PoloDriver

The latest new vehicle sales statistics have been released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA), and it’s a familiar story for Volkswagen South Africa. The biggest-selling car for July 2011 was once again the Polo Vivo, closely followed by the Polo 6R. The entry-level Polo Vivo/Polo Vivo Sedan range sold 3142 units last month, while 2111 fifth-generation Polo hatchbacks and recently-launched Polo Sedans found South African homes. In addition, a total of 7876 fifth-generation Polos were exported to markets around the world. NAAMSA reported that all segments of the market had improved when compared to the same period last year, with an increase of 10.5% on domestic sales, while exports have risen 8.1%.

The Polo Vivo was launched in March 2010 as an entry-level model for the South African market, replacing the Series 1 Golf-based CitiGolf, and is available as a three or five-door hatchback and four-door booted saloon with 74bhp/84bhp 1.4-litre and 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engines. Costing from R104,065 for the base-model 1.4 hatchback to R156,220 for the top 1.6 Trendline Sedan, the 2011 Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo (9N3), built from 2005 to 2009. The fifth-generation Polo is also available as both a three and five-door hatchback in addition to the Polo Sedan.

Once again, the Volkswagen Polo Vivo was the top-selling passenger car in South Africa last month. In three and five-door hatchback and four-door sedan (saloon) configurations the Vivo claimed the sales chart top spot with a total of 2933 sales, according to the latest figures released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA). In a repeat of recent months, June 2011 also saw the the fifth-generation Polo do well, coming in second yet again, with 2097 units. A total of 9,219 new Polos were also exported to global markets from Volkswagen South Africa’s factory at Uitenhage.

The Polo Vivo was launched in March 2010 as an entry-level model for the South African market, replacing the Series 1 Golf-based CitiGolf, and is available as a three or five-door hatchback and four-door booted saloon with 74bhp/84bhp 1.4-litre and 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engines. Costing from R104,065 for the base-model 1.4 hatchback to R156,220 for the top 1.6 Trendline Sedan, the 2011 Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo (9N3), built from 2005 to 2009. The new fifth-generation Polo is also available as both a three and five-door hatchback in addition to the recently-launched four-door booted Polo Sedan.

The Volkswagen Polo Vivo was once again the top-selling passenger car in South Africa last month. In hatchback and sedan (saloon) guises it claimed the top spot with a total of 2547 sales, according to the latest figures released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA). The fifth-generation Polo also did well in May 2011, coming in second, with 1935 units finding new homes. The new Polo Sedan was included in the figures, the first time the latest addition to the South African Polo range has appeared. The nearest challenger to Volkswagen South Africa’s dominance was the Ford Figo (a last-generation facelifted Fiesta), which sold 1128 examples.

Volkswagen South Africa also exported 9408 fifth-generation Polo hatchbacks in May 2011 (all right-hand drive models are manufactured at the company’s plant in Uitenhage). Total Polo 6R sales mean that it’s third overall in South African total vehicle sales (as opposed to passenger car sales) for May 2011, with a 4.7% market share. The Polo Vivo is second in total vehicle sales, with 6.1% of the market, while the Toyota Hilux claims 6.2% of the total market, only selling 11 units more than the Polo Vivo. The South African car market saw an increase of 6% in May 2011, with 41,555 registrations recorded.

The Polo Vivo was launched in March 2010 as an entry-level model for the South African market, replacing the Series 1 Golf-based CitiGolf, and is available as a three or five-door hatchback and four-door booted saloon with 74bhp/84bhp 1.4-litre and 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engines. Costing from R104,065 for the 1.4 hatchback to R156,220 for the top 1.6 Sedan, the 2011 Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo, (9N3) built from 2005 to 2009. The new fifth-generation Polo is also available as both a three and five-door hatchback in addition to the recently-launched four-door booted Polo Sedan.

Volkswagen of South Africa has added an automatic transmission version into its best-selling Polo Vivo range. Since its launch in March 2010, the Polo Vivo has been a phenomenal success, with over 25,500 units (hatchback and sedan) sold. The new six-speed ‘Tiptronic’ will be offered with a 1.4-litre 84bhp/63kW engine in both hatchback and sedan bodies. The engine reaches its maximum torque of 132Nm/97lb ft at 5000rpm and has a top speed of 172km/h (107mph). VW quotes an official combined fuel consumption of 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres (42.8mpg Imperial).

‘The introduction of an automatic transmission derivative into the Polo Vivo model range will give our customers an option of an affordable six-speed automatic gearbox. We are very pleased with the sales success of the Polo Vivo. We are confident that the addition of an automatic transmission into the range will be well received by our customers,’ said Mike Glendinning, Director, Sales and Marketing at Volkswagen Group South Africa.

Volkswagen South Africa is also introducing a frugal derivative into the Polo Vivo range. The Polo Vivo BlueLine complements the Volkswagen BlueMotion Technology brand which was first introduced locally with the new Touareg in 2010. The 1.4-litre 74bhp/55kW Polo Vivo BlueLine has claimed combined fuel consumption of 5.4 litres per 100 kilometres (52.3 mpg Imperial) and has a CO2 emissions value of 128g/km. The Polo Vivo BlueLine takes its inspiration from the Polo BlueMotion available in Europe, and is differentiated by a tailgate spoiler, lowered suspension, 15-inch ‘Charade’ alloy wheels with low resistance tyres and exclusive ‘Active’ cloth seat trim, and will only be available with the hatchback bodystyle.

Polo Vivo range: retail prices (VAT and Emissions Tax included)

Hatchback
1.4 55kW 3-door: R104,065
1.4 55kW 5-door: R116,065
1.4 55kW 5-door Blueline R119,900
1.4 63kW 5-door Trendline: R127,465
1.4 63kW 5-door Trendline Tiptronic: R140,965
1.6 77kW 5-door: R142,320
1.6 77kW 5-door Trendline: R150,320

Sedan
1.4 55kW 4-door: R121,965
1.4 63kW 4-door Trendline: R133,365
1.4 63kW 4-door Trendline Tiptronic: R146,865
1.6 77kW4-door: R148,220
1.6 77kW 4-door Trendline: R156,220

Service and warranty
The Volkswagen Polo Vivo range comes standard with a three-year/120,000km warranty and a six-year anti-corrosion warranty. The Volkswagen Automotion Maintenance and Service Plans are optional. Service intervals are at 15,000km.

Is there no stopping the Polo Vivo? Once again, it was the best-selling car in South Africa in April 2011, according to figures released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA), posting an impressive sales tally of 2221 units. It was good news for the Polo 6R – 2011 South African Car of the Year – too, as it was once more behind its stablemate, in second place with 1955 cars finding new owners. During April 2011, a total of 26,347 new passenger cars were sold in South Africa, a decline of 25.1% when compared to March, but a rise of 11.7% when compared to April 2010. South African year-to-date sales of new passenger cars in 2011 are now 22.4% above January to April sales in 2010.

‘Volkswagen Group South Africa captured 24.3% of the passenger market in April with 6428 units sold. Polo Vivo again dominated the market, with Polo a close second. Just over a year after its launch, we are still elated by the reaction from the market to our entry-level Polo Vivo,’ said Mike Glendinning, Director of Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Group South Africa. The Polo Vivo was launched in March 2010 as an entry-level model for the South African market, replacing the Series 1 Golf-based CitiGolf, and is available as a three or five-door hatchback and four-door booted saloon with 74bhp/84bhp 1.4-litre and 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engines. Costing from R104,065 for the 1.4 hatchback to R156,220 for the top 1.6 Sedan, the 2011 Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo, (9N3) built from 2005 to 2009.