PoloDriver

It’s been another busy and exciting year for the Volkswagen Polo. Of course, the big news of 2014 has been the worldwide launch of a comprehensively revised version of the fifth-generation Polo. New engines, safety technology, interior refinements and a gently restyled exterior update it against refreshed competition.

On the asphalt and gravel stages of the World Rally Championship, the Polo has, like 2013, once again come out on top. Taking 12 event wins out of 13, the 300bhp four-wheel drive Polo R WRC has claimed the Manufacturers’ Championship title for Volkswagen Motorsport, and also carried Frenchmen Sébastien Ogier the Julien Ingrassia to their second consecutive Drivers’ Championship prize.

Other Polo-based motorsport series have also continued around the globe, with Wolfsburg’s small car competing as a rally, rallycross and also a track machine. Here, we round up the Polo’s biggest achievements in 2014. (Bold entries are illustrated by the picture above that particular month.)

January

– Refreshed fifth-generation Polo (known as ‘6C’) presented in Wolfsburg
– Polo ends 2013 as the eighth best-selling car in the UK
– 2014-specification Polo R WRC rally car unveiled

– Sébastien Ogier wins 2014 Rallye Monte Carlo with Polo R WRC

– Polo Vivo and is the best-selling car in South Africa for 2013; Polo 6R is runner-up

– Polo is the fifth best-selling car in the UK.

February

– Jari-Matti Latavala takes Polo R WRC to victory in Rally Sweden
– New Polo MY2015 production starts at Volkswagen Navarra factory
– New Polo BlueMotion, BlueGT and CrossPolo revealed ahead of Geneva motor show
– Volkswagen Motorsport signs rallycross partnership with Marklund Motorsport
– Polo is the sixth best-selling car in the UK.

March
– Mathew Hodges and Daniel Rowe take wins at 2014 Engen Volkswagen Cup opener
– Sébastien Ogier wins Rally Mexico, with Jari-Matti Latvala in second place
– Polo hatchback and saloon prices reduced in Brazil
– Volkswagen Sasolracing Polo S2000 triumph at 2014 Tour Natal Rally
– New Polo released for UK ordering – prices and full specifications announced
– Dewald Brummer and Tasmin Pepper take Engen Volkswagen Cup spoils at Killarney
– Polo is the seventh best-selling car in the UK.

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It’s official, the UK-bound new-for-2015 Polo GTI range will start at £18,850 when deliveries begin in March next year. With order books now open, the heavily revised version of the range-topping performance Polo will be available with three or five doors, and a choice of six-speed manual and seven-speed DSG gearboxes.

The Polo GTI will cost £18,850 RRP OTR for the three-door manual with a £630 premium for five doors and an extra £1245 for the DSG gearbox. The most expensive version, the five-door seven-speed DSG, will be £20,725.

The New Polo GTI had its debut at the 2014 Paris motor show in October. Powered by a new 1.8-litre TSI turbocharged engine developing 189bhp (11bhp over the pre-refresh model), the new hot shot Polo can sprint to 62mph from rest in 6.7 seconds and tops out at 146mph.

The engine delivers its power between 4200-6200rpm (manual, 5400-6200rpm DSG) and records torque outputs of 236lb ft/320Nm (manual) at 1450-4200rpm. The DSG-equipped car is a little down on pulling power due to the limitations of the semi-automated gearbox, but is still capable of 184lb ft/250Nm at 1250-5300rpm.

Power and parsimony
But with that power comes new-found parsimony: Volkswagen quotes an economy figure of 50.4mpg for the new Polo GTI and emissions of only 129g/km (manual, 47.1mpg and 139g/km for the DSG version).

Completing the new Polo GTI’s technical make-up is a £245 ‘Sport Performance Pack’, which includes Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) switchable dampers. Sportier steering feel, sharper accelerator response and increased engine noise thanks to an in-car actuator are also part of the optional package.

The 2015 Polo GTI is also fitted with ESC Sport, which like the Golf GTI, enables the electronic stability control system to be switched off for use on the track. Working in two stages, first the traction control is switched off, then ESC Sport is activated which increases the ESC threshold and delays intervention (without ESC being completely deactivated).

Another Golf GTI feature is XDS+. Standard on the Polo GTI, XDS compensates for the understeer which is typical of front-wheel drive cars, meaning driving characteristics are more precise and neutral. Volkswagen has much confidence in the handling of the new car, and officially presented it to the press at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo in Spain.

GTI styling flourishes
As is de rigueur for sports Volkswagens, the Polo GTI boasts specific GTI styling flourishes. New bumpers, GTI badges, 17-inch ‘Parabolica’ alloy wheels and red strips which frame the honeycomb grille and extended into the headlights all feature. Lowered suspension (front 10mm, rear 15mm) is also standard.

LED headlamps make their debut on a Polo, while ‘Dark Red’ tinted rear lights, a larger roof spoiler, black grained diffuser and dual chrome exhaust pipes signify to other drivers that they are following the newest version of the Polo GTI.

