PoloDriver

It’s been another busy year for the Volkswagen Polo. The model has celebrated its 40th birthday with an exhibition of rare models at the AutoMuseum Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, and the revised fifth-generation Polo range has been completed with the addition of new BlueMotion TSI and GTI models.

On the asphalt and gravel stages of the 2015 FIA World Rally Championship, the Polo has, like 2013 and 2014, once again come out on top. Just like last year, the Polo R WRC has won 12 events out of 13, taking the Manufacturers’ Championship title for Volkswagen Motorsport and has also carried Frenchmen Sébastien Ogier the Julien Ingrassia to their third consecutive Drivers’ Championship prize.

Other Polo-based motorsport series have also continued around the globe, with Wolfsburg’s small car taking an even larger presence in the FIA World Rallycross Championship, as well as being a track machine in many countries. Here, we round up the Polo’s biggest achievements in 2015. (Bold entries are illustrated by the picture above that particular month.)

January

– Polo and Vento help Volkswagen India achieve record 2014 production figures
– Milltek Sport cat-back twin 80mm exhaust system launched for Polo R WRC road car
– Uprated Polo GT and new Polo GTI under consideration for India
– Volkswagen Motorsport unwraps second-generation Polo R WRC
– New petrol-powered 1.2-litre Cross Polo for India
– Indian-only Volkswagen Polo R-Cup series makes way for Vento Cup in 2015
– Our cars: 2001 Polo GTI – report eleven
– 2015 Polo R WRC makes dream debut at Rally Monte Carlo with Volkswagen 1-2-3
– Polo is the second best-selling car in Europe
– Polo is the eighth best-selling car in the UK.

February

– PoloDriver.com launches new model profile series: the eco Polos
– Sébastien Ogier sweeps to spectacular 2015 Rally Sweden win
– Our cars: 2015 Polo SE 1.2 TSI – report one
– Sheldon van der Linde hat-trick at 2015 Engen Volkswagen Cup opener
– Refreshed Polo hatchback heads to the Philippines
– Volkswagen does the double: Golf and Polo still Europe’s top sellers.

March
– Volkswagen India launches the special edition Vento Magnific
– Sébastien Ogier celebrates third 2015 WRC victory with Rally Mexico win
– KW Automotive launches coilover suspension kit for Polo R WRC
– Volkswagen Sweden backs two teams in 2015 World Rallycross series assault
– Polo GT TDI wins Budget Driver’s Car of the Year at the Indian Zeegnition Auto Awards 2015
– Vento DSG wins Auto Bild India Golden Steering Wheel award
– Polo wins Carbuyer 2015 Best Small Car award
– Polo is the sixth best-selling car in the UK.

April

– Volkswagen celebrates 40 years of the Polo at Techno Classica 2015
– Volkswagen South Africa launches the new 2015 141kW Polo GTI
– Zulu and Arries celebrate Polo S2000 podium position at 2015 Sasol Rally
– PoloDriver.com drives the 2015 189bhp 6C Polo GTI
– Retirements force Volkswagen out of podium places at Rally Argentina
– Polo is the sixth best-selling car in the UK.

May
– Johan Kristoffersson scores maiden win at World RX of Portugal
– Toomas Heikkinen highest-placed Polo driver at World RX of Hockenheim
– Volkswagen Australia issues recall for 2015 Polo 1.2 TSI models
– Gugu Zulu scores Volkswagen Sasolracing result at Secunda Motor Rally
– Toomas Heikkinen wins World RX of Belgium
– Polo is the seventh best-selling car in the UK.

June

– Our cars: 2015 Polo SE 1.2 TSI – report two
– Johan Kristoffersson puts Polo on the podium at World RX of Great Britain
– Revised Polo saloon for India and Russia unveiled
– Latvala heads Volkswagen podium lock-out at Rally Portugal
– Volkswagen South Africa announces Polo Vivo Eclipse special edition
– Ogier snatches third Sardinian Volkswagen victory at 2015 Rally Italy
– Polo is 500,000th car produced at Volkswagen India factory
– Volkswagen Australia recalls refreshed fifth-generation Polo for seat issue
– Johan Kristoffersson finishes fourth at World RX of Germany
– Tommy Rustad takes Euro RX win
– Polo is the eighth best-selling car in the UK.

