PoloDriver

2010 was the first full year of production for the fifth-generation (6R) of the Volkswagen Polo and one where the model became a truly global car, with local production in India and Russia. It also won more major awards than in 2009, and made its international debut in motorsport, with the inaugural season of the Volkswagen Polo Cup India. We look back at both the major Polo 6R developments and happenings over the last year, and also chronicle the main news stories pertaining to the Polo Vivo, the South African entry-level replacement for the CitiGolf. (Bold entries are illustrated by the picture above that particular month.)

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The chaps at Auto Express have tested the latest Polo GTI against its in-house rivals the SEAT Ibiza Cupra and the Škoda Fabia vRS (finally with a Volkswagen UK press office car). All powered by the same 1.4-litre, 178bhp supercharged and turbocharged TSI engine, small chassis tweaks on all separate them from each other. As does price. The Polo is predictably the most expensive of the trio at £18,275, the SEAT’s cheaper at £17,188, while the Škoda is a bargain basement £15,700. All three look different too, with the Ibiza the most extrovert of the trio, with the Škoda’s trademark bright green paint job (sadly not present here) aimed at younger drivers. The Polo is arguably aimed at an older and more sophisticated audience with its restrained and traditional GTI detailing. Which hot tot wins? Watch the Auto Express video above to find out.

News broke of the German-market Polo Style special edition earlier in the week, with the high profile announcement that the advertising campaign would be spearheaded by fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. Volkswagen released a full set of promotional images – which included a press advertisement – and now the TV commercial has broken cover. The 30-second TV spot portrays Lagerfeld living up to his ‘Kaiser’ image, muttering that the Style range of Volkswagens are all that cool and chic cars from Paris should be. His so-called muse, Baptiste Giabiconi, then tells him that the assembled models are in fact German, to which Lagerfeld acts flustered and denies. We’re not sure it will sell many cars, but it’s in keeping with the sense of fun and tongue-in-cheek spots that usually marks Volkswagen campaigns out from the rest.

[Source: Styleite]

Resurrecting a name from the Polo’s past, Volkswagen has asked legendary fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld to be ‘campaign ambassador’ for the new Polo Style special edition model. Along with sister Golf Style variations, the latest special edition Polo includes many items of extra equipment for an all-inclusive price. Alloy wheels, fog lamps, and tinted rear windows are form part of just three of the extra kit packages available. A winter package, convenience package, and the electric ‘Light and Sight’ package can also be chosen. A new colour, Toffee Brown Metallic (we like it), distinctive ‘Style’ badging and 15-inch ‘Estrada’ alloy wheels also mark out the latest special edition Polo. The last Polo Style was based on the facelifted Series 2 coupé and hatchback models back in 1993.

Available from 23 December 2010, the Polo Style starts at €14.075 in Germany, saving €1885 over a similarly-equipped model if all the options were to be bought separately. A ‘Style-Plus’ package is also available which also adds a sunroof or panorama roof as well as new set of alloys, and the Polo Style is available with the mainstream model’s complete range of engines. Matthias Becker, Marketing Manager Germany, Volkswagen Cars stated that Lagerfeld was chosen as the spearhead of the campaign for his ‘style and humour’. VW has launched a large-scale advertising campaign for the special models with print ads, a TV spot, a nationwide poster campaign as well as online activities. Find out more about the special VW Style models here, and download a brochure here.

Following Hyundai and Suzuki, Volkswagen plans to turn its operations in India into a low-cost export hub. The Polo is central to this plan, with completely knocked-down kits and fully-built examples of the fifth-generation model to be exported from the second quarter of 2011. The Indian-export Polo will be sent to Africa, the Middle East, and South East Asia from Volkswagen’s Pune plant in Chakan. VW believes that the Indian-made Polo suits the markets of South East Asia and Africa well, as well as being pegged at a competitive price.

Earlier in the year, Volkswagen forecasted production of 50,000 Polos in India, with 35,000 of those for the domestic market. Exports made up the remainder of the production projections. Even the recently-launched fifth-generation Polo-based Vento saloon is said to be under export consideration. The Polo is in direct competition with cars such as the Ford Figo and Hyundai i20 both in India and also the export markets the company is targeting. The Indian-built Polo has just been launched in 1.6-litre, 104bhp form in addition to the 1.2-litre, 74bhp variants.

[Source: 9to6.com]