PoloDriver

Volkswagen Motorsport has done today what we thought it may eventually do (just not quite so soon), and taken victory at a round of the World Rally Championship (WRC). In the remarkable hands Sébastien Ogier and his co-driver Julien Ingrassia, the Polo R WRC crossed the finish line at the Rally Sweden in first place, beating Ogier’s one-time team-mate Sébastien Loeb by a massive 41.8-second margin. Ogier set the pace from the word go, posting the fastest times in qualifying, and remained uncatchable over the three-day event.

Overall, Ogier and Ingrassia set 11 best times from a total of 22 special stages, scoring a place in the history books in the process – Ogier’s eighth win is only the second by a central European at the Rally Sweden since 1950, with previous winners in-between being exclusively Nordic. The other non-Nordic winner? Loeb, of course, in 2004. Finn Volkswagen Motorsport pairing Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila finish 1m 30.6s behind Ogier and Ingrassia, snatching a fourth place for the second Polo R WRC. The car collected 28 top 3 results in total over the 22 stages, and the Volkswagen Motorsport team is understandably delighted with the result, which far exceeds its expectations.

Ogier and Ingrassia also won the so-called ‘Power Stage’, which makes its first appearance in 2013, and Ogier now moves ahead in the overall WRC Drivers’ Championship standings, three points ahead of Citroën driver Loeb who is not contesting a whole season. Extra World Championship points are also up for grabs for the drivers finishing first, second and third. Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director said: ‘This is a big day for Volkswagen in motorsport. To win the second round of the World Championship under our own steam is a real milestone. The Rally Sweden is one of a kind. The Polo R WRC worked perfectly in these conditions, and Sébastien Ogier took full advantage. He was in a class of his own, and Jari-Matti Latvala also performed well. Today I am very proud.’

An overjoyed Sébastien Ogier described how he felt: ‘The win is an indescribable feeling! We were screaming with joy in the car. It is simply incredible to claim the first victory for Volkswagen and the team at our second rally. This is probably the greatest moment of my career. The Polo R WRC was perfect. The guys did a fantastic job of preparing the car. So much can happen in Sweden. The conditions in the snow are so difficult – winning here, as only the second central European and ahead of the best rally driver of all time, makes me enormously proud. We had to give 100 per cent, right down to the final day, because Sébastien Loeb was going for it through to the finish. I am overjoyed.’

‘I am delighted for the entire Volkswagen team. To win a race so early in a debut season is something very special. I would have liked to finish on the podium myself. That was certainly possible here at the Rally Sweden with the Polo R WRC. However, I must still adapt my driving style a little. Huge compliments go to my team-mate Sébastien Ogier, who showed just what was possible. He was really impressive all weekend. I will do everything in my power to get on a par with him at the forthcoming rallies,’ said a still-pleased Latvala.

Our warmest congratulations go to all at Volkswagen Motorsport for its maiden Polo R WRC victory, in what was an incredibly and genuinely exciting Rally Sweden. The World Rally Championship now moves from the ice and snow of Sweden to the heat and dust of Mexico, with the Rally Mexico running from 7-10 March, centred around León.

2013 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP, RALLY SWEDEN: FINAL RESULTS
1 Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F), Volkswagen: 3h 11m 41.9s
2 Sébastien Loeb/Daniel Elena (F/MC), Citroën: + 41.8s
3 Mads Østberg/Jonas Andersson (N/S), Ford: + 1m 24.5s
4 Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN), Volkswagen: + 1m 30.6s
5 Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (B/B), Ford: + 5m 06.4s

2013 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP, DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
1 Sébastien Ogier: 46
2 Sébastien Loeb: 43
3 Mads Østberg: 24
4 Dani Sordo: 15
5 Jari-Matti Latvala: 14

The name ‘Yellow/Black Racer’ should mean something to any Volkswagen enthusiast. Although we’re undeniably Polo fans here at PoloDriver.com, we’re proper Volkswagen enthusiasts, too, and so were intrigued when news of the Beetle GSR came in, as it is allegedly inspired by a ‘legendary’ variation of the original Beetle. Launched in 1973, the 48bhp ‘Yellow/Black Racer’ (or ‘Gelb/Schwarzer/Renner‘, hence GSR) was based on the 1303 S Beetle, and was only available in a yellow and black colour scheme, with the bonnet, bootlid and external trim painted matt black.

Inspired by the 40th anniversary of one of the sportiest original Type 1s, Volkswagen has today announced the Beetle GSR at the Chicago Auto Show. Like its predecessor, the Beetle GSR will be the sportiest Beetle in the current range. Limited to 3500 units, only 100 are earmarked for the UK, with deliveries expected in the autumn. Powered by the outgoing Golf GTI’s 208bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, the 2013 Beetle GSR updates the 1973 GSR’s look by having not only a black bonnet and hatchback, but also a darkened roof and exterior mirrors. There’s even special ‘GSR’ decals along the side of the car, to leave fellow road users in no doubt as to what you’re driving.

Black ‘Tornado’ 19-inch alloy wheels are four inches larger than the Yellow/Black Racer’s, while the 2013 Beetle GSR’s boasts R-Line sports seats, a sports steering wheel, an R-Line dash pad, a GSR gear knob and metres of contrasting yellow stitching. A far cry from the token sports steering wheel and sports seats of the 1973 original car. The new version even has a numbered edition plaque and can be ordered with either a six-speed manual or DSG gearbox. Top speed is 142mph; 0-62mph takes 7.3 seconds. If the yellow paint is too loud for you, then Platinum Grey and Black can also be specified, but really, why would you? UK pricing and availability have yet to be confirmed.

