PoloDriver

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the original hot hatchback, Volkswagen has announced the first details of the latest special edition Golf GTI model – the Golf GTI Edition 35. With an increase in power of 23bhp over the ‘standard’ car, the Edition 35 develops 233bhp and is the most powerful production Golf GTI to date.

Since the debut of the first Golf GTI in 1976, the iconic model has enjoyed an uninterrupted history of success which now spans 35 years. During this time, the GTI has become a car with cult appeal as well as an independent brand and milestone GTI anniversaries have been celebrated with exclusive special models (in 1996, 2001 and 2006 – 20th, 25th and 30th anniversary models respectively), and Volkswagen continues this tradition with the Edition 35.

In addition to the increase in power, the Edition 35 combines classic GTI design elements with features specially created for this latest anniversary model. A revised front bumper is joined by lightweight 18-inch alloy wheels while, in the cabin, the traditional golf ball gearknob makes a return. To mark out this special edition further, the ‘35’ signature appears on the front wings, sill plates, head restraints and on the centre panel of the seats. The car will cost €30,425 (£26,627) in Germany when it goes on sale in mid-June.

This latest anniversary model will make its world debut at the legendary GTI event at Wörthersee in Austria at the beginning of June, alongside other GTI anniversary models. The Golf GTI Edition 35 will open for order in the UK later this year. Prices and full UK specification will be announced in due course.

[Source: Volkswagen UK]

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The BP Volkswagen Polo Vivo S2000 team fought a hard HMC Rally in Mpumalanga, South Africa, over 13-14 May, and while all four factory cars crossed the line within the top 10 finishers, the fourth, fifth, seventh and ninth places were some way off 2010’s form. The pairing of Jan Habig/Robert Paisley were the top placed VW team, despite Paisley still suffering from a broken collarbone from the Sasol Rally. The duo remained in the top five throughout most of the two days of stages, slipping on three of the eleven trials. Team mates Hergen Fekken/Pierre Arries were unfortunate on stage six, when an accident with a photographer halted their progress and the stage was stopped. The event resumed on stage seven. After much deliberation, the pair continued the rally, and scored a fifth-placed finish, just behind Habig/Paisley.

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2011 marks 35 years of the Stanford Hall Volkswagen event, and this year saw the return of fine, sunny and warm weather, absent from 2010’s proceedings. Held on the traditional May Day Bank Holiday weekend, more than a few handfuls of Volkswagens descended upon Swinford-on-Avon (borne out by the fact that getting out of the venue took us at least 30 minutes), to kick-off the VW show season proper. Leicestershire and Warwickshire VW Owners Club once again put on a fantastic show, although if we were nit-picking, the lack of water-cooled trade stands was disappointing, as was the lack of entries in the Polo concours class, but the blame for either point shouldn’t be laid at the organisers’ door.

Overall, the Concours d’Elegance was well-stocked, with ‘classic’ Volkswagens of all classes, shapes and sizes, and it’s traditionally been one of the draws of the event. One of our favourite classes was the Mk 1 Scirocco peg, with a stunningly immaculate 1978 TS model in Viper Green rubbing shoulders with an equally pristine 1979 Storm. Now few and far between, this pair represented the absolute best of the breed. Moving onto Class 18, Polos and Saloons (Derby, Polo Classic), the sole two cars entered were notable not only because of their fantastic condition, but also by the lack of compatriots. The 1980 GLS of classic Polo stalwart Dan Higgins was once again vying for honours, fighting it out with the 2001 Polo GTI of Gianni Ciarciaglini. Ciarciaglini won with 119 points, and we can see why, but after years as a runner-up, it would have nice to have seen Higgins walk away with the top prize. Especially as we thought comparative age was supposed to have come into the judge’s score of 113.

There was a good sprinkling of Polos elsewhere. In the outer reaches of the car park, there were several interesting examples, and along with our editorial GT (no stand for us this year), made walking the formation-parked aisles worthwhile. Inside the show area, Club Polo represented the Polo brand, with a varied display of 10 cars, stretching from Dan Higgins’ other Mk 1 – a 1981 N model with a 100bhp 16V engine – to Jon Gallant’s 2000 Polo TDI. Away from the club stands, a solitary Polo Dune on the Volkswagen Owner’s Club GB caught our eye, as did a mid-1980s ‘rat-look’ Polo C hatchback representing the same organisation. Meanwhile, a Polo trailer made from a rear end of a coupé sold for £450, while numerous Mk 2 Polo coupés seemed to have been brought out of the woodwork to bask in the glorious sunshine. Click on the gallery below to see some of our favourites from Sunday 1 May’s event.

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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.