PoloDriver

The Polo has enjoyed a successful start to 2011 in terms of UK sales, and February’s figures point to it keeping up that momentum. The latest stats released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show the Polo is the eighth best-selling car in the country. While the Polo only dropped one place from January’s position, the larger Golf lead February’s charts from the Vauxhall Corsa and the Ford Focus. With a less than expected market fall, sales of 63,424 cars were not far off the same scrappage-boosted period last year. ‘February new car registrations were better than expected and while below 2010 levels, they were significantly ahead of 2009 and on an improving trend,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. The UK’s top 10 best-selling cars for February 2011 and the year-to-date (sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Volkswagen Golf: 2709 units (6819, 4th)
2 Vauxhall Corsa: 2617 units (6980, 3rd)
3 Ford Focus: 2483 units (10,065, 1st)
4 Ford Fiesta: 2404 units (8248, 2nd)
5 Vauxhall Astra: 2036 units (6546, 5th)
6 Vauxhall Insignia: 1842 units (4078, 7th)
7 Vauxhall Zafira: 1705 units (3343, 10th)
8 Volkswagen Polo: 1570 units (4580, 6th)
9 = Nissan Qashqai: 1367 units (3475, 9th)
9 = Vauxhall Meriva: 1367 units

(The 2011 best-seller absent from February’s sales figures is the BMW 3 Series selling 4038 units in 8th place.)

The Polo has been announced winner of the 2011 Wesbank/SAGMJ Car of the Year, a title it shares with the BMW 530d. Both cars were declared winners at a gala dinner in Midrand on Tuesday 8 March. The Volkswagen Golf won the honour in 2010. ‘Volkswagen Group South Africa is delighted to have the new Polo named as the winner of the 2011 South African Car of the Year. This is an immense recognition of the Volkswagen brand following Golf’s win in 2010,’ said David Powels, Managing Director, Volkswagen Group South Africa (pictured centre, in photograph above).

‘We would like to dedicate this accolade to our employees at the Uitenhage plant where the Polo is produced for local and international markets. Their commitment to producing world class quality vehicles has been acknowledged by the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists,’ Powels added. The Uitenhage factory builds Polos for all global right-hand drive destinations such as Australia, Cyprus, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, New Zealand, and the UK. The Polo adds the 2011 South African Car of the Year award to its extensive trophy haul, which also includes the 2010 European Car of the Year, 2010 World Car of the Year, and 2010 Japanese Import Car of the Year.

Back in December 2010 we reported on Volkswagen Group India’s 2-3 month waiting lists for the fifth-generation Polo and its notchback variant, the Vento. The cars have been a tremendous success for the company in the burgeoning small car market, and Volkswagen Group India have recently celebrated the 50,000th car to be made at its recently-opened Chakan plant in Pune. Currently the factory makes the Polo and Vento ranges for the local market, in addition to versions of sister car, the Škoda Fabia. The 50,000th vehicle was a Vento saloon, produced one year after the hi-tech Chakan facility opened.

The success of both the Polo and Vento is not to be underplayed. Figures state that Volkswagen Group India sold 5601 vehicles in January 2011 alone, the reported surge in figures due largely to the small cars’ success. Neeraj Garg, Director and Member of the Board, Volkswagen Group India, was quoted as saying that the company is looking forward to consolidating its growing position for both the models that are bringing in volumes as well as concentrating on the premium market. The company also offers the Passat and Jetta ranges, in addition to versions of the Phaeton, the Touareg and the New Beetle.

[Sources: Indian Drives/Top News Singapore]

Not content with his new Polo GTI’s standard RCD 310 radio system or the factory-approved Volkswagen add-on Bluetooth Touch Phone Kit, owner Courtney Pettet has fitted an upgraded RCD 510 DAB-tuned unit along with a Nokia CK-100 Bluetooth car kit. The CK-100 has no screen, just a small button that can be located between the gear knob and the cup holders. Not a fan of the non-OEM look, in our first ‘How to’ article, Courtney describes how he did fitted the Bluetooth upgrade

Tools and parts needed:

• T-20 Torx wrench
• Special ‘trim tools’ (or an expired credit card)
• Ignition sense telemute loom as below
• Nokia CK-100 (or other ISO loom-based hands-free car kit)

> Read More

UK specialist VW title Volkswagen Driver puts the 2011 Polo GTI through its paces in its latest issue. The first time the performance Polo has been thoroughly tested by the VW press, Volkswagen Driver was more than a little impressed. Editor Neil Birkitt sent us a head-up email in January and said of the test, ‘The latest Polo GTI combines twincharged technology and 7-speed DSG gearbox to produce superb performance and excellent economy, combined with sharp handling, comfort and everyday practicality.’ Praising the 178bhp 1.4 TSI GTI, Birkitt continued, ‘We doubt that even the best of drivers could put much distance between the Polo GTi and the larger Golf GTI on a race track, let alone an open road… The Polo GTI is all the car you could want, and more.’ The March 2011 issue of Volkswagen Driver is on sale now and also includes a first driver of the new Series 6 Jetta for Europe, motorsport reports, and a model profile on the Series 5 Jetta.

[Images: Volkswagen Driver/Neil Birkitt]