PoloDriver

While the first deliveries of the new Polo GTI are imminent, there are other less obvious models in the fifth-generation Polo range that deserve a look if you’re not after the 178bhp performance version. Topping the mainstream range is the 1.2-litre 104bhp TSI. An out and out roadburner it might not be, but it is swift, comfortable and as refined as many larger cars, but with a sporty edge. At the opposite end of the market, the latest Polo BlueMotion is powered by an economical 1.2-litre 74bhp engine and fitted with an aerodynamic body kit and a whole host of other eco-minded mods, enabling it to post a claimed 80.7mpg figure on the combined cycle. We’ve just updated our test drive report from July 2010 on these two £14,500 models; click on the magazine graphic below or click here to find out what we thought.

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Fresh from their victory on the Osram Rally on 21-22 August, Enzo Kuun and Guy Hodgson once again took the prize on the Swartland Rally event on 18-19 September. In fact, it was a VW 1-2-3 finish, as Jan Habig and Douglas Judd came in second after a battle with fellow BP Volkswagen Polo S2000 team Hergen Fekken and Pierre Arries. However, Kuun dominated the seventh round of the Sasol South African Rally Championship and moves within 4 points of clinching his second driver’s title after romping to an easy 40.3 second win. Co-driver Guy Hodgson took his title with a round to spare. The three Polos were briefly headed by Charl Wilken and Greg Godrich in their Basil Read/Bizhub Ford Fiesta S2000, who scorched the tarmac stages on Friday evening to lead the rally overall.

On Saturday’s first 26.8km long stage, Kuun and Hodgson took a 4.8 second lead over the rest of the field, and after stage five, Kuun was 25 seconds ahead, 37 seconds clear after the next and over 40 seconds in front after the final stage. The Volkswagen driver took the fastest times on four of the nine stages, while Fekken was quick on just one. The Cape Town-based VW pair also sealed the S2000 Championship on the Western Cape sortie. The incestuous VW fight for the balance of the podium placings saw Fekken/Arries on the middle step, three seconds ahead of Habig/Judd. The wily six times champion blasted through the last long stage outside Malmesbury just 0.3 seconds slower than stage winner Kuun, pushing Fekken to the bottom step of the podium.

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Volkswagen has recently had to close its Uitenhage plant due to industrial action by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) in the component industry. The closure at the start of the month has hit right-hand drive export Polo production (including early builds of the new GTI model, with some prospective UK Polo owners reporting delays in their cars arriving). While there was no strike at the plant itself, the company was bracing itself for a ‘substantial loss of volume’ from the fall in production numbers of export and local market Polos, as well as a decline in output of the highly successful South African-only Polo Vivo.

‘The company deeply regrets this unavoidable situation, particularly as the company was starting to recover from an eight-day motor manufacturing industry-wide strike, which also severely impacted customer deliveries’, Volkswagen said when asked about the situation. We suggest that if you have a five-door UK-bound Polo on order, keep up to date with your Volkswagen retailer for news of its arrival. Three-door Polo UK deliveries shouldn’t be affected, as these cars are manufactured at the Volkswagen Group’s Pamplona plant in Spain.

The sixth race weekend of the Volkswagen Polo Cup South Africa at Zvartkops on 17-18 September saw Kosie Weyers take victory in the first round after starting from pole position, while championship defender Mathew Hodges settled for fourth place. It was a reversal of fortunes in the second race, though, as Hodges clinched first place, with Weyers coming in behind him. The high-position finishes mean that 23 year-old Hodges (above) continues to extend his lead in the championship standings of the popular Volkswagen one-make cup. Round 8 of the Volkswagen Polo Cup South Africa is on 1-3 October at Killarney. The 2010 Volkswagen Polo Cup South Africa series is similar to the other racing Polo championships run in Europe and India. Just as in those series, the one-make format highlights new young driving talent. As many as 30 drivers regularly take to the track in technically identical cars, full grids ensure close-fought races.

The entry-level Volkswagen in South Africa, the Polo Vivo, retained its crown as the best-selling passenger car brand in August 2010, with 2958 units finding homes. In addition, 1236 fifth-generation New Polos were sold. ‘Despite the eight-day motor industry strike last month, Volkswagen of South Africa continued to dominate the passenger car market with 19.4% share and total sales of 6527 units. We are still very encouraged by the reaction from the market to our new uniquely South African entry-level Polo Vivo,’ said Mike Glendinning, Director of Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen of South Africa.

A total of 33,541 new passenger cars were sold in South Africa during August 2010. Total new passenger car sales in August, including sales not reported in detail to trade body NAAMSA, increased by 14.8% when compared to July 2010, and by 49.6% when compared to August 2009, bringing the year-to-date August market in 2010 to a level 31.4% above the same period for 2009. Significantly, the Volkswagen Group’s passenger car sales year-to-date, are 37.6% ahead of the same period in 2009 – stronger than the market’s 31.4%.

‘New passenger car sales performed strongly in August recording the largest monthly market since January 2008 with the selling rate of new cars per day reaching levels last experienced in October 2007. While August is traditionally a relatively good month for new passenger car sales, the exceptional buoyancy of the market in August 2010 can in all probability be ascribed to a combination of seasonally strong demand from rental car companies and a buy ahead of the introduction of the CO2 vehicle emissions tax on 1 September 2010. It is estimated that the introduction of the CO2 vehicle emissions tax will result in an increase of new vehicle pricing of 2.5% on average,’ added Glendinning.