PoloDriver

Volkswagen India has recently refreshed its popular Polo and Vento models, adding specification enhancements to boost sales. Externally, the new cars are identified by black inserts in the headlamps, and new alloy wheels on Highline variants. Inside, there is now a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, leather-trimmed gear knob and handbrake lever, music system with USB connection, and Bluetooth connectivity. Unique to the notchbackVento is a new satellite navigation system with rear-view camera. All engine options remain the same as before.

Prices for the refreshed Polo and Vento are cheaper at the top end (‘Highline’) of the range, while mid-spec ‘Comfortline’ and base-spec ‘Trendline’ cars are a little more expensive. Full prices for the Indian 2013 Polo and Vento models are as follows (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi):

POLO
Petrol
Trendline: Rs 4.89 lakh
Comfortline: Rs 5.38 lakh
Highline: Rs 5.84 lakh

Diesel
Trendline: Rs 5.99 lakh
Comfortline: Rs 6.48 lakh
Highline: Rs 6.94 lakh

VENTO
Petrol
Trendline: Rs 7.29 lakh
Comfortline: Rs 7.75 lakh
Highline: Rs 8.74 lakh
Automatic: Rs 9.74 lakh

Diesel
Trendline: Rs 8.44 lakh
Comfortline: Rs 8.90 lakh
Highline: Rs 9.89 lakh

Volkswagen India is reported to be introducing a sporting diesel variant of the Polo in 2013, according to indianautosblog.com and autocarindia.com. Rumoured to be named ‘GTD’ as with the outgoing Mk 6 Golf, the Polo GTD will reportedly be fitted with the 1.6-litre 104bhp engine currently used in its sister, the Vento (a Polo 6R-based booted saloon). With 250Nm of torque it should be quite a flier. The fitment of a newly-developed 1.5-litre unit currently under development is also mooted, and as cars sold in India with engines under 1.5 litres are subject to a tax benefit of 12 per cent, it would make sense for the company to wait. Eight out of ten Polos sold in India are diesels.

[Source: Indian Autos Blog]

It may have slipped one place down the charts, but the Polo remained in the UK’s top 10 best-selling cars during October. Rounding out the top 10 in 10th place, the Polo sold 2952 units according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Registrations rose by 12.1 per cent in October, and the demand for small cars saw an upturn, with the Polo’s supermini segment growing by 5.8 per cent. Once again, the Ford Fiesta was October’s best-selling car and the year-to-date.

‘Despite uncertainty in the European economy, the UK new car market continues to grow, with registrations rising to 151,252 units in October,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. ‘It is encouraging to see the alternatively-fuelled vehicle market performing strongly, too, up 13 per cent so far this year. It is vital that government sustains its consumer incentive programme and maximises the benefits available through the vehicle taxation system.’ The UK’s top 10 best-selling passenger cars during October 2012 and for the year-to-date (unit sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 8058 (96,805, 1st)
2 Vauxhall Corsa: 6285 (78,760, 2nd)
3 Ford Focus: 5834 (70,335, 3rd)
4 Vauxhall Astra: 5754 (52,879, 5th)
5 Volkswagen Golf: 4158 (54,300, 4th)
6 BMW 3 Series: 3762 (38,102, 7th)
7 Nissan Qashqai: 3567 (39,432, 6th)
8 BMW 1 Series: 3029
9 Mini: 2970
10 Volkswagen Polo: 2952 (36,939, 8th)

(The 2012 year-to-date top 10 best-selling cars absent from October’s sales figures are the Mercedes C-Class in ninth place with 32,427 units sold and the Fiat 500, selling 29,215 units in tenth place.)

The entry-level Polo Vivo and its more upmarket Polo 6R cousin have helped Volkswagen Group South Africa keep its top position in the passenger car sales market in October 2012. The Polo Vivo took a third of the company’s total sales, with 3341 cars sold, while the latest generation Polo 6R managed to find 2883 homes. Volkswagen Group South Africa sold 9426 units in total, giving it a market share of 22.6 per cent.

‘In October, the South African new car market surged to the third highest level on record despite widespread and ongoing socio-political uncertainties,’ said Mike Glendinning, Director, Sales and Marketing at Volkswagen Group South Africa. ‘The demand for new passenger cars has reached levels comparable with the peak of the previous growth cycle in the third quarter of 2006 and continues to be driven by powerful factors.’

Shrawan Raja of indianautosblog.com has spotted the Polo SR Edition, currently being shown at the Autocar Performance Show in India. Shown alongside a 178bhp TSI Polo R-Cup India racer, the Polo SR appears to be a special edition ‘concept’. Based on the regular five-door hatchback model, the updates appear to be purely cosmetic and include black-tinted headlights, front lip spoiler, side skirts, chrome rear strip, chrome-tipped exhaust, roof spoiler, and ‘SR’ badge. There are no official details from Volkswagen on technical specifications, possible release dates or prices.

[Source and images: Shrawan Raja/indianautosblog.com]