PoloDriver

Here’s the second of the four TV commercials in Volkswagen India’s ‘Made in India’ campaign for the Polo (watch them all on PoloDriverTV). Similarly to the first ad in the series, this 30-second clip uses comic humour to highlight a technical aspect of the car – in this case, the fuel efficiency – and to convey the message that the Indian-built Polo is tailor-made for Indian drivers, but has the might of German engineering behind it. The ‘Made in India’ campaign also features a wide range of innovative print, outdoor and digital media. The new Polo costs from RS 4.5 lakh, and will face heated competition from the Maruti Swift, Ford Figo, Honda Jazz, Fiat Punto and Hyundai i20.

Volkswagen Polo ‘Made in India’ TV campaign credits
Creative agency: DDB Mudra
Chief creative officer: Bobby Pawar
National creative director: Rajeev Raja
Copy: Rajeev Raja/Hemant Sharma
Art: Ajmal Mohammad
Planning: Michael Follet
Client servicing: Ashish Marwah, Jay Mehta, Punit Bhatt, Vaibhav Bhargava
Agency film department: Tapan Sharma, Anil Sonawane
Production house: Stink
Director: Christopher Von Reiss
Post-production: Redrum
Media agency: Mediacom

We were under warm sunny skies in rural Leicestershire yesterday with the Volkswagen UK press office, driving the latest additions to the new Polo range. Come back in a few days’ time to find out what we thought of the latest version of the fuel-saving Polo BlueMotion, as well as the range-topping ‘mainstream’ petrol model, the 104bhp 1.2-litre turbocharged TSI.

Another day, another test of the new Polo GTI. ‘WOB-NP-123’ must be one of the most well-known Volkswagen press cars in the country. Long-running UK glossy title CAR magazine pits the new hot shot Polo against four fashionable contenders in its new issue. Alfa Romeo’s Mito, Citroën’s Ds3 and Mini’s Cooper S provide the stylish competition, while the Renaultsport Clio tests the Polo GTI’s mettle as something more a little hardcore. Tested on Welsh roads over two days, buy a copy of the magazine to see how the Polo fares. See an online preview of the July 2010 issue – which is out now and also includes 31 pages of Alfa Romeo celebrations and the new Ford Focus RS500 – below.

[Image: CAR magazine]

Head over to the Times Online to read a first drive of Volkswagen’s latest pocket rocket by Clarkson. Yes, that Clarkson. A self-confessed lover of Golf GTIs old and new, does he like the hot Polo? A fan of the outgoing Polo GTI with 148bhp which appeared in 2006, he takes a long time to deliver his verdict. Read the Times Online’s mini-test – which first appeared in the Sunday Times – to find out (if you’re still with him at the end of the article – skip to about halfway through to read specifically about the new Polo GTI).

Following its recent launch in South Africa, Volkswagen has unleashed the new CrossPolo in Europe (UK availability is still to be announced). The fourth new Polo hatchback variant coming after the base model, BlueMotion and GTI, Volkswagen first pulled the covers off its new SUV-look baby back in February. You should know the basics by now, but if you don’t, then this latest version of VW’s faux-by-four supermini follows on from its Polo Fun and CrossPolo (Dune in the UK, Soho in Spain) predecessors and offers much the same; a 15mm higher ride height, unique body styling and alloy wheels, and a special colour palette. We’re big fans of the fashion-concious CrossPolo here at PoloDriver.

European cars are available with a wider range of engines than South African versions, with three petrol and three diesel engines on offer. Petrol-powered choices start with the 1.2-litre 74bhp three-cylinder motor, rising through an 84bhp 1.4, to the latest 1.2-litre turbocharged TSI unit with 104bhp. Diesel lovers can choose between 74, 89 and 104bhp TDIs, all of which are 1.6-litre units. Like the standard hatchback model, the new CrossPolo can be specified with Volkswagen’s latest twin-clutch, seven-speed DSG gearbox on 1.4-litre 84bhp petrol cars. Prices start at €16.550 for the 74bhp 1.2, rising to €20.100 for the 1.6-litre TDI with 104bhp. The full and official Volkswagen press release follows, along with a gallery of pictures.

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