PoloDriver

Volkswagen Australia is bringing yet more refinements to the Polo range, with the introduction of a revised range on 1 February 2012. Prices for the revised Polo range will be announced on this date. With such awards as Drive’s Car of the Year ‘Best City Car’ and Australia’s Best Cars ‘Best Light Car over $20,000’, the fifth-generation Polo has proved to be a hit for the second consecutive year, outstanding quality quality and class-leading engine technologies being its key strengths. The range revisions just make Volkswagen’s small car offering stronger.

The entry-level Polo Trendline will come in five-door form only, replacing the three-door model, and following the trend for the Australian small-car market in general. Elsewhere, equipment levels for all models have been enhanced. Bluetooth connectivity (an option sorely lacking on UK models) has been added, as has a Media Device Interface (MDI) and daytime driving lights. The top-flight GTI meanwhile, gets an RCD510 touchscreen audio system, automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers and an automatically-dipping rear view mirror, all as standard.

[Source: vwwatercooled.org.au]

In the latest issue of Volkswagen’s digital magazine ‘Das.’ the Polo GTI is captured on camera by German photographer Uwe Breitkopf. The seven stunning images feature a Shadow Blue three-door out on the streets, and the dynamic angles really catch the spirit of the small tearaway Volkswagen. With CGI used to complement the car, Breitkopf sates that, ‘Instead of revealing every detail, high contrast and a reduced colour code gives the images a strong and powerful graphic composition, inspiring the imagination.’ See the set of fantastic images for yourself at www.volkswagen-das.co.uk/#/spectacularview where you can also subscribe for future issues of the interactive magazine.

Pause Play Play Prev | Next

In the same way that Volkswagen ‘Match’ models in the UK have traditionally meant more kit for less money, the German company has adopted the same principle – and name – for a range of special editions. Versions of the Polo, Golf, Golf Plus, Golf Variant, Jetta, Scirocco, Sharan and Touran can be ordered in Match configuration, with many enjoying extra kit which saves buyers over €3330 when the options are added individually. Distinguishing features for the German-market Polo Match model includes special 15-inch ‘Stratford’ alloy wheels, unique ‘Victory’ striped interior upholstery, leather-trimmed steering wheel, handbrake cover and gearshift gaiter, aluminium dashboard inserts, rain sensor, ParkPilot parking system, gloss black door mirrors, chrome-trimmed front grilles, and special ‘Match’ badging.

All Match models come in Reflex Silver Metallic, and the Polo can be ordered with 16-inch ‘Syenit’ alloy wheels with black highlights, and fitted with 215/45 R 16 tyres. The Polo Match comes with 1.2-litre 59 and 69bhp, 1.4 84bhp, 1.2 TSI 89 and 104bhp petrol engines, and 1.2-litre 74bhp, 1.6 89 and 104bhp TDI units. An 81bhp BiFuel version is also available. The ‘Match Plus’ optional extra package includes 16-inch ‘Mistral’ alloy wheels, reading lights, make-up light in the sun visors, panoramic glass sunroof, locking alloy wheel bolts, and space saver spare wheel. The Polo Match is available to order now and starts from €14,450 for the 59bhp 1.2 version, rising to €19,400 for the 89bhp 1.2 TSI with seven-speed DSG gearbox. For more information go to Volkswagen’s Match models microsite.

The Polo Vivo was once again South Africa’s top-selling passenger car in December 2011, according to figures released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA). In three and five-door hatchback and four-door sedan (saloon) configurations, the Vivo claimed the sales top spot with a total of 3060 sales. Last month also saw the the fifth-generation Polo record impressive figures, too, once again in second place, with 2114 units. The Polo 6R was also the biggest export model for Volkswagen South Africa. The sole producer of right-hand drive current generation standard and CrossPolo-trimmed models, its state-of-the-art Uitenhage factory exported 2372 units overseas last month.

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 new fifth-generation Polo (6R) is also available as both a three and five-door hatchback in addition to the traditional four-door Polo Sedan.

The Polo’s popularity was unwavering during December 2011, as it sold 2742 units, making it once again the UK’s sixth best-selling car according to the last set of figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The UK industry body also released 2011’s overall sales figures this morning, and the Polo was nothing but consistent, ending the year in seventh place in the country’s top 10 best-selling cars chart, with 45,992 cars finding homes. It was a similar but more successful story for the Ford Fiesta; Uncle Henry’s now global supermini sold 5411 units in December, taking the top spot. It ended the year in similar style, selling 96,112 cars, and top of the UK sales chart.

The supermini segment remains the largest in the UK, with a market share almost unchanged on 2010 at 36.3%, while new car demand totalled 1,941,253 units in 2011, down 4.4% on 2010, but ahead of the 1.92 million forecast. Registrations in December 2011 fell by 3.7% to 119,188 units and the market was down 1.8% in quarter four, while diesel and alternatively-fuelled cars both took record market shares over the year. The SMMT also says that average new car CO2 emissions fell to a new low of 138.1g/km in 2011, down 4.2% on the 2010 level, and the Volkswagen Golf was the best-selling diesel model.

‘2011 proved to be a challenging year for the UK motor industry. Total new car registrations were slightly ahead of industry expectations at 1.94 million units, still down 4.4% on 2010,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. ‘Weak economic growth will make trading conditions tough in 2012, but record numbers of new and updated models, significantly improved fuel efficiency and exciting new technologies will help to encourage consumers into showrooms. Business and consumer confidence will be the key to a successful year, so it will be important that government delivers on its growth strategy and helps to resolve instability in the Euro Zone.’ The top 10 best-selling cars in the UK for December 2011 and for the year overall (sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 5411 (96,112, 1st)
2 Vauxhall Corsa: 5258 (77,751, 3rd)
3 Vauxhall Astra: 4856 (62,575, 5th)
4 Ford Focus: 4047 (81,832, 2nd)
5 Volkswagen Golf: 4031 (63,688, 4th)
6 Volkswagen Polo: 2742 (45,992, 7th)
7 Mini: 2706 (35,845, 10th)
8 Nissan Qashqai: 2580 (39,406, 9th)
9 Vauxhall Insignia: 2494 (46,264, 6th)
10 Hyundai i10: 2411

(The 2011 top 10 best-seller absent from December’s sales figures, is the BMW 3 Series selling 42,471 units in eighth place.)