PoloDriver

‘The new Polo is very attractive,’ it says. We’ve got our hands on the latest brochure for the new 2010 Polo GTI. Months before the car comes across to the UK, this French language, February 2010-dated, 12-page catalogue could be considered a piece of preview literature, but with specifications and paint colours, the only thing that’s really missing is a price list. We suspect it was a hand-out at the recent Geneva motor show.

There’s not much contained within it that we don’t already know. But, what we can tell you is that the new hot shot Polo is available in two standard flat paint colours (Black and Candy White), while optional metallic finishes are Flash Red, Argent Grey and Shadow Blue. Intense Black is the only pearl-effect colour. Standard kit includes a larger rear spoiler, ‘GTI’ script (in recent VW tradition, no Polo badging is on the car at all), Xenon headlamps, twin exhausts, front fog lights, 7J x 17 ‘Denver’ alloy wheels and a 15mm lowered chassis.

Moving inside, there’s ‘Jacky’ red and black tartan trim covering the sports seats, Climatic semi-automatic air-conditioning, a multifunction computer and an RNS 310 CD/MP3/SD card music system. The only factory-fitted, pay-extra options appear to be optional LED running lights, automatic Climatronic air-conditioning, RCD 210/310/510 music systems and black alcantara trim for the sports seats. We’ll let you know when UK prices and specifications for the 178bhp, DSG-equipped new Polo GTI have been confirmed.

It’s the news we’ve not been waiting for. While the Polo GTI with 178bhp will be speeding into the junior hot hatch market later this year, the much-rumoured Polo R will not be following it. At least that’s the story according to UK motoring weekly Auto Express, which states that bosses at the German giant’s new performance division have vetoed a new 200bhp-plus Polo to take on the Renaultsport Clio 200, the current junior hot hatch king. We’d heard it rumoured, but didn’t want to believe it.

The confirmation comes as VW launches its new performance division, Volkswagen R GmbH. Set to be what M Division is to BMW and AMG to Mercedes-Benz, the new company will focus on producing the hottest versions of regular models. The new engineering-focused division already bears fruit; the 269bhp Golf R and 264bhp Scirocco R (pictured above) are both products of the R team. R-Line models with cosmetic upgrades but no mechanical tweaks will also originate from the newly-created division.

Based not far from Volkswagen’s huge Wolfsburg corporate headquarters at Warmenau, Volkswagen R GmbH has more than 350 staff, meaning that super-performance-focused cars can be developed and built from the ground up. Future projects include a production version of the Detroit 2009 motor show wowing BlueSport roadster, but not, it would seem, an ultimate performance Polo.

Another week, another new Polo TV commercial. We first saw this epic (in more ways than one) mini-blockbuster TV spot for the fifth-generation Polo with a French soundtrack, as the 69-second commercial was made by the advertising agency Agence V in Paris. But here is the English-language version, showing what Volkswagen thinks the ‘remarkable’ and newest incarnation of the Polo can do for your popularity. While it might not get you into films, it may well just boost your image…

The Polo has posted double-digit European sales gains in February 2010 compared to the same month in 2009 according to provider of automotive data and intelligence, JATO Dynamics. Along with the Fiat Punto and Renault Clio, the Polo bucked the trend seen by its larger stablemate the Golf, which has seen sales slip 4.0% in Europe over the same period. The majority of the dip is attributed to the German market, where the Golf’s sales figure’s are down by 9.4%. While the larger Volkswagen still dominates the European sales charts, the Ford Fiesta is catching up, only 4737 units behind.

The top 10 European best sellers in February 2010 were as follows:

1 Volkswagen Golf
2 Ford Fiesta
3 Renault Clio
4 Fiat Punto
5 Volkswagen Polo
6 Peugeot 207
7 Fiat Panda
8 Vauxhall Corsa
9 Renault Megane
10 Vauxhall Astra

The Polo has picked up yet another prize at the Fleet News Awards 2010 announced this week. Volkswagen picked up top honours in two categories, the Polo taking the Best Supermini title, while the Golf was named as Best Lower Medium Car and the 2010 Company Car of the Year. The awards are siginificant; Volkswagen predict that the fleet market will account for 37% of fifth-generation Polo sales in the UK.

Presented at a ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, the prestigious Fleet News Awards honour the fleet industry’s top achievers for the past 12 months. On collecting the prizes, Volkswagen’s Head of Fleet Services Vincent Kinner said: ‘To receive these awards from Fleet News is a great honour and they are a fantastic endorsement for two crucial models and the Volkswagen brand as a whole.’

Praising the Polo, Fleet News said: ‘If fleets had to choose one small car to offer drivers, the Polo’s great all-round strengths make it an obvious selection while its image also has strong appeal for staff. The Polo has excellent resale values, strong wholelife costs and outstanding build quality with the prestige of the Volkswagen badge. It has a wide choice of body styles and engines with low benefit-in-kind costs. The Polo is perfect for the fleet manager and driver.’ The Polo fought off stiff competition from the Ford Fiesta, Honda Jazz, Mazda2, Mini and SEAT Ibiza to be awarded the top honour.