Inside, the black and red theme continues. A leather three-spoke sports steering wheel with ‘GTI’ logo and red stitching nod to the Golf GTI, as do the red-edged floor mats. The chequered ‘Clark’-trimmed cloth seats with black bolsters have been a GTI styling touch since the first Golf GTI in 1976.

2015 VOLKSWAGEN POLO GTI PRICES (UK)
Polo GTI 1.8 3dr 189bhp 6-spd manual: £18,850
Polo GTI 1.8 5dr 189bhp 6-spd manual: £19,480
Polo GTI 1.8 3dr 189bhp 7-spd DSG: £20,095
Polo GTI 1.8 5dr 189bhp 7-spd DSG: £20,725

For more details, visit www.volkswagen.co.uk.

It’s official. On the eve of the 2014 Paris Autosalon (and ahead of its VW Group Night preview unveiling), Volkswagen has released details of the hottest Polo to date: the 2015 Polo GTI. As widely reported, the new car has 189bhp (192PS), can get to 62mph from rest in 6.7 seconds, has a top speed of 146mph (236km/h), and, joy of joys, has a six-speed manual gearbox as standard – a seven-speed DSG is an option.

1.8 litres, 189bhp, 236lb ft
The pre-refresh Polo 6R GTI had 178bhp from its 1.4-litre TSI engine. The new car ups that by 11bhp and is powered by a new 1.8-litre turbocharged unit, which has also seen service in the Audi A3. The new engine develops 236lb ft (320Nm) of torque – an increase of around 30 per cent compared to the now discontinued 1.4.

Performance of the new Polo GTI is close to that of the limited edition Polo R WRC road car, which has a 2.0-litre TSI engine and 217bhp. The 2015 Polo GTI is only 0.3 seconds slower to 62mph and only 4mph down on top speed. The new GTI is relatively clean, too – the manual emits the same CO2 figure as before – 139g/km – while the DSG is better still, rated at only 129g/km.

The new Polo GTI is 10mm lower at the front and 15mm lower at the rear than other Polos, and Volkswagen states it is ‘exceptionally agile’. Volkswagen has traditionally curtailed the Polo GTI’s agility a little in favour of the Golf GTI, so it will be interesting to see if this is still the case. Steering is by an electromechanical power-assisted rack, and electronically adjustable dampers are available for the first time.

‘Sport Select’ suspension
The ‘Sport Select’ suspension with ‘Sport Performance Kit’ allows for more performance-focused handling when the ‘Sport’ button is depressed. An electro-mechanical switching valve in the dampers alters their tuning from a sports yet comfort-oriented basic setting to ‘the stiffer characteristic of a sports suspension’ according to VW.

The ‘Sport Performance Kit’ is said to give both the new electromechanical power steering and the accelerator pedal response an even sportier feel. At the same time, the engine noise heard inside the car also changes as the sound actuator does its work. And if the Polo GTI is equipped with the seven-speed DSG gearbox, the transmission changes automatically from D to S mode.

GTI styling
Of course, a GTI isn’t a GTI without some external cues. And they are all present and correct on the new hot shot Polo. The refreshed Polo 6R’s headlight and tail lamps are fitted, along with a unique mesh-filled front bumper, honeycomb front grille with lower red trim strip (which extends into the headlamps like the on the Golf GTI) and ‘GTI’ badge, and front fog lights.

The rear of the car gets an extended rear spoiler with gloss black lip, a rear diffuser, twin exhausts, and ‘GTI’ badging. The finishing touches are ‘GTI’ side insignia on the front wings, red brake calipers, and a new design of 7.5J x 17-inch alloy wheel, which echoes that of the Golf GTI. The Polo GTI is the first Polo to come with LED headlamps as an option, as well as LED daytime running lights. Seven paint colours are available, including the traditional GTI shades of black, red, silver and white.

Inside, the new Volkswagen GTI family member also has, unsurprisingly, echoes of the Golf GTI, while all the latest infotainment upgrades from the new Polo range are present and correct. The sporty Polo adds a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel with contrasting red stitching, aluminium pedals, gloss back trim inserts, ‘Clark’ tartan cloth, heated sports seats, black headlining, and a sound actuator, to highlight the more sports-orientated engine noise of the new model.

Kit count is high and includes footwell lighting, Driver Alert System, ‘Plus’ multifunction display, ‘Composition Touch’ infotainment system, front and rear ParkPilot, heated windscreen washer nozzles and a headlight cleaning system.

Performance Polo history
The history of the performance Polo could be described as patchy. The limited-production run 115bhp supercharged G40 arrived in 1985 (becoming a mainstay in the range with the Mk 2 Polo’s facelift in 1990), while a 120bhp 3,000 unit Polo GTI special model was introduced in 1998. Just as with the G40, the first full production run 125bhp Polo GTI was ushered in with the arrival of the Mk 3 Polo facelift in 1999.

