PoloDriver

Ahead of its Geneva motor show debut next week, the Polo GTI has put in another appearance on Autocar.co.uk this week. Largely a story to show off the magazine’s ‘exclusive’ pictures, the new shots show close-up details of the car, missing from Volkswagen’s official photos which were released last week. The standard twin exhaust pipes and headlamps with optional LED daytime running lights feature in the new shots. The magazine also claims that the 178bhp, DSG-equipped car goes on sale in the UK in August and confirms the availability of a family friendly five-door model.

Head over here for the full story and new pictures.

[Image: Stuart Price for Autocar]

Monthly UK title Volkswagen Driver features the 1990-1994 Polo Coupé GT as the star of its model profile section in its March 2010 issue. With five detailed pages devoted to the spritely small Volkswagen, the magazine looks back at the Coupé GTs life with period Volkswagen photographs and ‘anorak’-type panels covering the colour and trims available as well as a full technical specification. The page of owners’ opinions also features two of PoloDriver’s long-termers, with Simon Kimber and Rich Gooding explaining why the sometimes overlooked GT appeals to them.

Grab a copy of the March 2010 issue of Volkswagen Driver from all good newsagents (find your nearest stockist here), or contact Autometrix Publications on 01525 750500.

World premiere at the Geneva motor show: five-door all-around vehicle with clever details and rugged all-terrain look

Volkswagen doesn’t do things by halves. Following the new Polo GTI’s unveiling ahead of its world premier at the Geneva motor show in March, the German giant has revealed that the new version of the rugged CrossPolo will keep it company on the show stand. Completing (for now at least) the new Polo range, the CrossPolo extends the family to four and with its unique colours and styling, it undoubtedly brings something extra to the compact class, and, we think, has no notable direct rivals to speak of.

As with the GTI, we didn’t expect this new Polo flavour to arrive so soon, either, but with the Geneva expo such a major fixture on the motor industry’s calendar, we should have known better. Following the tradition set by its predecessors, the 2004 Polo Fun and 2005 CrossPolo (both known as the Polo Dune in the UK), the new version of the go-anywhere Polo blends off-road styling cues with a 15mm raised ride height. Powered by a range of three petrol and three diesel engines, Volkswagen says that the newcomer mixes ‘tough qualities with lifestyle character’.

Individually styled
A five-door only, the new CrossPolo features individually-styled anthracite front and rear bumpers with large air inlets and fake silver underbody skid plate, front fog lights, anthracite wheel arch and sill extensions, anodised silver roof rails and door mirrors and 17-inch ‘Budapest’ five-spoke alloy wheels with 215/40 17 tyres. Six colours are available, with the traditional Magma Orange joined by the Terra Beige Metallic, as seen in the official photos here. The upper areas of the bumpers and all handles are painted in body colour, while the B and C pillars of the new CrossPolo are treated in a high-gloss black.

The interior of the new CrossPolo is just as stylish as the exterior. Depending on body colour, four different trims are available. On all cars, the outer edges of the seats is anthracite, while ‘Hot Orange’, ‘Orange’, ‘Latte Macchiato’ (a ‘lifestyle’ colour if ever there was one) and ‘Grey’ can adorn the inner panels and door trims. Upholstery is called ‘Dimension’ and has a durable webbed feel, while ‘CrossPolo’ is etched into the backs of the front sport seats. Other flourishes inside include a perforated leather steering wheel with brushed chrome spokes, stitching to match the exterior colour, centre armrest, and aluminium pedals. Standard kit includes electric mirrors, electric windows all round, multifunction display with tyre pressure monitor and central locking.

Six engines, DSG
We wouldn’t recommend going serious off-roading with the new CrossPolo – there’s no engine developing more than 104bhp – but then this faux-by-four is designed to be more of a style statement in town. And the engines are certainly up to that. Taking proven units from the rest of the new Polo range, the starter unit is a 1.2-litre, developing 69bhp, with an 84bhp 1.4 following it. Petrol options are topped by the new 1.2-litre turbocharged TSI with 104bhp, which powers the new CrossPolo from rest to 62mph in 9.9 seconds. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard on all petrol models, with the option of the same seven-speed DSG gearbox as the new Polo GTI on the 84bhp 1.4. There are 74, 89 and 104bhp 1.6 TDIs, while the 89bhp diesel variant can be paired with the DSG gearbox.

Orders will be taken in showrooms on the continent in March, with the first customer cars arriving in May. After that, there will be both European and Japanese roll-outs. We’re big fans of the CrossPolo here at PoloDriver and while details for the UK market have yet to be announced, we’ll bring you all the details on this stylish and unique addition to the new Polo range as soon as they are released.