July

– Toomas Heikkinen sweeps to fourth at World RX of Sweden
– Webcon reintroduces 1043cc carburettor kit for 1981-1985 Polo and Derby
– Volkswagen Australia realigns Polo range with 2016 model year upgrades
– Volkswagen Polo scoops Auto Express Supermini of the Year 2015 award
– ‘40 Years Polo’ exhibition opens at AutoMuseum Volkswagen
– Club Polo 2015 Polo Social event celebrates 40 years of the Polo.

August

– Volkswagen’s Ogier and Mikkelsen take one-two at Rally Poland
– HG Motorsport unveils 260bhp 6C Polo GTI
– Volkswagen Polo’s 40th anniversary celebrated with ‘Original’ limited edition model
– Sheldon van der Linde does the Engen Volkswagen Cup double at Zwartkops
– Polo is the fifth best-selling car in the UK.

September
– Polo Trophy special edition launched in Malaysia
– Volkswagen wins Rally Australia; takes WRC titles for third consecutive year
– Johan Kristoffersson’s Polo RX second at World RX of Spain
– Podium success for Volkswagen Sasolracing Polo S2000s at Toyota Cape Dealer Rally
– Volkswagen ‘Dieselgate’ emissions scandal breaks
– Polo is the fifth best-selling car in the UK.

October
– Polo BlueMotion TSI completes Volkswagen South Africa new Polo range
– Volkswagen India recalls 389 Polo models due to handbrake defect
– Latvala and Anttila take Polo R WRC to victory in Rally Spain
– Volkswagen India launches limited edition Polo Exquisite and Vento Highline Plus
– 1.2-litre TDI Polo engine also caught up in ‘Dieselgate’ emissions scandal
– Revised Polo Sedan launched by Volkswagen South Africa
– ABT Sportsline celebrates Polo’s 40th birthday with 230bhp upgrade
– 500,000th Polo produced at Volkswagen South Africa’s Uitenhage factory
– Andreas Mikkelsen claims maiden WRC win at Rally Spain
– Polo is the seventh best-selling car in the UK.

November
– Revised petrol-only Volkswagen Polo Sedan launched in Argentina
– Our cars: 2001 Polo GTI – report twelve
– Sébastien Ogier scores hat-trick and eighth 2015 WRC win at 2015 Rally Great Britain
– Selected Polo TDI and TSI models affected in Volkswagen CO2 emissions issue
– Polo Vivo remains number one best-seller in South Africa; new Street model launched.

December
– Volkswagen Vento rated a five-star car in Latin NCAP creash tests
– Volkswagen Motorsport takes first, second and third 2015 WRC drivers’ titles
– Volkswagen Polo R WRC awarded Autosport Rally Car of the Year
– Our cars: 2013 Polo R-Line – report four
– Polo Allstar special edition launched
– Polo ends 2015 as the sixth best-selling car in the UK.

It’s once again been a busy Polo year for Volkswagen and also for all here at PoloDriver. We would like to thank the loyal readers and followers who have helped make the year another fantastically enjoyable one, and hope that you’ll enjoy the developments and stories coming to the website in 2016, which will include full coverage of the 40 Years Polo exhibition at AutoMuseum Volkswagen.

[Click on the ‘Polo 2009-’, ‘WRC’ and ‘Motorsport’ tags in the category drop-down list in the right-hand sidebar of the website to see all entries pertaining to the revised fifth-generation Polo, Polo R WRC, and Polo motorsport activity respectively. Choose other category or month sections for relevant entries.]

In a raft of Volkswagen UK model trim changes for 2016, the Polo SE has been dropped from the current range and replaced by the Match. Available in three and five-door variants, the 2016 Polo Match adds more than £900 worth of extra equipment when compared to the SE it replaces – and it costs just £100 more.

Standard-fit features on the new Polo Match include cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, front fog lights with static cornering function, tinted rear windows and new 15-inch ‘Stratford’ alloy wheels. The Polo Match is available to order now from £12,735 OTR, with deliveries expected in the New Year. Find out more here.

