PoloDriver

It may have dipped out of the top 10 sales charts for a couple of months, but the Polo is is one of the most popular cars in the UK once more. According to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) for August 2014, the Polo was the seventh best-selling car in the UK with 1299 units sold, no doubt helped by the appearance of the refreshed model.

The Ford Fiesta once again topped the table with 4657 cars finding homes, while Volkswagen’s Golf was sitting pretty at number four, having sold 2376 examples. Overall, the Polo is the eighth best-selling car in the UK for 2014 so far, with 26,460 models leaving dealers’ forecourts. The SMMT states that 72,163 new cars were registered in August, a 9.4 per cent rise on August 2013 and the 30th consecutive month of growth.

The UK’s top 10 best-selling passenger cars during August 2014 and the year so far (sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 4657 (83,664, 1st)
2 Ford Focus: 2740 (53,507, 2nd)
3 Vauxhall Corsa: 2435 (50,187, 3rd)
4 Volkswagen Golf: 2376 (45,653, 4th)

5 Vauxhall Astra: 2043 (38,621, 5th)

6 Audi A3: 1641 (28,279, 7th)

7 Volkswagen Polo: 1299 (26,460, 8th)
8 Fiat 500: 1203 (25,910, 9th)
9 Vauxhall Insignia: 1201 (17,509, 9th)

10 Nissan Qashqai: 1154 (32,973, 6th)

(The 2014 top 10 best-selling car absent from last month’s sales figures is the BMW 3 Series with 23,736 units sold.)

It was a mixed result for the Polo RX-powered Marklund Motorsport team at the World Rallycross of France at the 1.1km-long Circuit de Lohéac in Brittany, over 6-7 September. Reporting difficulties in getting its powerful Polos set-up, both Toomas ‘Topi’ Heikkinnen and Anton Marklund made it through the semi-finals but failed to qualify for the Supercar final itself, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

A difficult first day saw engineers tweak the set-up of Heikkinen’s Polo and he finished fourth at the overnight point. Speaking on day two of the event, the Finn said: ‘There was a bit of traffic in the first two heats yesterday, but things were not as good as we expected with us, too. We were a lot slower yesterday. We changed the whole setup on my car – it was a big change so it was a risk, but it has worked.’

But it didn’t work enough. The truncated action saw Heikkinen slip down the overall drivers’ standings to third place, nine points behind Reinis Nitiss. Marklund meanwhile remains fifth overall.

There was no shortage of thrills and spills for the 70,000-strong crowd, though, as former WRC ace Petter Solberg took a sensational victory at the eighth round of the 2014 season at the home of French rallycross. Round nine of the 2014 FIA World Rallycross Championship will take place at Estering in Germany on 20-21 September.

2014 FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP,

DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

1 Petter Solberg, 185
2 Reinis Nitiss, 157

3 Toomas Heikkinen, 147

4 Andreas Bakkerud, 126

5 Anton Marklund, 124

Volkswagen South Africa has announced a refreshed version of its best-selling Polo Vivo range. The entry-level Volkswagen now features revised styling as well as new equipment. Four trim levels are now available: Conceptline, Blueline, Trendline and Confortline. GT and Maxx variants of the hatchback will join the revised family later.

Just as with the revised version of the Polo 6R, the enhanced Polo Vivo has a tweaked face. The chrome-trimmed grille now sees the lower strip continue into new headlights to bring into line with newer Volkswagens, while the lower bumper is similar to the outgoing Polo 6R.

A lower bumper chrome insert is available on higher-spec Trendline and Comfortline models. Body-coloured door handles and mirrors are a feature of these versions, too, as well as the performance-orientated GT.

Moving inside, Conceptline, Trendline and Comfortline models boast new interior trims, while Trendline, Comfortline, GT and Maxx derivatives are all now equipped with a height-adjustable driver’s seat. Red and white illumination is now standard for the instrument displays.

Trendline models receive a four-speaker audio system (optional on Conceptline and Blueline cars) with radio/CD/MP3/Bluetooth/USB capability, while GT and Maxx drivers can enjoy an enhanced soundscape with a further two speakers.

The Polo Vivo’s safety and security kit rosta has also been improved. ABS, an alarm, remote central locking are standard on all versions, while Comfortline models and above receive front fog lamps. Speed-sensitive power steering is fitted on all variants, as is air-conditioning.

Conceptline models receive ‘Afrika’ seat trim and 14” wheel trims. Blueline cars get ‘Lakeside’ 15-inch alloy wheels with low rolling resistance tyres, a tailgate spoiler and lowered suspension. Trendline models feature lower bumper chrome inserts, front electric windows as well as ‘Portland’ 14-inch alloys.

Comfortline cars boast ‘Sinalma’ 15-inch alloy wheels and front fog lights. Sporty GT variants add ‘Rocket’ seat trim, a three-spoke leather steering wheel, ‘Cordoba’ 15-inch alloy wheels, a tailgate spoiler and sports suspension. The CrossPolo-style Maxx version is equipped with ‘Budapest’ 17-inch alloy wheels, aluminium roof rails and raised suspension.Cruise control is optional on all new Polo Vivos.

