PoloDriver

Various internet sources are reporting that Volkswagen will launch a plug-in hybrid powertrain version of the Polo in ‘coming years’. AutoWeek.nl state that Volkswagen Group CEO Martin Winterkorn confirmed to Auto Zeitung last week that it was ‘necessary’ for the German giant to have at least one plug-in hybrid vehicle on sale, and that the Polo and Golf were prime candidates for such eco-friendly models, especially as Toyota has launched hybrid ‘HSD’ versions of both the Auris and Yaris. Volkswagen have already developed an electric hybrid version of the Golf, the blue-e-motion, which develops a maximum output of 114bhp/85kW, continuous power of 68bhp/50kW, and 200lb ft/270Nm of torque. The Golf blue-e-motion is scheduled to go on sale to the general public in 2013.

South African Engen Volkswagen Cup drivers Kosie Weyers and Devin Robertson were victorious at the latest rounds of the series at the fast Killarney circuit in Cape Town on 1 October. Weyers won ahead of both Lee Thompson and Robertson in the first race, while in the second, championship leader Robertson was the front runner. Weyers had to settle for the second spot on the podium ahead of Kyle Barnes.

The 2011 Engen Volkswagen Cup series is similar to the other racing VW Polo Cup single-series championships run in both Europe and India. Just as in those series, the one-make format particularly highlights a wealth of new young driving talent. In the Engen championship, as many as thirty drivers regularly take to the track in technically-identical, 2.0-litre, 234bhp Volkswagen Polo Vivo racing cars. The next two rounds of the 2011 Engen Volkswagen Cup are scheduled for 5 November at the Zwartkops circuit, Pretoria.

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The Polo R WRC is being shown at the Johannesburg International Motor Show – which runs from 6-16 October – by Volkswagen South Africa, which is celebrating its 60th birthday in 2011. The 2013 rally challenger being displayed at the Johannesburg Expo Centre event is the styling mock-up, unveiled by Volkswagen Motorsport on the eve of the Rally d’Italia Sardegna back in May. And, excitingly, it has been revealed that the new Polo S2000 rally car will debut in 2012, and will share most of its visual cues with the Polo R WRC. From 2013, Volkswagen will contest the World Rally Championship with the Polo R WRC.

‘The new technical regulations of the World Rally Championship (WRC) perfectly suits Volkswagen’s philosophy with respect to the development of production vehicles,’ said Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Management Board of the Volkswagen Brand, Development Division. The new set of rules determines 1.6-litre turbo engines with direct injection. This is in line with Volkswagen’s strategy of downsizing engines – a philosophy that has been pioneered with small-volume, turbocharged but highly efficient powertrains. ‘The timing of the WRC debut is ideal for Volkswagen. The task of engineering a vehicle that is competitive and capable of winning at a large number of challenges holds great appeal,’ Dr Hackenberg continued.

The centrepiece of the Volkswagen Polo R WRC will be a 1.6-litre TSI engine with direct injection and turbo-charging that will achieve a power output of 220kW (295bhp) with a maximum torque of 350Nm (258lb ft). In accordance with the regulations, the four-cylinder powerplant will have its air intake reduced by a 33-millimetre air restrictor. To transmit the engine’s power to the wheels a sequential gearbox is planned, but substantial driving assistance systems are prohibited by WRC rules. The aim is to reasonably cap development costs.

The Polo R WRC will be fitted with a safety cage, four-wheel drive and an aerodynamically-optimised exterior. According to the regulations the minimum dry weight will be 1200kg. In the World Rally Championship the technical concept of a world rally car has to be based on the body shell of a production vehicle. At Volkswagen, ‘R’ is associated with models with superior dynamics, compelling performance data and sportiness. The entire ‘R’ model package is offered at outstanding value for money. Other new VWs being displayed in Johannesburg include the eco BlueMotion range, which has a Polo-based variant.

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The best-selling car in South Africa received a boost today, as Volkswagen South Africa announced the new Polo Vivo GT. Based on the three-door version (which we’ve not seen until now) of the popular small car, the GT is based on the 1.6-litre, 104bhp Trendline, and as such has ABS, electric windows, radio/CD player with four speakers, alarm, remote central locking and ‘bee-sting’ aerial as standard. The R155,320 GT model adds lowered suspension, sports seats with ‘Rocket’ trim, red-stitched gear shift and handbrake boots, red-stitched three-spoke steering wheel with aluminium inserts, and 15-inch alloy wheels (similar in design to the 17” ‘Boavista’ rims fitted as an option to the Polo 6R). There’s also a tailgate spoiler, twin chrome tailpipes, ‘GT’ badges on the grille and tailgate, red seat belts, and gunmetal silver dashboard panels.

Basically a de-tuned cosmetic version of the European-market Polo GTI 1.8T produced from 2006 to 2009, the Polo Vivo GT adds a dash of style to the top of Volkswagen South Africa’s budget car range and is available in the traditional Volkswagen GTI colours of Deep Black, Candy White, Flash Red and Reflex Silver. The 1.6-litre engine gives 103bhp/77kW and 114lb ft/155Nm of torque, available from 5250rpm. A five-speed transmission will be standard, and the Vivo GT gets to 62mph from rest in just under 11 seconds, and has a top speed of 116mph/187km/h. The Polo Vivo GT comes standard with a 3 year/120,000km warranty and a 6-year anti-corrosion warranty. A service plan is optional.The service interval is 15,000km. Over 40,000 Polo Vivos (hatchback and sedan) have been sold since its market introduction in March 2010.

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The Polo climbed two places up the UK best-sellers chart to sixth place last month, while the Ford Fiesta was once again the nation’s favourite, with the Vauxhall Corsa in third, according to the latest batch of UK sales figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT). New car sales in the plate-change month of September saw 332,476 new cars registered, just 0.8% down on the same period in 2010. September is the second largest single month for new car registrations, and 2011’s figures are just behind March 2011’s 366,101 units, representing 17% of the annual market. Despite declining 2011 volumes, superminis accounted for the largest proportion of this September’s figures, at 37.8%.

‘The all-important September market outperformed expectations and is less than 1% below last year at 332,476 units,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. ‘We expected 2011 to be a challenging year and we are on track for a full year total of around 1.92 million new car registrations, 5% below 2010. SMMT has revised down its 2012 registrations forecast to 1.96 million units; a reflection of the continued weakness in UK domestic demand and the uncertainty across European economies. It is important government acts to sustain an investment-led recovery and implements measures to encourage more private sector investment in R&D, skills, new plants and machinery.’ The UK’s top 10 best-selling cars in September 2011 and the year-to-date (sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 15,647 (77,198, 1st)
2 Ford Focus: 14,754 (67,672, 2nd)
3 Vauxhall Corsa: 14,339 (60,959, 3rd)
4 Volkswagen Golf: 10,628 (50,013, 4th)
5 Vauxhall Astra: 10,462 (49,042, 5th)
6 Volkswagen Polo: 8607 (36,655, 7th)
7 Vauxhall Insignia: 7323 (38,386, 6th)
8 Mini: 6903 (28,097, 10th)
9 BMW 3 Series: 6352 (33,650, 8th)
10 Nissan Qashqai: 6068 (30,763, 9th)