PoloDriver

2018 was yet another busy year for the Volkswagen Polo. The launch and introduction of the all-new sixth-generation model into the UK and the debut of the Polo GTI R5 rally car have been the biggest happenings, while, yet again, the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo R has dominated the World Rallycross Championship in the hands of Johan Kristoffersson.

Historically featuring the current Polo, the South African Engen Volkswagen Cup also starred new sixth-generation Polo GTI racing cars, and while PSRX Volkswagen Sweden has bowed out of the World Rallycross Championship series for 2019, team boss and ex-rally champ Petter Solberg has promised there will be some action. Whether that turns out to be Polo-based or not, we’ve yet to find out.

Right now, though, we round up the Polo’s biggest achievements in 2018. (Bold entries are illustrated by the picture above that particular month’s list of events.)

January

• Sixth-generation Polo launched in South Africa
• Polo Vivo named the most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo is the fourth most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Fifteen orders confirmed for new Polo GTI R5 rally car as Petter Solberg tests the car in Sweden
• New Polo GTI chosen as basis for 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup circuit racer.

February

• Sixth-generation Polo launched in Australia from $17,990
• New-generation Polo Vivo launched in South Africa
• Sixth-generation Polo named the most popular passenger car in South Africa.
• Polo Vivo is the second most popular passenger car in South Africa.

March

• Polo claims Car South Africa magazine’s ‘Top 12 Best Buys 2018 – Small Hatchback’ award (Polo Vivo and Mazda 2 runners-up)
• Polo named as ‘Best Car 2018 – Sub-Compact Cars’ by Auto Motor und Sport
• Volkswagen India replaces Polo 1.2 with Polo 1.0 MPI
• Indian-market limited edition Polo Pace launched
• Polo Vivo is the most popular passenger car in South Africa for Q1 2018 with 7,027 units sold
• Polo is the second most popular passenger car in South Africa for Q1 2018 with 6,610 units sold
• Polo Vivo named the most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo is the second most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo announced as the World Urban Car 2018 winner
• 2018 World Rallycross Championship Volkswagen Polo R Supercar revealed
• Jeffrey Kruger wins race one of the 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup at Kyalami.

April

• Volkswagen Connect DataPlug and smartphone app-based connectivity system now standard on new Polo
• Polo named ‘Safe Car of the Year’ at inaugural FirstCar Awards
• 140bhp Polo VRS 1.2 TSI launched at 2018 Indonesia International Motor Show
• Volkswagen India launches the Vento Sport
• Polo Vivo is the most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo named the second most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo is the fifth most popular car in the UK
• Volkswagen Motorsport announces Polo GTI R5 set for competitive debut at 2018 Rally Spain
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar wins World RX of Barcelona; Petter Solberg fifth
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar wins World RX of Portugal; Petter Solberg third
• Jeffrey Kruger wins races two and three of the 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup at Killarney.

May

• Rear seat belt safety issue found on sixth-generation Polo models
• Polo is the most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo Vivo named the second most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo is the fifth most popular car in the UK
• Petter Solberg and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar finish second at World RX of Belgium; Johan Kristoffersson fifth
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar wins World RX of Great Britain; Petter Solberg seventh
• Tasmin Pepper wins races four and five of the 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup at Zwartkops.

June

• New South African-only Volkswagen Polo Vivo Maxx revealed
• Volkswagen South Africa launches new Polo GTI from R375,900
• Polo Vivo is the most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo named the second most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo is the fifth most popular car in the UK
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar wins World RX of Norway
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar wins World RX of Sweden
• Jonathan Mogotsi wins races six and seven of the 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup at East London.

July

• Forge Motorsport releases new dump valve kit for Polo 1.0 TSI
• Powerflex launches fourth-generation 2001-2009 Polo adjustable front wishbone bushes
• Polo receives Plus X ‘Product of the Year 2018’ award, alongside the Volkswagen T-Roc, Touareg, I.D Vizzion, and Atlas Tanoak
• New Polo GTI goes on sale in Ireland from €32,395
• Polo is the most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo Vivo named the second most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo is the third most popular car in the UK
• Jeffrey Kruger wins race eight of the 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup at Aldo Scribante
• Shaun La Reservee wins race nine of the 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup at Aldo Scribante.

