PoloDriver

Volkswagen Navarra celebrated a production anniversary when the six-millionth Polo to be built there rolled off the production line last month. The landmark car, a Candy White Polo BlueMotion 1.2 TDI was produced on 15 March. Yolanda Barcina, chief official of the northern Spanish region of Navarra; Hubert Waltl, Director of Production and Logistics of the Volkswagen brand; and Patrick Danau, Volkswagen Navarra plant manager, handed the keys to the new owner.

Waltl said: ‘The success story of the Polo is also a success story for Volkswagen Navarra. For nearly 30 years, the team at Pamplona has made this award-winning bestseller. It has set quality, comfort, and finally, sustainability standards for years in the small car segment.’ Danau thanked the staff: ‘Only a dedicated and highly qualified team can continuously produce excellent products. The six-millionth Polo produced from Navarra is a collaborative effort of all the 4700 employees at the site.’

Production of the Polo started at Pamplona in 1984 with the Series 2. The European best-seller has sold 11 million examples over the past 37 years, and is the number one small car in Europe. In Western Europe alone, more than 340,000 Polos were sold in 2011. The recent international popularity of the Polo is also reflected in its global production locations: the car is currently manufactured at Volkswagen plants in Africa, China, Europe, India, Russia, South America, as well as Spain. Its most popular markets are Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy and Spain.

Volkswagen Group South Africa has maintained its top position in the passenger car market with total sales of 8239 units and a market share of 21.1 per cent in March 2012. Once again the Polo Vivo was the country’s top seller, with the fifth-generation Polo 6R claiming the runner-up spot. ‘Volkswagen Group South Africa is delighted to finish the first quarter of 2012 as the leader of the passenger car market. Our consistent performance has been spearheaded by the market dominance of the Polo Vivo (2846 units) and Polo (2355 units) – strong brands that were again the top two sellers in March,’ said Mike Glendinning, Director, Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Group South Africa.

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 R106,100 for the base-model 1.4 hatchback to R153,200 for the top 1.6 Trendline Sedan, the 2012 Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo (9N3), built from 2005 to 2009. The fifth-generation Polo (6R) is available as a three and five-door hatchback, in addition to the four-door Sedan.

The Polo has claimed another awards victory, taking the ‘Small Hatchback’ title in the Parkers Cost of Motoring New Car Awards 2012. Judged the cars which make motorists’ cash go the furthest, the Polo beat off the Ford Fiesta 1.25 Studio three-door and the Citröen DS3 1.6 e-HDi 110 Airdream DSport three-door, scoring victory with the 1.2 Match TDI three-door. No mean feat in a market sector which is so price-sensitive, Volkswagen also emerged as the winner in another category, with the Touran S 1.6-litre TDI BlueMotion Technology taking the top spot in the ‘People Carrier’ category.

Parkers New Car Awards winners are determined through data produced by Parkers’ ‘cost of motoring’ tool. This uses objective data to identify all the different elements involved in keeping a car on the road for three years and covering 30,000 miles, including depreciation, taxes, service, maintenance and repair, fuel consumption and breakdown cover. Kieren Puffett, editor of Parkers said: ‘To win one Parkers Cost of Motoring New Car Award is a real achievement, but to win two is outstanding. These awards are a clear demonstration that the Volkswagen Polo and Touran both provide new car buyers with exceptionally competitive running costs, strong residual values and fuel efficient engines.’

The latest Vento (Polo saloon) has proved popular in India, and Volkswagen has responded to customer demand and launched a third mid-spec Comfortline model with a 1.6-litre, 104bhp diesel engine. Priced at Rs 8.56 lakh ex-showroom in Maharashta and Rs 8.74 lakh ex-showroom in the rest of India, the Vento Comfortline Diesel features body-coloured door handles and mirrors front fog lights, CD/MP3 radio system, rear centre arm rest, ‘Livon’ fabric upholstery, and height-adjustable driver’s seat. All of this equipment is above the standard specification of the lower Vento Trendline models. ‘Since the introduction of the Vento, we have received requests for a mid-level trimline,’ Neeraj Garg, Member of the Board and Director of Volkswagen India Passenger Cars said.

Following on from 2011’s special edition Vento IPL Edition, Volkswagen India launched the Polo and Vento IPL Edition II last week. Continuing its cricketing association with the Indian Premier League, the Polo and Vento IPL Edition II cars receive a rear passenger touchscreen multimedia player with built-in navigation system, social media integration, iPod control, micro SD slot with mini-USB interface, and Bluetooth. Leatherette seats, IPL-embossed door sill trims and floor mats, and an ‘IPL Edition II’ badging also feature.

Commenting on the launch of the latest special editions, Neeraj Garg, member of the Board and Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars said: ‘Last year we launched our first special edition model, the Vento IPL Edition, and then introduced the Breeze models of both the Polo and the Vento. The immense response we received towards these special editions has prompted us to continue with the IPL Editions, and this time with both our popular Polo and Vento car lines.’ The Polo IPL Edition II starts from (ex-showroom, Delhi) Rs 6.13 lakh, while the Vento IPL Edition II is available from (ex-showroom, Delhi) Rs 7.08 lakh.

PRICES
Polo IPL Edition II (ex-showroom, Delhi)
1.2 petrol Highline: Rs 6.13 lakh
1.6 petrol Highline: Rs 6.48 lakh
1.2 diesel Highline: Rs 7.16 lakh

Vento IPL Edition II (ex-showroom, Delhi)
1.6 petrol Trendline: Rs 7.08 lakh
1.6 petrol Highline: Rs 8.23 lakh
1.6 petrol Highline (auto): Rs 9.21 lakh
1.6 diesel Trendline: Rs 8.28 lakh