Style are dropped.

Fuel efficiency of the new models is improved by up to 23 per cent with the new EU6 emission standard-compliant engines, while new 1.0-litre TSI units with 59 or 74bhp replace the previous 1.2-litre three-cylinder powerplants.

BlueMotion and GTI models arrive later in year, with the former now a petrol model. The latter meanwhile will come with the option of both a manual and DSG gearbox, instead of DSG-only.

All new Polos are fitted with Hill Hold and an Automatic Post-Collision Braking System which brakes the car after a collision to reduce kinetic energy significantly, minimising the chance or consequences of a second impact. 

ESC electronic stability control is standard, too, while optional safety features include a Driver Alert System (standard on BlueGT and £25 on other models) and Adaptive Cruise Control with Front Assist and City Emergency Braking, for £500. 

The new Polo debuts Volkswagen’s second-generation modular infotainment system which uses a proximity sensor that reacts to wiping movements used on smartphones. UK-bound Polos will offer Bluetooth connectivity and USB ports for media-in devices, while a navigation system for the 6.5-inch full colour touchscreen is optional from SE trim for £700.

In addition, MirrorLink™ will be offered as an option from SE models for £150. MirrorLink™ makes it possible to display and control certain approved Android smartphone apps on the infotainment screen.

Polo S
The New Polo range kicks off with the S. Standard kit is impressive, with a six-speaker Composition Audio System with 5.0-inch colour touchscreen, SD card reader, DAB radio and USB and aux-in connections fitted.

There’s also a height-adjustable driver’s seat, illuminated vanity mirrors, cup holders, and ‘gloss black’ interior highlights. The S A/C model adds manual air conditioning.

Polo SE
SE models add 15-inch ‘Lyon’ alloy models, a chrome-trimmed front air intake, body-coloured door handles and electrically adjustable door mirrors, a leather-trimmed three-spoke multifunction steering wheel (plus leather-covered gearlever and handbrake lever); a multifunction trip computer, remote locking and an alarm.

There’s also manual air conditioning and a Composition Media System with 6.5-inch colour touchscreen which adds a glovebox mounted CD player. Chrome highlights are fitted throughout the cabin, while five-door models get electric rear windows.

Polo SE Design
The new SE Design trim adds more style with 16-inch ‘Portago’ alloy wheels, a gloss black radiator grille and door mirror caps; front fog lights, dark-tinted tail lights and rear windows, as well as LED number-plate illumination. 

Inside, there is ‘Pyramid’ cloth upholstery with a choice of light-coloured ‘Ceramique’ or darker-coloured ‘Palladium Grey’ panels, and ‘Ceramique’ fabric inserts in the doors. There are dash panels in ‘Dark Rhodium’, front sports seats and aluminium-capped pedals (made more noticeable by the white footwell illumination).

This sounds like the limited edition Polo ‘Fresh’ model available in Europe.

Polo SEL
As before, the SEL model plays the ‘posh Polo’ card. In addition to the SE, SEL-specification adds 16-inch ‘Rivazza’ alloy wheels, front fog lights, tinted rear-windows, illuminated front footwells and a front centre armrest with storage compartment. Front and rear parking sensors are also standard.

Polo BlueGT
For now, the Polo BlueGT is the range-topper. Appearing largely as before, the 1.4-litre TSI engine with ACT cylinder deactivation now has 148bhp (an increase of 10bhp). The powerful yet parsimonious BlueGT rides on 17-inch ‘Montani’ alloy wheels and 15mm lower sport suspension, while externally it boasts a unique body styling kit, and gloss black radiator grille and door mirror caps. 

Inside, sports seats are trimmed in ‘BlueSpeed’ cloth with Alcantara bolsters and a black roof lining is fitted. An XDS electronic differential lock for improved traction and handling, cruise control and a Driver Alert System are standard.

Factory options
Additional options for the New Polo include automatic lights and wipers, electronic climate control, an electric sliding glass sunroof, electrically folding door mirrors and bi-xenon headlights. Later in the year, full-LED headlights will also become available across the range. A full price list for New Polo models is below. For more information visit www.volkswagen.co.uk.

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So here it is, the first television commercial for the New Polo. While the refreshed 6R model (we’ll still call it the 6R (F) for now until an official designation is given) stars at the Geneva motor show, Volkswagen has released this 67-second spot for the car. Showcasing the New Polo’s class-leading technology, it hints, by using hip and trendy youngsters, that while it may look the same as the outgoing car, there’s a lot that’s actually different. Just like the two opposing sides of the Polo drivers this ad shows the viewer. The New Polo goes on sale in April with UK-bound deliveries expected in July.

Despite a revamped model on the horizon, the Volkswagen Polo is still performing well in the UK sales chart. The latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) state that last month, the evergreen German supermini was the sixth best-selling car in the UK with 1450 examples sold.

In a repeat of January, sitting one place higher is the Polo’s larger sibling, the Golf, with 1628 new registrations. Once again, the Ford Fiesta sits atop the sales chart tree with 4415 units finding homes. The Vauxhall Corsa is the runner-up, with 3138 cars registered.

The SMMT reports that the new car market has seen a rise of 3.0 per cent with 68,735 new cars registered in February. Next month’s figures (March) are expected to show another increase, as buyers register new cars for the new ‘14’ registration plate.

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

1 Ford Fiesta: 4415 (13,487, 1st)

2 Vauxhall Corsa: 3138 (7608, 3rd)

3 Vauxhall Astra: 2707 (6106, 4th)

4 Ford Focus: 2566 (7899, 2nd)

5 Volkswagen Golf: 1628 (6018, 5th)

6 Volkswagen Polo: 1450 (5325, 6th)

7 Mercedes-Benz C-Class: 1231

8 Vauxhall Insignia: 1164

9 Audi A3: 1148 (4278, 7th)

10 BMW 3 Series: 1085


(The 2014 top 10 best-selling cars absent from last month’s sales figures are the Nissan Qashqai, Nissan Juke and Fiat 500 with 4079, 3733 and 3549 units sold respectively.)