PoloDriver

Just before we went ‘to press’ with our story of the new Polo Sedan for South Africa, Volkswagen South Africa sent out an official press release, which we didn’t have time to include in our original post. Completing the range of South African new Polo models, the notchback joins the mainstream Polo range, Polo GTI and CrossPolo variants, making South Africa one of the only markets in the world – in our knowledge – to receive all three bodystyles. As we noted previously, the new Polo Sedan for South Africa comes in Trendline and Comfortline trims, powered by 84 and 104bhp petrol engines, and a 104bhp diesel unit. Prices start at R159,900 and rise to R218,000. The full Volkswagen South Africa press release and gallery follows.

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Recently creeping into the pages of Volkswagen South Africa’s website is the new Polo Sedan. Based on the fifth-generation Polo hatchback and the same as the Polo Sedan sold in Russia and the Vento available in India, the new Polo Sedan joins the new Jetta, new Passat, Passat CC and Polo Vivo Sedan in the German company’s South African saloon model range. We didn’t know the notchback was due to hit South African streets, and as no press release has yet been issued, the launch of the latest new Polo variant is certainly a quiet one. And we think it’s unique that the newest generation of Polo hatchback and saloon are being sold alongside the same two variations of the last generation cars.

The South African New Polo Sedan comes with a choice of 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre petrol engines (with 63kW/84bhp and 77kW/104bhp outputs respectively) and one 1.6-litre TDI with 77kW/104bhp. There are Trendline and Comfortline trims, with the 1.6 Comfortline having the choice of an automatic ‘Tiptrionic’ gearbox. All other versions are fitted with a five-speed manual gearbox. Trendline models get 14-inch steel wheels while Comfortline cars boast 15” ‘Riverside’ alloy wheels. Comfortline sedans are further differentiated by chrome trim on the front grilles and boot lid, and colour-coded door handles.

New Polo Sedan range: retail prices (VAT and Emissions Tax included)
1.4 63kW Trendline: R159,900
1.4 63kW Comfortline: R177,000
1.6 77kW Trendline: R182,200
1.6 77kW Comfortline: R195,000
1.6 77kW Comfortline Tiptronic: R209,000
1.6 77kW Comfortline TDI: R218,000

Batting for the IPL (from left to right): Neeraj Garg, Member of Board and Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt Ltd; IPL CEO Sunder Raman; Lutz Kothe, Head of Marketing and PR Volkswagen Group Sales Pvt Ltd

Volkswagen Group India has launched the IPL limited edition of its Polo-based saloon, the Vento. Celebrating the fourth season of the Indian Premier League cricket series, the special model will go on sale from 8 April. The Vento IPL Edition features ‘IPL’ badging on its body, door sills and floor mats. The first unique limited edition model for Volkswagen Group India, the IPL also boasts a colour touchscreen multimedia player (mirco-SD, mini-USB, MP3 and WMA supported) with satellite-navigation, leatherette seats and a rosta of specially-branded accessories, which includes a cricket set. The Vento IPL Edition will cost from Rs 7.24-lakh, ex-showroom, New Delhi. The full Volkswagen Group India press release follows.

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China Car Times and Steering News both report that the saloon version of the latest Polo will debut at the Shanghai Auto Show later this year, and will be on sale in the country by mid-2011. The hatchback is already on sale in 1.4 and 1.6-litre guises (and doing well), though TSI engines are thought to be forthcoming. Whether the new car will be called Polo Sedan as in Russia or take the Indian ‘Vento’ nameplate hasn’t been confirmed. The Polo Sedan/Vento premiered in Moscow in June last year. Extremely popular, both it and its hatchback sister are suffering from 2-3 month waiting lists in India. Volkswagen’s smallest notchback has an 82mm longer wheelbase, an enlarged luggage capacity than the Polo hatch, and is powered by petrol and diesel engines developing 104bhp.

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]