Euro 6-compliant engines
The 2016 Polo range boasts a family of Euro 6-compliant engines. Petrol options include a pair of three-cylinder 1.0-litre MPI units with 59 or 74bhp; two 1.2-litre four-cylinder TSI engines with 89 or 108bhp and a 148bhp 1.4-litre TSI engine with cylinder deactivation (ACT). The Polo GTI has a 189bhp 1.8-litre TSI engine, while diesel options comprise two three-cylinder 1.4-litre TDI units, with 74 and 89bhp.

Safety is high on the agenda with the current Polo range, with all versions equipped with ESC electronic stability control, Hill Hold and an Automatic Post-Collision Braking System. Optional safety features include a Driver Alert System as well as City Emergency Braking which is automatically activated at speeds under 18mph and uses a laser sensor to detect the risk of an impending collision, automatically priming the brakes to make them more sensitive.

John Redfern, one of our resident fifth-generation Polo owners, calls time on his period with his 2013 R-Line after two-and-a-half years and 19,000 happy miles

In my last update on my Polo R-Line, I alluded to the idea of replacing it with something sprightlier when my current finance deal concluded in 2016. Things moved on a little quicker than anticipated, with the R-Line going off to pastures new in May this year. Being patient has never been my strongpoint!

But after 2.5 years and 19,000 miles it was time to say goodbye to NG62 EWC, as the Deep Black Pearlescent three-door went off to find a new owner. Hopefully it’ll prove just as loyal to them as it was to me. Perhaps one of the biggest compliments I can pay to the R-Line was that made writing about it so difficult at times, due do doing exactly what was asked of it without fail.

Reliable and well-built
In fact, it was everything the Volkswagen clichés of old would tell you to believe. Reliable and well built, the R-Line never let me down during our 29 months together. Aside from two annual services, it had no reason to venture near a dealership other than the fateful day when it became a part-exchange against its replacement. With a virtually flawless record it really was a lesson in dependability.

While it never went wrong, there was one main bugbear with the R-Line in the shape of the standard Bluetooth phone system. Aside from looking resolutely aftermarket by being plonked on the dashboard, it also refused to stream music and had an annoying habit of dropping connectivity. Thankfully the mid-life facelift update for the Polo model last year included an all-new multimedia setup, replacing the loathsome TPK system.

Apart from phone connectivity, the only other issue with the R Line was black paintwork that looked great when clean, but seemed so susceptible to minor marks and scratches no matter how careful I was when washing it. At the time of buying the R Line I had the choice to either wait and get a car in a colour of my choosing, or take the black one there and then. Like I said, I’m not one for patience!

Notable improvement
Fuel economy improved throughout my time with the R-Line, averaging around 45mpg by the time it departed. Being properly run in – there was a notable improvement after 10,000 miles – and using Shell V Power Nitro+ certainly seemed to make a difference. That 45mpg could probably have been bettered, but I spent far too much time enjoying the 1.2-litre TSI engine’s performance.

Although officially only having 104bhp, the TSI engine always felt stronger than the figures suggested, and would happily embarrass unsuspecting drivers of more powerful machinery. A light and precise six-speed manual gearbox helped, along with sharp brakes and accurate steering.

While fun on the daily commute, the R-Line wasn’t a car that begged to be driven specifically for enjoyment. Pushed hard, the limits of the standard suspension became apparent, although the Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres would gamely hang on. A Guild of Motoring Writers’ track day at Rockingham demonstrated just how much body roll the R-Line could generate, but it didn’t feel completely out of its depth among quicker cars.

Handsome, reliable, relatively rare, frugal, and amusing in everyday driving, the R Line proved to be a worthy companion during my ownership. It’ll always hold a small place in my motoring heart, no matter how much quicker the car its strong residual values helped fund.

For more on John’s time with the R-Line, read his previous reports on PoloDriver.com. Also head over to John’s website engagesportmode.com to read his thoughts on a wide range of performance cars and motorsport subjects.

The Volkswagen Polo R WRC and its pace-setting drivers have been collecting pre-Christmas presents in the form of awards that celebrate the third and most profitable Volkswagen Motorsport World Rally Championship year to date.