The Mk 4 Polo GTI had 148bhp from its 1.8-litre turbocharged engine and was launched in 2006, with the outgoing Mk 5 Polo GTI hitting the roads in 2010 with 178bhp from its 1.4 unit. This car only had the DSG option, so bringing the manual gearbox back is an encouraging move by Volkswagen – the lack of a self-shifter must have harmed sales a little.

Pricing details are still elusive, but the Polo GTI is available for advance order in Germany later this month, with a European launch slated for February 2015. The car will have its world debut at the Paris Autosalon this month, which runs from 4 to 19 October 2014. We can’t wait to drive this latest GTI-badged firecracker and have to ask if if will finally propel the Polo to the performance hatchback big league?

2015 VOLKSWAGEN POLO GTI – 
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION:
Displacement (cc) 1798
Power output 189bhp (192PS)
Maximum torque 236lb ft / 320Nm @ 1400-4200rpm (manual); 184lb ft / 250Nm @ 1300-5400rpm (DSG)
Top speed (mph) 146
0-62mph (seconds) 6.7
Front suspension MacPherson struts, coil springs
Rear suspension Torsion beam, trailing arms, coil springs
Steering Electromechnical power-assisted rack
Brakes 310mm discs (front), 230mm discs (rear), ABS, ASR traction control, ESC, XDS+
Wheels 7.5J x 17 alloy
Tyres 215/40 R17

Modified Polo GTI 6N2s are nothing new. But Davie Fraser’s is something special. A track day special in fact. With 300bhp and 330lb/ft of torque, Davie recalls what modifications the car has to give it a more than double standard power output

I have been a VW fan for years and have had several Golf 2.0 TDIs, both standard and remapped versions. My wife runs a Touran 2.0 TDI 170 which I use to tow my Brian James tilt bed trailer to Knockhill racing circuit, our nearest here in Scotland. And the track car which sits on the trailer? That’s a 2000 6N2 Polo GTI. It’s not standard, though…

I bought the Flash Red five-door ‘X’-registered 6N2 Polo GTI in 2010 with 83,000 miles on the clock just after we moved house, as I had to commute back and forth to work. It was certainly no minter but I have had a soft spot for the Polo GTI for years and always wanted one.

It soon became apparent that the gearbox was on its last legs, and after a bit of research, I found out that it was actually on its third gearbox, soured from a diesel Polo! (6N2 Polo GTIs are known to have gearbox issues.) I had toyed with the idea of building a track car, so made the decision then to use it on-track instead.

After sourcing and fitting a CWX gearbox from the 100bhp 16V 6N Polo, Raceland exhaust manifold, cone filter and a set of coilovers, it was ready for its first outing at Knockhill – a 130-mile hike from my home. The Polo was still road legal at this point so I had to be careful when I was out on the track, and couldn’t drive it like I had stolen it as I still had to drive home.

That first track day was really great. The GTI handled really well, even though it was on standard road tyres. I had a few spirited runs against a Golf VR6 and surprisingly the Polo did very well against it on the track. From then on I was hooked!

My second track day was also great fun, until I started to get blown into the weeds on the straights by bigger cars. Knockhill is only 1.3 miles in length and is a ‘power track’, so the Polo was never going to cut it with the big boys. The majority of cars that were attending the track days then were Subarus and Evos.

I made my mind up on the way home that I was going to build something that would put the cat amongst the pigeons and said to my mate Steve, ‘watch this space’. I then totally stripped the Polo including all wiring and interior in preparation for my build. I should have taken more time and thought it out but I was eager to get started on the transformation. I have a double garage at home so I was fortunate to have somewhere to carry out the work, much to the frustration of my understanding wife…

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Following in the wheel tracks of the trio of tuned Polos by ABT, B&B Automobiltechnik and MTM, comes this Romeo Ferraris black Polo 6R.

While the German tuners’ specials were based on the limited-edition Polo R WRC ‘Street’, the hatch from the Italian outfit uses the lower-output Polo GTI as its foundation. A new CDA (BMC filter) air filter, and a new complete exhaust system with downpipe and 200-cell catalytic converter have been fitted, resulting in a 38bhp, 74Nm power increase.

Now with 216bhp, this upgraded Polo GTI also benefits from an extensive electronics overhaul, including a Romeo Ferraris module.

Chassis-wise, the car gains new Bilstein/Eibach shock absorbers and springs, making the three-door body sit closer to the ABT five-spoke matt black alloy wheels.

Externally, red detailing on the edge of the rims complement the standard red grille strips and brake calipers. The inside, though, is a different story. We’re not sure about the green leather interior to be honest, preferring the standard car’s ‘Jacky’ checked cloth with its red and grey accents.

Romeo Ferrari says that its Polo GTI is ‘ready to astonish enthusiasts of this car around the world’. While it may not be the wearer of extreme modifications, it’s one of a select band of specials based on the mainstream hot Polo. Find out more: bit.ly/1ffRlUw.

[Source: VWTuningMag]