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German Football legends Fritz Walter, Paul Breitner and Rudi Völler star in the latest advertising campaign for Volkswagen’s special edition TEAM models. In true Volkswagen special edition tradition, the extra-value family of Polo, Golf, Golf Plus, Scirocco and Tiguan TEAM models offer more kit for less money and what better way to promote football-associated models than with national heroes from the past?

Promotion for the TEAM models is now entering its second half and the legendary players from the 1954, 1974 and 1990 German world cup teams are now part of the campaign. ‘With this new campaign, we take off from all other football campaigns and continue to build up anticipation for the world championship. Together with our successful team special models and also Walter Fritz, Paul Breitner and Rudi Völler, we have the best team of all time,’ Werner Eichorn, Marketing Manager of Volkswagen Passenger Cars (Germany) enthuses.

The first phase of the ‘Legends’ promotion was the ‘Wintermärchens’ (‘Winter Fairy Tale’) campaign, which spread one idea across all forms of media. Based on the idea of celebration, the TV spots and print ads showed fans rejoicing with floats in street, celebrating Volkswagen’s ‘victory’ with the new TEAM models. With the new campaign, everyone can get involved and support the German World Cup entry (as well as the TEAM models) by ordering a personalised ‘TEAM 2010’ poster online. There will also be table-top football in Volkswagen Retailers across Germany, while the campaign will be rounded off with fan articles and public viewings of the Team models at selected locations.

The Audi 50 played an important part in the history of the Volkswagen Polo. Born into a energy crisis-hit world, the smallest production Audi ever built soon had a cheaper and more popular sister to play with, as Volkswagen launched its own less expensive version. Setting a template for the premium supermini, the 50 was a test bed for many technological developments and ultimately gave its life for the baby VW. We’ve just updated our history of Audi’s forgotten supermini. Pop across here to read the full story of the Audi 50.

As we reported on 1 April, the fifth-generation Volkswagen Polo was voted 2010 World Car of the Year, beating off competition from the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the Toyota Prius. Adding to its European Car of the Year 2010 title, the latest prize cements the latest Polo’s reputation as a multi-award winner. World Car of the Year have released photos from the awards ceremony that took place on the day of the announcement at the Javits Center in New York City. Click the gallery below for a slideshow of pictures.

Second victory in a row for the Volkswagen brand; BlueMotion models declared 2010 World Green Cars

It’s no April Fool’s joke. Not only is the new fifth-generation Polo 2010 European Car of the Year, but it is also now 2010 World Car of the Year, and we’ll be honest, we didn’t think it would win. Why? Announced today at the start of the New York International Auto Show in Manhattan, the Polo isn’t even sold in the US, although rumours persist about its Stateside introduction.

Merit, value, safety, environment, significance and emotional appeal are the criterias for the World Car of the Year and it’s the second time Volkswagen has been victorious; the Mk 6 Golf was declared the winner last year. The Polo fought off its European Car of the Year adversaries the Mercedes E-Class and the Toyota Prius to come out on top. The decision was unanimous, too; the majority of the 59 World Car jurors from 25 countries across the world chose the Polo from 30 entries.

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On 19 March, to spectacular fanfare, Volkswagen formally launched the new Polo Vivo at the Sun City Superbowl. The company gathered Volkswagen fans from all over South Africa and treated them to a concert to celebrate the new car’s arrival. Not only were there pyrotechnics a plenty, but also a ‘flying’ Polo Vivo precariously suspended from the 6000-seat Superbowl’s ceiling. Among the acts entertaining the ecstatic crowd were Big NUZ, Freshlyground, Kelly Clarkson, The Parlotones, TKZee and Westlife. Click here for more pictures.

[Images: CelebrateVW]