August

• Waze and Volkswagen UK launch ‘GTI Superdrives’
• Volkswagen Brazil announces Novo Polo and Virtus Beats models
• The UK’s Advertising Standards Agency bans new Polo TV commercial after just six complaints because it encourages ‘irresponsible behaviour’
• Special edition Polo Joy launched in Russia
• Indian-built Polo GT 180 TSI showcased at GIIAS 2018
• Polos on parade at GTI Coming Home 2018 Wolfsburg meet
• Polo is the most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo Vivo named the second most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo is the third most popular car in the UK
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar win World RX of Canada; Petter Solberg fourth
• Justin Oates wins race ten of the 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup at Zwartkops
• Keegan Campos wins race eleven of the 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup at Zwartkops.

September

• Heritage Parts Centre launches first-generation Polo windscreen seal reproduction
• First fifteen Polo GTI R5 rally cars presented to customers
• Eric Camilli named as first driver to debut Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 at Rally Spain
• Petter Solberg named as second driver to debut Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 at Rally Spain
• Polo named the most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo Vivo named the second most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar win World RX of France
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar win World RX of Latvia.
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar win World RX of USA; Petter Solberg second
• Tasmin Pepper wins race 12 of the 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup at Killarney
• Jeffrey Kruger wins race 13 of the 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup at Killarney.

October

• Volkswagen Motorsport reveals final look and livery for Polo GTI R5
• Polo-based Volkswagen T-Cross SUV revealed at three-location world premiere
• ‘Strong debut’ for Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 at Rally Spain
• Polo named the second most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo Vivo announced as the most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo is the tenth most popular car in the UK
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar win World RX of Germany
• Johan Kristoffersson named 2018 World Rallycross Champion; PSRX Volkswagen Sweden named 2018 World Rallycross Team Champion
• Jeffrey Kruger wins race 14 of the 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup at Zwartkops and is crowned season champion
• Juan Gerber wins race 15 of the 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup at Zwartkops.

November

• Polo named the second most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo Vivo is as the second most popular passenger car in South Africa
• New Polo GTI will not be sold by Volkswagen India
• Carwow names Polo as its ‘Little Legend’ award winner
• Polo is the sixth most popular car in the UK
• First Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 delivered to Baumschlager Rallye & Racing
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar win World RX of South Africa.

December

• Sixth-generation Polo-based Volkswagen Virtus saloon crowned ‘Car of the Year’ by Brazilian magazine AutoEsporte
• Polo Join special edition launched in Germany
• Polo is the second most popular car in the UK
• With 45,149 units registered, the Polo is the UK’s sixth best-selling car in 2018
• Polo named the second most popular passenger car in South Africa for December 2018 and South Africa’s second most popular passenger car during 2018 with 24,502 registrations
• Polo Vivo is as the second most popular passenger car in South Africa for December 2018 and South Africa’s most popular passenger car during 2018 with 25,641 registrations
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar win Gymkhana Grid; Petter Solberg second
• Fifth place for Baumschlager Rallye & Racing Polo GTI R5 at Prague Rally Sprint
• HK Racing Polo GTI R5 of Alessandro Re and Fulvio Florean finishes second in class at the Monza Rally Sprint
• Emil Lindholm and Mikael Korhonen to tackle 2019 Finnish Rally Championship in Polo GTI R5
• Johan Kristoffersson to drive Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 at 2019 Rally Sweden from 14-17 February.

We would like to thank our loyal readers and followers who have helped make 2018 another enjoyable year for PoloDriver.com. We hope you’ll enjoy the stories which are coming to the website in 2019.

[Click on the ‘Polo 2017-’ and ‘Polo GTI R5’ tags in the category drop-down list in the right-hand sidebar of the website to see all entries pertaining to the new sixth-generation Polo and Polo GTI R5 motorsport activity respectively. Choose other category or month headers for relevant entries.]