PoloDriver

Hot on the tracks of UK motoring weeklies Auto Express and Autocar, monthly performance car title evo has now published an online review of the new Polo GTI on its website. The respected journos at evo seem to like it, too, calling the new twin-charged Polo ‘a surprisingly old school GTI’, before summing up with, ‘Here is the best attempt yet at a convincing GTI-badged Polo, a car with its own personality freed from the shadow of the Golf.’ At last! The only fly in the ointment appears to be the DSG-only specification. But, the magazine hints that a six-speed manual version could eventually be on the cards. Head over to evo to read the full 2010 Polo GTI review.

Numerous sources state that the 2010 Polo GTI is now available to order in the UK, and the appearance of the model on the configurator pages of Volkswagen UK’s website bear this out. With first deliveries said to be in July (a month earlier than originally thought), currently there’s no optional alcantara/leather trim, alternative alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlights or panoramic sunroof, all seen on the press demonstrators currently doing the rounds in Germany. All but the more powerful headlights aren’t mentioned in the early brochures we have either, suggesting that final specifications for the UK and Europe will follow. We do definitely know the prices, though; the 2010 Polo GTI will cost £18,275 for the three-door and £18,875 for the five-door car.

Edit, 27 May 2010: the following options are now listed on Volkswagen UK’s configurator – leather multi-function steering wheel at £110, electric glass sunroof £760 (though this is not clear as to whether it’s part of a panoramic module; it would appear so from the illustration), and bi-xenon headlights incorporating the LED daytime running lights at £720.

The Polo has been named Best Small Car in the 2010 Fleet World Honours, presented yesterday at the RAC Club in London. The Polo is currently the European Car of the Year as well as the World Car of the Year, and also holds Supermini of the Year titles from What Car? and Fleet News. The award is voted for by a number of industry professionals – including the Fleet World editorial team – and is chaired by Fleet World editor, Steve Moody.

Collecting the award, Volkswagen’s Head of Fleet Services, Vincent Kinner, said: ‘We’re delighted to receive this award. Since its launch last October the Polo has gone from strength to strength. It epitomises the Volkswagen strengths of quality, practicality, safety and value for money and this award, on top of the many others it had already received, proves its appeal to fleet managers as well as private buyers and drivers.’

Chairman of Judges, Steve Moody, said: ‘The Volkswagen Polo is a small car with a big car personality. Downsizing customers will never feel shortchanged thanks to its excellent interior space and superb build quality. Add in a strong range of engines with excellent fuel efficiency, and never has a supermini been so super.’ Head over to the fleet section of the Volkswagen website for more information on the company’s range of cars and fleet services.

These first drive reports have literally just pinged into our inbox. Fresh from Volkswagen’s Nurbürging 24-hour race Polo GTI driving event, the two UK motoring weeklies have today delivered their verdicts on the Polo we’ve all been waiting for. They’re – not surprisingly – conflicting verdicts, too. Auto Express states in its drive that, ‘The steering is well weighted and offers good feedback. Body roll is also virtually non-existent, thanks to firmer springs and dampers.’ Autocar’s verdict (which is more relevant for enthusiasts) is delivered in the video below. One verdict is the same, though; that of price. At £18,275, the 2010 Polo GTI is priced above arguably more able – but less refined – competitors.

Edit, 19 May 2010: Autocar‘s written verdict on the 2010 Volkswagen Polo GTI has been posted online today. The Auto Express first drive is in the current issue of the magazine, while the Autocar write-up will be in print next week.

A quick trawl around the world of official Volkswagen websites reveals Spain to be the country with the most diverse Polo choice, and if all the models profiled on its nuevoPolo.com microsite haven’t landed yet, then they must be close. It’s one of the only banks of VW pages to include both the CrossPolo and Polo GTI (both due to hit continental showrooms around the end of May). At the moment it seems that barely a day goes by without some new detail about the 2010 Polo GTI being revealed.

As well as the regular hatchback model available in Advance and Sport trims, there are photos of the newcomers as well as a section on the just-launched up to date version of the BlueMotion. There’s also a neat configurator designer where prospective owners can create their own styled cars. No CrossPolo or Polo GTI brochures yet, though, but click the small gallery below for the images from the microsite, taken from the GTI sales catalogue seen elsewhere in Europe.