PoloDriver

Back in December 2010 we reported on Volkswagen Group India’s 2-3 month waiting lists for the fifth-generation Polo and its notchback variant, the Vento. The cars have been a tremendous success for the company in the burgeoning small car market, and Volkswagen Group India have recently celebrated the 50,000th car to be made at its recently-opened Chakan plant in Pune. Currently the factory makes the Polo and Vento ranges for the local market, in addition to versions of sister car, the Škoda Fabia. The 50,000th vehicle was a Vento saloon, produced one year after the hi-tech Chakan facility opened.

The success of both the Polo and Vento is not to be underplayed. Figures state that Volkswagen Group India sold 5601 vehicles in January 2011 alone, the reported surge in figures due largely to the small cars’ success. Neeraj Garg, Director and Member of the Board, Volkswagen Group India, was quoted as saying that the company is looking forward to consolidating its growing position for both the models that are bringing in volumes as well as concentrating on the premium market. The company also offers the Passat and Jetta ranges, in addition to versions of the Phaeton, the Touareg and the New Beetle.

[Sources: Indian Drives/Top News Singapore]

Not content with his new Polo GTI’s standard RCD 310 radio system or the factory-approved Volkswagen add-on Bluetooth Touch Phone Kit, owner Courtney Pettet has fitted an upgraded RCD 510 DAB-tuned unit along with a Nokia CK-100 Bluetooth car kit. The CK-100 has no screen, just a small button that can be located between the gear knob and the cup holders. Not a fan of the non-OEM look, in our first ‘How to’ article, Courtney describes how he did fitted the Bluetooth upgrade

Tools and parts needed:

• T-20 Torx wrench
• Special ‘trim tools’ (or an expired credit card)
• Ignition sense telemute loom as below
• Nokia CK-100 (or other ISO loom-based hands-free car kit)

> Read More

UK specialist VW title Volkswagen Driver puts the 2011 Polo GTI through its paces in its latest issue. The first time the performance Polo has been thoroughly tested by the VW press, Volkswagen Driver was more than a little impressed. Editor Neil Birkitt sent us a head-up email in January and said of the test, ‘The latest Polo GTI combines twincharged technology and 7-speed DSG gearbox to produce superb performance and excellent economy, combined with sharp handling, comfort and everyday practicality.’ Praising the 178bhp 1.4 TSI GTI, Birkitt continued, ‘We doubt that even the best of drivers could put much distance between the Polo GTi and the larger Golf GTI on a race track, let alone an open road… The Polo GTI is all the car you could want, and more.’ The March 2011 issue of Volkswagen Driver is on sale now and also includes a first driver of the new Series 6 Jetta for Europe, motorsport reports, and a model profile on the Series 5 Jetta.

[Images: Volkswagen Driver/Neil Birkitt]

Since our last post about the Polo R on 28 January, various online forums, websites and publications have once again added to the ongoing development story. It all started with Autocar posting a story on 14 February stating that Volkswagen have cooled on the project (and its possible Euopean market only four-wheel-drive CrossPolo sister) and ‘is unlikely to launch an R version of its Polo, despite Audi having developed an all-wheel drive version of its PQ25 platform for its new A1 quattro (and über-hatch S1).’

The reasons? The German company reportedly sees little market for the car, which would cost somewhere between the £18,790 Polo GTI and the larger £25,045 Golf GTI. Various motoring online sites have since jumped on the Autocar story, creating yet more speculation. There’s been no official comment from Volkswagen, although a UK spokesman did tell us back in May 2010 that the company line was that an extra-strong Polo R wasn’t in the product plans then. Are the latest denials finally the end of the saga?

Following a successful 2010 in not only UK but also worldwide sales, January saw the Polo make an encouraging start to 2011’s UK volumes. The first set of 2011 figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) record that, in a market down 11.5%, Volkswagen sold 3010 Polos in January, putting in seventh place in the UK top 10 best sellers. The larger Golf was two places higher, selling 4110 examples. Once again, the Ford Fiesta was the top-selling supermini, in second place overall with 5844 units sold. ‘Despite the challenging conditions, the demand for low CO2 emitting and highly fuel efficient cars continues to grow,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. The UK’s top 10 best-selling cars for January 2011 and the year-to-date are as follows:

1 Ford Focus: 7582
2 Ford Fiesta: 5844
3 Vauxhall Astra: 4510
4 Vauxhall Corsa: 4363
5 Volkswagen Golf: 4110
6 BMW 3 Series: 3184
7 Volkswagen Polo: 3010
8 Vauxhall Insignia: 2236
9 Peugeot 207: 2171
10 Nissan Qashqai: 2108