PoloDriver

Volkswagen France have actively promoted the current fifth-generation Polo since its launch in 2009. Here’s a recent TV commercial for the Style special-edition model, which plays on simple childhood emotions. A Les Télécréateurs, Paris, production, the 35-second ‘Instant Pleasures’ spot was directed by Rudi Rosenberg. A companion commercial featuring the Golf was also created, while a behind-the-scenes video is here.

According to recent reports, a technology-laden Polo 1.4 Active Cylinder Technology (ACT) model is to be launched in late 2012. The revolutionary-engined Polo employs Volkswagen’s new 1.4 TSI unit with ACT, the first four-cylinder engine in the world with cylinder deactivation technology. Soon to be introduced in the new Audi A1 Sportback., and improving both fuel consumption and C02 emissions under light engine loads, the 138bhp engine shuts down two cylinders when the unit is less stressed, displaying a ‘two-cylinder mode’ warning telltale in the dashboard display.

Prototypes (like the Braunschweig-registered car pictured above on the roads outside Wolfsburg) are already doing the rounds. UK motoring title What Car? Has already tested the car, and states that ‘VW sources suggest the Polo ACT will be a stand-alone model in the range. A price of around £17,000 seems likely.’ The new engine, a member of Volkswagen’s new EA211 family, is one of the first fruits of the company’s flexible new Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) chassis and platform technology.

VW states that MQB (the German translation is Modularer Querbaukasten) exploits synergies in key technologies across vehicle classes, making luxury technologies accessible to high-volume models. The first products of the new transverse-engined system are reportedly the Mk 7 Golf and Audi A3, both due for launch later this year. The MQB will also extend down to the Polo (we presume the next generation model) and also covers Beetle, Jetta, Scirocco, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Touran and Sharan.

Making production easier, all of these models could theoretically be produced on the same assembly line, despite their different wheelbases and track widths. All the engines will be mounted uniformly, with the EA211 petrol family (engines with 59-149bhp) and EA288 diesel family (engines with 89-189bhp) key ingredients of the new system. Hybrid-drive and other alternative-fuel powerplants will also see modules mounted in the same place on every variant, cutting production costs considerably. Volkswagen says that MQB will also allow the group to deliver individually-tailored vehicles which can be sold much more competitively in the company’s diverse global markets.

The Polo continues to endear itself to new car buyers in 2012, according to the latest batch of sales figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). In January, it sold 2898 examples, a figure up on December’s tally, meaning it retains its sixth place in the UK bestsellers chart. Its larger stablemate, the Golf, was three places higher selling 3992 vehicles, while the reigning champion, the Ford Fiesta once again took the top slot, with 7824 units finding homes. Continuing the trend from 2011, the supermini segment once again took four of the top 10 positions, and showed the largest rise of volumes last month.

Overall, the SMMT states, UK new car registrations rose by 0.03% or 42 units in January 2012 to 128,853 units. The total was boosted by the private market, up 2.7% on January 2011 and further growth in the fleet sector. ‘The January new car market held firm with 128,853 registrations, up on January 2011, a welcome sign of stability in uncertain economic times,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. ‘2012 is set to be an exciting year with record numbers of new models coming to market filled with innovative technology that will save the motorist fuel, enhance comfort and further increase levels of safety and security.’ The UK’s top 10 best-selling cars for January 2012 (and therefore the year so far) are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 7824
2 Ford Focus: 5643
3 Volkswagen Golf: 3992
4 Vauxhall Corsa: 3624
5 Vauxhall Astra: 3340
6 Volkswagen Polo: 2898
7 Vauxhall Insignia: 2719
8 Nissan Qashqai: 2627
9 Audi A3: 2380
10 Peugeot 207: 2364

Two race-quailty boost hose kits for the Polo GTI 6R have recently been added to Forge Motorsport’s tuning parts catalogue. Based on the original specification items, Forge’s silicone woven fabric reinforcement hoses are easy and direct replacements over Volkswagen’s official parts, and can tolerate higher boost pressures and temperatures, as well as a longer life. They can be ordered black, blue, or red, and will also fit the 1.4 TSI Audi A1 TFSI, SEAT Ibiza Cupra/Cupra Bocanegra and Skoda Fabia vRS (twin-charged models only). Prices start at £111.30 excluding VAT for the four-hose kit, while the complete kit retails at £160.97 excluding VAT. For more information, visit the Forge Motorsport website.

Volkswagen Group South Africa has made a strong start to 2012, as the Polo Vivo and Polo took the country’s top two positions in the passenger car sales chart for January. From a total of 35,428 vehicles, the budget Polo Vivo sold 2964 units, while the fifth-generation Polo 6R swept up 2644 sales, an astonishing combined figure of 15.3% of the passenger car market. ‘Total vehicle sales of 9803 in January saw Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) top the total market in the first month of the year – with a 21.3% market share. Its market share in the passenger vehicle category was even more pleasing, at 25.5% with sales of 9003,’ said VWSA Sales and Marketing Director, Mike Glendinning.

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 R104,065 for the base-model 1.4 hatchback to R156,220 for the top 1.6 Trendline Sedan, the 2011 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 both a three and five-door hatchback in addition to the traditional four-door Polo Sedan.