PoloDriver

The new Polo Sedan seems to be a grown-up car for grown-ups. Or at least that’s the message Volkswagen South Africa seems to be promoting the car with. The latest two 30-second TV spots feature thirty-something males who seem to have left their wild days behind them. Voiceovers list their previous ‘incarnations’, exploits and younger selves, while the car gently comes into focus. The whole Polo Sedan launch campaign has used the ‘Ready When You Are.’ tagline, and these two commercials adhere to that marketing strategy perfectly. The Polo Sedan is the latest in a line of fifth-generation Polo models to be launched in South Africa, and costs from R159,900 for the entry-level 84bhp Trendline. The Polo Sedan is also available in Russia and India, where it is sold as the Vento.

We like technology at PoloDriver.com, especially any technology aimed for use on Apple’s mobile iOS devices. Last week car-buying website Auto Trader launched its first dedicated iPad app, introducing a new way for potential car buyers to find the wheels that will transport them to the next stage of their motoring history. It looks good, is fiendishly simple to use, and utilises all the great functionality of the Apple tablet. Based on an image-led interface, the cost-free Auto Trader app makes browsing for cars visually appealing, and meticulous search options let users narrow down their finds to the exact specification they require. A particularly useful element is the ‘garage’ function, which stores saved cars and results, letting buyers compare up to four cars side-by-side.

A ‘browse bar’ also allows users to navigate and jump to a point in their search results based on essential car-buying criteria, such as mileage, location or price. There’s also the ability to share found cars with friends and family by email, seamlessly integrating with the iPad’s ‘Mail’ application. Web links to dealers, contact details, extensive swiping galleries and even active maps are all useful tools which add to the Auto Trader app experience. ‘Our iPad app is a new way to search Auto Trader for your perfect car,’ said Nick Gee, Director of Mobile at Auto Trader. ‘Our main objective was to retain the essential search element of Auto Trader and yet enhance and redefine the user experience for iPad users. We will continue to improve the experience based on the feedback we receive.’

Autotrader.co.uk is the UK’s no 1 motoring website, with over 10.3 million monthly unique users, who carry out over 106 million searches on new and used vehicles (source: Auto Trader audit, January 2009), and the new app complements the website perfectly. In the days since this author worked at an Auto Trader local office, much has changed, and the dated-looking, flat ads I used to design have now given way to swiping, interactive media, and the Auto Trader app is genuinely impressive. Trouble is, it’s so easy to use and understand, that it could lead to all sorts of trouble and no end of potential dream purchases. Let me see, 2007-2010 Polo GTI in black, red, silver or white…

Stonor Park has been a long-time fixture on the Volkswagen enthusiast’s calendar. Similar to Stanford Hall in style and atmosphere (large country house, quiet, grassy grounds), the 2011 event took place once again at Stonor Park, Henley-on-Thames on 5 June. Organised by the Association of British Volkswagen Clubs, a mostly sunny day with a few showers didn’t dampen owners’ spirits, and a wide range of Polos were spotted, from a very basic Olive Green military model to GTIs. Engine transplants were very much in eveidence, too; G40s and VR6 units into later 6N cars were popular. Long-time Polo enthusiast Simon Kimber took a few photos for us at the event – see his small slideshow below.

Pause Play Play Prev | Next

The latest version of the Volkswagen Polo GTI has scooped Australian car magazine Motor’s fiercely-fought ‘Bang For Your Bucks’ award. According to Motor, the performance Polo was the ‘hands-down performance bargain of the year. We pumped its Bang and Buck scores into our formula for the last five years and it won, every time,’ the judges wrote. ‘When we set up our formula, you were never supposed to be able to buy this much performance for just $27,990,’ the judging team continued.

The annual ‘Bang For Your Bucks’ winner is decided by the competitor’s ability over categories such as dynamics, handling, performance and speed. One of the key attributes in the Polo GTI’s success is the clever 1.4-litre, 178bhp/132kW engine which uses a supercharger to provide boost at lower revs, before a turbocharger kicks in at higher engine speeds. Add a trick seven-speed DSG twin-clutch gearbox to the package, and Volkswagen have clearly created a technology-packed winner.

‘We are pleased the judging team at Motor magazine appreciated the Polo GTI’s all-round potential and obviously its affordable performance,’ said Anke Koeckler, Volkswagen Group Australia’s Managing Director. ‘With the larger Golf GTI winning last year’s Motor “Bang for Your Bucks Award”, the 2011 Polo GTI definitely lives up to the legendary badge with its superior handling properties combined with uncompromising engine responsiveness and impressive safety and economy figures’.

[Image: Motor magazine]

We must admit to being tipped off about this a few weeks back, when a Twitter message asked us if the Polo SE and Moda were to be replaced by a new addition resurrecting Match, a well-used Volkswagen trim level name. Told by a carbroker that this was the case, we couldn’t give the tweet author a truthful reply, but now we can confirm that their source was right – Volkswagen has today ousted the SE and Moda models and ushered in the Match, which replaces them both. Providing £650 of extra equipment, the Match costs £215 less than the outgoing models. Prices start at £11,300.

Combining the most popular features of the outgoing SE and Moda models, exterior highlights of the Match include 15-inch ‘Castille’ alloy wheels, front fog lights and heat-insultating dark-tinted rear windows. Inside, manual air-conditioning, an RCD 310 radio/CD player, multifunction computer and MDI (Multi Device Interface) with iPod connectivity all feature. The Match also boasts electric windows, remote central locking and electrically-adjustable mirrors. Safety features are as the standard Polo; four airbags, ABS and ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme) are all part of the specification.

The Polo Match is available with both three and five doors, and is available with a choice of three engines. Two petrol units are offered: a 1.2-litre, 59bhp three-cylinder and a 1.4-litre 84bhp, both allied to a five-speed manual gearbox. The 1.4-litre unit is also available with a seven-speed DSG option. One 1.2-litre 74bhp diesel fills out the range, again fitted with a five-speed manual gearbox. The 69bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine from the SE and Moda models has been dropped from the range. Finance deals are also available for the Polo Match, and if the car is bought with a Solutions PCP package, the vehicle also qualifies for one year’s free insurance and three years or 30,000 miles free servicing.

2011 Polo Match: RRP ‘on the road’ prices
1.2-litre 59bhp 3-door 5 spd manual, 128g/km, £11,300
1.2-litre 59bhp 5-door 5 spd manual, 128g/km, £11,920
1.4-litre 84bhp 3-door 5 spd manual, 139g/km, £12,605
1.4-litre 84bhp 5-door 5 spd manual, 139g/km, £13,225
1.4-litre 84bhp 3-door 7 spd DSG, 135g/km, £13,865
1.4-litre 84bhp 5-door 7 spd DSG, 135g/km, £14,485
1.2-litre TDI 74bhp 3-door 5 spd manual, 102g/km, £13,520
1.2-litre TDI 74bhp 5-door 5 spd manual, 102g/km, £14,140

The new Polo Match is available from today – for details see www.volkswagen.co.uk/polo.