In opposition to the revised Polo 6R, the one thing which hasn’t changed on the refreshed Polo Vivo is the engine range. The 55kW (74bhp) and 63kW (84bhp) 1.4-litre, and the 1.6-litre 77kW (103bhp) petrol engines all remain. As before, five-speed manual gearbox is standard, while a tiptronic automatic unit is available on selected models.

Over 149,500 Polo Vivos have been sold in South Africa since the car was introduced back in March 2010. Based on the facelifted Mk 4 Polo introduced in 2005, both hatchback and saloon (sedan) versions are available. The Polo Vivo is built locally at Volkswagen South Africa’s Uitenhage factory and is the country’s best-selling passenger car over the past four years.

2014 VOLKSWAGEN POLO VIVO PRICES
Hatchback
1.4 55kW Conceptline: R142,700
1.4 55kW Blueline: R148,000
1.4 63kW Trendline: R157,500
1.4 63kW Trendline Tiptronic: R172,800
1.6 77kW Trendline: R171,500

1.6 77kW Comfortline: R177,200
1.6 77kW GT: R177,200
1.6 77kW Maxx: R180,900

Sedan
1.4 55kW Conceptline: R148,700
1.4 55kW Blueline: R154,000
1.4 63kW Trendline: R163,500
1.4 63kW Trendline Tiptronic: R178,800
1.6 77kW Trendline: R169,300
1.6 77kW Comfortline: R177,500

A three-year or 120,000km warranty is included with a five-year or 60,000km maintenance or service plan optional at extra cost.

Despite many tough battles at the sixth round of the 2014 Engen Volkswagen Cup, Dewald Brummer brought home the silverware at Zwartkops over the weekend of 30-31 August. Sheldon van der Linde emerged as runner-up for both races.

Van der Linde set the qualifying pace, closely followed by Brummer and Shaun la Reservée. Race one saw Juan Gerber in pole position with Brummer in second and van der Linde in third. Brummer finished the 10 laps first however, with Van der Linde behind him, followed by Mathew Hodges.

Hodges was on pole for the second race at the South African circuit, ahead of La Reservée and Brummer. Again, Brummer claimed the chequered flag after 12 laps, closely followed by Van der Linde and Tasmin Pepper.

When the overall race day results were taken in account, Juan Gerber was the fastest ‘Master’, having finished fifth and sixth in race one and race two respectively. Behind him was Hodges and Trevor Bland.

The weekend also saw a change in the championship lead. Van der Linde is now at the top of the points table, with his team-mate Daniel Rowe second with just six points separating the Ferodo Racing pair. Brummer ties with Rowe, so with two rounds of the 2014 series to go, the title fight is still very much wide open.

RACE RESULTS

Race 1
1 Dewald Brummer (2: MAD Racing / Grand Prix Models)
2 Sheldon van der Linde (16: Ferodo Racing)
3 Mathew Hodges (M3: ITR Africa / 959 Panelbeaters)

Race 2

1 Dewald Brummer (2: MAD Racing / Grand Prix Models)

2 Sheldon van der Linde (16: Ferodo Racing)

3 Tasmin Pepper (31: PG Glass / Blue Label Telecom)

Overall

1 Dewald Brummer (2: MAD Racing / Grand Prix Models)
2 Sheldon van der Linde (16: Ferodo Racing)
3 Shaun la Réservée (7: Alpine Motors / Compendium Insurance)

MASTERS

Overall

1 Juan Gerber (M8: Haupt Racing)
2 Mathew Hodges (M3: ITR Africa / 959 Panelbeaters)

3 Trevor Bland (M6: PG Glass / Suburban Panelbeaters)



CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS

1 Sheldon van der Linde (16: Ferodo Racing), 249
2 = Daniel Rowe (11: Ferodo Racing), 243
2 = Dewald Brummer (2: MAD Racing / Grand Prix Models), 243

Hot in the tyre tracks of its latest successful launch in Australia, the New Polo has just hit the streets of Japan. On sale in the Far Eastern country since 1982, the revised version of Volkswagen’s evergreen supermini costs 2,239,000 Yen, around €16,329 or £12,909 with current exchange rates.

That buys Japanese drivers a New Polo Comfortline five-door powered by the revised model’s 89bhp 1.2-litre TSI turbocharged engine, coupled to a seven-speed DSG gearbox. Much the same as Australia, Europe, India, South Africa and the UK then. Interestingly, the mid-range five-door SE with the same engine and gearbox costs £14,960 in the UK.

On the outside, it’s a familiar story, too, with the Japanese New Polo gaining the same subtly refreshed exterior tweaks as its cousins in other countries. The same grown-up safety kit is available, too, including the Adapative Cruise Control and Automatic Post-Collision Braking System.

The new car also gets the interior upgrades applied to other markets. The Japanese version of the New Polo will fight its corner against the Ford Fiesta and Renault’s Clio, known in the Far East as the Lutecia. To find out details of exact specifications and options, visit the Volkswagen Japan website here.