2015 FIA Prize-giving Gala
First, the Volkswagen Motorsport team and Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia received their trophies for their 2015 World Rally Championship manufacturer and drivers’ titles at the FIA Prize-giving Gala in Paris. Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila as well as and Andreas Mikkelsen and Ola Fløene also picked up their awards for finishing second and third overall respectively in the 2015 drivers’ and co-drivers’ championships.

Overall, the Volkswagen WRC team had 12 wins and 26 podium finishes in 2015, with each driver pairing taking at least one win (Mikkelsen and Fløene scored their first at Rally Spain) and stepping on to the podium at least seven times.

2015 Autosport Awards
Ogier and the Polo R WRC were also recognised at the 2015 Autosport Awards, collecting the Rally Driver and Rally Car of the Year titles respectively. The statistics are truly impressive. Sebastian Ogier (who collected the Autosport award for the third consecutive time since 2013) amassed 263 championship points in 2015, won eight events and was 80 points ahead of his nearest rival, team-mate Jari-Matti Latvala.

The Polo R WRC meanwhile (again, a third Autosport award winner) has won 34 out of 39 events, scored 12 back-to-back wins, and taken the same number of victories in both 2014 and 2015. The three Polo R WRCs notched up a total distance of 11,832 kilometres at high speed in 2015, while Volkswagen Motorsport drivers won 159 out of 231 fastest stage times in addition to 12 out of 13 power stage victories.

Ola Fløene departs VW
Just after the ceremonies, in a shock announcement, it was made public that Ola Fløene will leave Volkswagen Motorsport in 2016 to join M-Sport Ford and be co-driver for Mads Østberg.

The 46 year-old has co-driven for Andreas Mikkelsen for a number of years off and on, the the pair won the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) in both 2011 and 2012. The partnership also achieved 13 podium finishes and 21 rallies in 2014 and 2015.

Sitting beside Mikkelsen in 2016 will be Anders Jæger, who moves up from the Junior WRC category where he was in charge of pace notes for Polo RX driver Ole Christian Veiby. The
26 year-old not only shares his age with Mikkelsen but also his Norwegian nationality and has form with his compatriot, acting as co-driver on Volkswagen Motorsport test drive events in Sweden.

2016 Rally Monte Carlo
As with the previous seasons, we at PoloDriver have enjoyed watching the many battles, stages and moments of drama within the 2015 FIA World Rally Championship. Our highlights include the Polo finally winning Rally Germany as well as Andreas Mikkelsen’s first WRC event win on the Spanish round of the series – it was a long time coming!

We wish the Volkswagen Motorsport team all the best of the season and also for 2016, when the first event, Rally Monte Carlo, kicks off on 22-24 January.

The Indian-made VW Vento is to be exported to Argentina and sold as the Polo, Volkswagen India has announced. The car will be exported from the Chakan plant in Pune to South America in a move which is another export milestone for the Indian factory which prides itself on its commitment to quality products for global markets. The Argentinian Polo made its debut at the Buenos Aires motor show in June.

Saloon-shaped
The notchback Polo for Argentina is powered by a 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine, mated to five-speed manual and six-speed automatic gearboxes. As with the US in general, the South American market prefers saloon-shaped cars, hence the reason to export the Vento (which itself is based on the current fifth-generation Polo 6R/6C) rather than the hatchback version which is also manufactured in Pune.

The first cars were exported from the Volkswagen India factory in 2011 to South Africa. The plant now sends both left-hand and right-hand drive Volkswagens to 35 countries across four continents (Africa, Asia, North and South America). In Argentina, VW has has been the market leader for 12 consecutive years with a market share of almost 22 per cent.

Five-star rating
In related news, the Vento has achieved a five-star rating for adult occupant protection in Latin NCAP crash tests. As standard, the car comes with twin front airbags, seat belt pre-tensioners, ABS, ISOFIX as well as a robust vehicle body structure. Latin NCAP also awarded the Vento three stars in the child occupant protection category – markdowns included the positioning of the ISOFIX anchorage points as well as the lack of a warning marking for the installation of a child restraint on the front passenger seat.