Volkswagen Motorsport has got off to a fantastic start at Rally Sweden. In a pretty much perfect beginning to the ice and snow event, Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia have posted the fastest time in qualifying (1:51.30 minutes). Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila followed 2.7 seconds behind in sixth place on the four-kilometre, snow-covered stage. The impressive result gives both crews a good choice of starting position for the Friday stages of Rally Sweden – the best drivers in qualifying get to choose their start position first.

The Rally Sweden gets underway with a spectator stage in Karlstad on Thursday evening, in which pairs of World Rally Cars go head to head in direct duels. 

Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director said: ‘The drivers are very happy with the Polo R WRC today after free practice and qualifying, and go into the next few days full of motivation. The result of the short qualifying stage is good, and we have a good choice of starting position for both cars for the first ‘real’ day of rallying tomorrow. We could hardly have got off to a better start in Sweden.’ We’ll keep you up to date with events at Rally Sweden as they unfold.

Just as Volkswagen Motorsport heads to Rally Sweden with its squad of Polo R WRCs, the UK’s Auto Express has published sister title Auto Bild’s road test of the Polo R WRC road car in its latest issue. The limited edition model, which is left-hand drive only, costs €33.900 and will be available in September, gets a three-star rating. Posting 217bhp from its 2.0-litre TSI engine, the Polo R WRC road car gets from 0-62mph in 6.4 seconds, and only 2500 will be made. Auto Bild meanwhile, has released a video of the test, and although its in German, you can generally get the gist of what’s going on. And besides, you get to see the Polo R WRC competition car in motion!

Volkswagen Group South Africa has started 2013 as it ended 2012, with the Polo Vivo sitting at the top of the new passenger car sales charts. Out of the 10,511 Volkswagen Group South Africa products sold, 4047 of these were Polo Vivos, while once again, the Polo 6R was in second place, shifting 2790 units. The achievements helped give Volkswagen Group South Africa market leadership in both the total and passenger car markets in January 2013 with a market share of 19.1 per cent. Last month, 39 738 new passenger cars were sold in South Africa, an increase of 20.2 per cent when compared to December 2012.

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 R110,500 for the base-model 1.4 hatchback to R157,700 for the top 1.6 Trendline Sedan, the 2013 Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo (9N3), built from 2005 to 2009. The fifth-generation Polo (6R) is available as both a three and five-door hatchback, in addition to the more traditionally-styled four-door Polo Sedan.

In related news, Volkswagen Group South Africa released a revised price list on 25 January. There are modest rises across the board, with the Polo Vivo and Polo 6R ranges also being affected. The new revised prices for both model ranges are as follows:

2013 VOLKSWAGEN POLO VIVO HATCH
(model: kW rating/CO2, g/km/retail price)
1.4 Base 3dr: 55/147/R110,500
1.4 Base 5dr: 55/147/R123,100
1.4 Zest 5dr: 55/147/R126,800
1.4 BlueLine 5dr: 55/128/R128,900
1.4 Trendline 5dr: 63/147/R135,300
1.4 Trendline auto 5dr: 63/156/R149,400
1.6 Base 5dr: 77/157/R143,400
1.6 Trendline 5dr: 77/157/R151,800
1.6 GT 3dr: 77/157/R157,000
1.6 Maxx 5dr: 77/157/R160,300

2013 VOLKSWAGEN POLO VIVO SEDAN
(model: kW rating/CO2, g/km/retail price)
1.4 Base 4dr: 55/147/R129,000
1.4 BlueLine 4dr: 55/128/R134,800
1.4 Trendline 4dr: 63/147/R141,200
1.4 Trendline auto 4dr: 63/156/R155,300
1.6 Base 4dr: 77/157/R149,300
1.6 Trendline 4dr: 77/157/R157,700

2013 VOLKSWAGEN POLO HATCH (6R)
(model: kW rating/CO2, g/km/retail price)
1.4 Trendline 5dr: 63/144/R160,100
1.6 Trendline 5dr: 77/153/R179,600
1.4 Comfortline 5dr: 63/153/R184,100
1.6 Comfortline 5dr: 77/153/R203,600
1.6 Comfortline auto 5dr: 77/153/R217,600
1.6 TDI Comfortline 5dr: 77/120/R228,400
1.2 TDI BlueMotion 5dr: 55/89/R192,800
1.4 TSI GTI DSG 5dr: 132/139/280,400

2013 VOLKSWAGEN POLO SEDAN (6R)
(model: kW rating/CO2, g/km/retail price)
1.4 Trendline 4dr: 63/139/R167,500
1.4 Comfortline 4dr: 63/139/R182,400
1.6 Trendline 4dr: 77/143/R187,700
1.6 Comfortline 4dr: 77/143/R200,900
1.6 Comfortline auto 5dr: 77/154/R214,900
1.6 TDI Comfortline 5dr: 77/120/R224,600

2013 VOLKSWAGEN CROSSPOLO (6R)
(model: kW rating/CO2, g/km/retail price)
1.6 CrossPolo 5dr: 77/154/R218,200
1.6 TDI CrossPolo 5dr: 77/154/R243,000

Visit www.volkswagen.co.za for the latest information and updates on the award-winning Polo Vivo, Polo and CrossPolo ranges.