80.7mpg and 91g/km: Volkswagen launches most efficient Polo yet

The most efficient Polo yet is available to order from Volkswagen retailers today, the company has announced. Starting at £14,445 on the road for the three-door, the five-door model carries a £600 premium. Powered by an all-new 1.2-litre three-cyliner TDI common rail diesel engine, the new eco Polo develops 74bhp and 133lb ft of torque available from 2000rpm. Longer ratios for the five-speed manual gearbox are coupled with a regenerative braking system and automatic Stop/Start to help the miserly newcomer sip fuel more efficiently.

Cosmetic changes
How efficiently? Volkswagen’s official figures state 80.7mpg on the combined cycle, equating to over 800 miles on one tank of diesel. But it’s not only the most fuel-efficient new Polo yet; the 2010 BlueMotion is the cleanest fifth-generation version, too, emitting just 91g/km of CO2. Cosmetic changes help grab those headline figures; bespoke deep bumpers, side skirts, an extended rear roof spoiler (similiar to the Mk 2 Polo Formel E’s of 1983), faired-in radiator grille and 15-inch ‘Greenland’ alloy wheels with low rolling resistance tyres all contribute to making the new Polo BlueMotion one of the most efficient vehicles currently available in the UK.

High comfort levels
Predictably, performance isn’t in the GTI league. The new Polo BlueMotion reaches 62mph from rest in 13.9 seconds and cruises onto a top speed of 107mph. So, while it’s no road burner, it’s not hair-shirt basic, either. Comfort levels are high with standard equipment including manual air-conditioning, cruise control, leather steering wheel, unique ‘Power On’ upholstery. As with other new Polo models, safety equipment is high with four airbags, ABS and ESP all fitted. If ordered from a Volkswagen retailer now, the first customers can expect to take delivery of their new Polo BlueMotions in May.

Fast, clean and sharper than ever: new Polo GTI unveiled

Volkswagen have done it again. The German giant has unexpectedly pulled the covers off the new performance Polo and just like this time last year when the wraps were taken off the new Polo range, we weren’t expecting it. The company has also produced what we think is one of the best-looking performance superminis in the business. Yes, it’s more mini-me Golf than ever – though this time the GTI – but the details are there; check out the (optional) LED front running lights, the signature 17-inch GTI ‘telephone dial’ alloys, the double exhausts and what looks like a panoramic sunroof.

178bhp, 0-62mph in 6.9 seconds
Volkswagen state that the 2010 Polo GTI is shaping up to be the fastest, most focused and cleanest performance Polo yet produced by the company. Following in the tyre tracks of the 148bhp GTI of 2006, the new upstart develops 30bhp more, courtesy of its 1.4-litre TSI engine, which is both supercharged and turbocharged. Currently in use in the SEAT Ibiza Cupra, the little unit uses the supercharger from idle to 3000rpm, at which point the turbocharger kicks in to provide boost.

Peak power of 178bhp comes at 6200rpm, with 184lb ft of torque available from 2000rpm. Weight is a modest 1184kg, enabling the new hotshot Polo to get from rest to 62mph in just 6.9 seconds, before chasing a top speed of 142mph. The first properly hot Polo was the GT G40 Coupé from 1986 with 114bhp and as that also came with a supercharged engine, there’s a common link between old and new. The 2010 car comes with a seven-speed, twin-clutch DSG gearbox and the Volkswagen Group’s electronic XDS differential (again, just as on the hot Ibiza) linked to the ESP system. The new range-topper also produces just 139g/km and will do 47mpg on the combined cycle.

Sharper responses
Just as on that featherweight GT G40 Coupé of 24 years ago, the 2010 Polo GTI should have sharper responses due to its 15mm lower ride height and sports springs and dampers. Red brake calipers help differentiate the GTI from lesser models in the Polo range, along with new deeper bumpers with larger airdams, a red-trimmed honeycomb grille, GTI badges and sill extensions. Sporting accoutrements inside include revised dials, a flat-bottomed steering wheel with red stitching and gearshift paddles, aluminium pedals and sports seats trimmed in Volkswagen’s now-traditional ‘70s-inspired tartan trim. Gloss black trim covers the centre console to match the black headlining.

Pricing and specifications
Volkswagen hasn’t released any prices as yet, but many sources point to an opening bat of £18,000 and an arrival date of August 2010. Officially, the 2010 Polo GTI is due ‘in the summer’ and while exact details of pricing and specifications will be announced nearer the time, the car will be on show at the 2010 Geneva motor show from 4 March to 14 March. We at PoloDriver are very excited.