PoloDriver

The fifth-generation Polo is showcased in the latest issue of Volkswagen interactive magazine, Das. The third issue of VW’s innovative online and digital platform publication, Das features a digital section on the latest Polo, and includes videos about its design and marketing, an animated ‘Polo Time Machine’ showing the five different generations since 1975, as well as clips showing the recent ‘Last Tango in Compton’ UK TV commercial and the Polo GTI drifting in the snow. There’s also a car configurator and links to Volkswagen’s Facebook ‘Fast Lane’ digital media advertising campaign. All slickly done (if a little slow at times), the magazine is primarily aimed at Apple iPad users, but a web-based version is also available here. As well as the Polo section, there are features on Race Touareg pilot Carlos Sainz, Volkswagen quality testing, Volkswagen news, Argentina in 3D, and the latest BlueMotion initiatives.

We didn’t see this one coming. The latest issue of Volkswagen modders’ title Performance VW, has a feature on the very pretty Series 2 Polo saloon, owned by ‘hardcore Dubber’ Brett Keane. The 1988 Porsche Arctic Silver car features early Polo saloon square headlights, shortened tail lamps (a very subtle and neat visual trick), and ‘old-skool’ 7×13” ATS Classic alloy rims. Power is provided by a 1272cc-based HH Sorg Motorsport Formula Konig engine, fed by Weber twin-40 carbs. It really is a stunning machine, and so simple, too, providing instant inspiration. To read the full story, buy a copy of the February 2011 issue of Performance VW magazine, available until 10 February.

[Image: Performance VW]

The Volkswagen Polo has been announced as Wheels magazine’s Car of the Year 2010, beating 21 other finalists from a total of 16 manufacturers. The Australian publication’s shortlisted top three included the Nissan Micra and Renault Megane alongside the Polo. A back-to-back win for Volkswagen, the Polo’s larger Golf sibling took the Wheels prize in 2009. Bill Thomas, Wheels editor, commented: ‘Volkswagen has elevated Polo’s quality, safety, performance, efficiency, refinement, practicality and value to the top of its class. Polo feels like a bigger car, and is also a great all-rounder. Spacious, safe, efficient, easy to drive and easy to live with, the Polo is a very worthy winner of Australia’s most coveted motoring prize.’ The Wheels judging panel thought that the Polo range represented outstanding value for the motorist, starting at $16,690 for the base-model Trendline, through to the performance-orientated GTI at $27,790.

2011 unbelievably marks 30 years since the Series 2 Polo took over from the successful Series 1 model. Why unbelievable? We can remember when the second-generation hatchbacks, coupés and saloons were a common sight on UK roads. The Series 2 Polo was even Volkswagen UK’s best-selling model for a time during the 1980s. So, to celebrate, we’ve started a Series 2 Polo official publicity image gallery as part of our ‘Heritage’ section of the site. We’ll be adding shots throughout the year and may even have a model focus or two on the cars themselves. Head over here to see the first four images, most probably taken from the car’s European press launch in Sardinia.

We’ve not come across that many stunning photos of Polos taken by their owners in our regular web trawls, but these are exceptional. Found on the Australian Volkswagen forum VWWatercooled.org.au, this Reflex Silver Polo 77TSI Comfortline is owned by Roxanne Turner, and her partner Adam Lee took the fantastic photos. Rox takes up the story about how and why she went the way of the Polo: ‘I was driving a well-worn little ’98 Ford Festiva that had clocked up over 350,000kms when I decided it was time to upgrade. After doing quite a bit of research about the best small cars around, I was nearly ready to buy the new Ford Fiesta.

‘That same week, the new Polo was released in Australia. It was getting rave reviews, and sounded good on paper, so I decided I’d head to the nearby Darryl Twitt Volkswagen dealership in Shepparton to take one for a test drive. I was won over straight away! I loved the six-speed gearbox, and the way it pulled so eagerly from low revs despite only being a 1.2-litre engine. The class-leading fuel efficiency was also very impressive, and it also has the RCD 510 Audio Pack, tinted windows and Bluetooth kit fitted. It took a while to arrive, but it was worth it! It’s a fabulous little car to nip around town in, and also a great tourer. Since it arrived in November 2010, I’ve done over 2000kms in my Polo, and I love it!’ And we love Adam and Rox’s photos.

[Images: Adam Lee – www.photosbyadamlee.com]