PoloDriver

The fifth-generation Polo-based Vento saloon has been on sale in India since summer last year, and both it and the Polo are doing great things for Volkswagen in the country. This 60-second TV spot for the car focuses on the emotional attachment the Volkswagen workers have to the car, because of their ‘craftmanship’ that goes into making it. Reminding us of the ‘Full of lovely stuff‘ cake-themed commercial for the Škoda Fabia, this one’s a little less cute, but it gets the message across. Of course, the Vento is no more ‘crafted’ than any other mass-produced car, but the handsome Polo-derived shape and mini-Jetta looks endow it with a certain appeal. The Vento is available with four doors, and in Trendline and Highline guises, powered by Volkswagen’s latest 104bhp 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines. Prices start at Rs 6,99,00, and a special ‘IPL Edition’ cricket-themed model is also available with an added kit count.

Volkswagen has actively started to look for drivers for its 2013 Polo R WRC rally car, by launching a testing programme using Škoda Fabia SWRC works rally cars. The new talent assessment tests will be run throughout 2011 at selected rallies, in the hope that Volkswagen Motorsport can find new star rally drivers who have the potential to go on to be world champions. Two Scandinavian teams (one Norwegian, one Finnish) will contest the Finland Rally from 28-31 July. Established WRC drivers are also not being rules out. The Polo R WRC is expected to make its competitive debut on the 2013 Monte Carlo Rally. The full Volkswagen Motorsport press release follows.

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GTI International is arguably the UK’s largest water-cooled Volkswagen event, and in 2011 celebrates its 24th birthday. Held last weekend (25-26 June) at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground in Leicestershire and despite damp weather on Saturday, a record turnout was recorded according to organisers Autometrix Publications (publishers of independent Volkswagen Driver and Audi Driver magazines). Warm weather on Sunday brought out Polos of all styles and generations to rub tyres with the Mk 1, Mk 2, Mk 3, Mk 4, Mk 5, and Mk 6 Golf GTIs from which the event takes it name. If you’re a genuine water-pumper Volkswagen enthusiast, then the event will need no introduction. But, for those who have never been before, serial Polo/car enthusiast and journalist Alex Grant was there for us on Sunday to record the best Polos in attendance. Click the slideshow below to see which Polos caught Alex’s eye.

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Performance software specialist and Volkswagen tuner Revo Technik has recently introduced replacement performance air filters for selected fifth-generation Polo 6R models built from 2009 onwards. Constructed from specifically-developed polyurethane foam, and resulting in higher performance and improved life expectancy, the filters start at £42.49 plus VAT. Available for Polo 1.6 TDI, 1.2 TSI and 1.4 GTI models, there’s even a fitment for the 1.2 TDI BlueMotion, somewhat going against the eco-car’s ethos we feel. Revo Technik also offers a Stage 1 Performance ECU Tuning Software upgrade package, which the company says, ‘is designed to work on vehicles with standard components. Power, torque, responsiveness and flexibility are all improved while maintaining factory levels of smoothness, reliability and fuel economy.’ A Supersprint cat-back exhaust system for the 1.2 TSI is also available. Visit the Revo website for more information and to order.

It’s undergone a name change since we last reported on it, but the Polo R Cup India 2011 (formerly the Volkswagen Polo Cup India 2011) is still essentially the same formula as before. While the name may owe something to the 300bhp Polo R WRC world rally championship car announced back in May (and possibly lend even more credence to the Polo R road car rumours), the Polo R Cup India racers are essentially unchanged from the 2010 cars. That means 130bhp, 1.6-litre TDI engines, and a low 1090kg weight, in addition to body styling modifications and racing technical upgrades.

The first rounds of the 2011 championship kicked off the season on 19 June at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore. It was a perfect weekend for Vishnu Prasad, winning both races. The first victory was straightforward enough, taking the chequered flag from pole position, while the 19 year-old Chennai driver took the podium in the second race starting from eighth position and worked his way up the 20-strong grid. Mihir Dharkar and Saif Mir took second and third places respectively in the first round.

A reverse grid for the second race gave Alisha Abdullah – the only female driver – a pole position which she held on to for 10 laps. Pressure from her charging rivals Prasad and Mihir Dharkar ousted her from the top spot, but a third place and a step on the podium was reward enough. It was also the first podium finish for a female driver on the Volkswagen Polo R Cup India. Prasad goes to the next rounds (once again at the Kari Motor Speedway at Coimbatore) on 15 July with a six-point lead over Dharkar.

Prithviraj Siddappa, Head of Volkswagen Motorsport India, said of the second race: ‘It was one of the most exciting races I have experienced as we kick off the second season of Polo R Cup. It was a spectacular race and I am very happy to see Alisha on the podium. The driving witnessed today is proof that we have the crème of the young Indian motorsport talent as part of our programme. I am really thrilled to be a part of their journey as they develop as drivers over the course of the Polo R Cup 2011.’