PoloDriver

Volkswagen unveiled the latest chapter in the Polo’s story back in March at the Geneva motor show, and now the Polo BlueGT has had its first driving presentation in Amsterdam. Featuring active cylinder management (ACT), it marries the concepts of ‘dynamics’ and ‘fuel efficiency’ together, shutting down two cylinders of the four-cylinder TSI petrol engine at lower speeds – the first such system in a production Volkswagen. Developing 138bhp (103kW) from its 1.4 litres, the Polo BlueGT accelerates to 62mph in 7.9 seconds (1.4 seconds slower than the 178bhp Polo GTI), and when fitted with the optional seven-speed DSG transmission, records a fuel consumption figure of over 60mpg. Emissions are 108g/km, top speed is 130mph.

Active cylinder management turns off cylinders two and three, kicking in between torque outputs of 18-74lb ft and between 1250 and 4000rpm, and the added benefits of direct injection, BlueMotion Technologies (Stop/Start system, battery regeneration, aerodynamic components) all play their part in making the Polo BlueGT close the gap between the turbocharged 1.2-litre model with 104bhp and the twincharged 178bhp Polo GTI. Volkswagen states that when ACT is active, fuel consumption in the EU driving cycle is reduced by about 0.4 l/100km. Distinctive features of the fun yet parsimonious Polo BlueGT include 17-inch ‘Montani’ alloy wheels, a Silk Blue Metallic paint finish (other colours are available, too), special aero kit, and a 15mm lower ride height. On sale in Germany in the autumn, the Polo BlueGT will cost from €19.650. No confirmation has yet been given for UK market availability.

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Now here’s an extreme take on the latest-generation Polo, propelling the model from its humdrum roots to the echelons of custom off-road vehicles. Crafted by DC Designs of India, this hot-rodded Polo mixes the looks of Volkswagen’s own Polo R WRC car and ratchets them up to 11, with a blend of extreme modification. As well as extended wheel arches, there is also a much slimmer front grille (framing squinty headlights), beefed-up side skirts, and a rear lighting strip (which we quite like) reminiscent of those fitted to early ‘90s Audis, such as the RS2 estate.

With every panel bar the roof looking altered to some degree, the Polo Midnight (yes, the customary silly name is present) is without doubt one of the most dramatically-changed Polo we’ve ever seen. DC Design hasn’t released any pictures of the Polo Midnight’s interior, so we’re guessing that – for now – it’s standard Polo fayre. The engine certainly is, with the 1.6-litre, 104bhp TDI unit being left untouched. An on-sale date is unlikely, but as some of DC Design’s creations have sold to ‘automotive connoisseurs’, if this wild Polo appeals to you, then who knows?

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Once again it was a grueling two days of motorsport for the BP Volkswagen rally team, as the Polo S2000s tackled the Toyota Dealer Rally Gauteng on 23-24 June. Punctures affected almost every competitor, and both the cars of Enzo Kuun/Guy Hodgson and Hergen Fekken/Pierre Arries were forced to pull over six kilometres into the first stage and change tyres. The soft nature of the stage environment also meant that the swaps themselves were made all the more difficult, and both pairings lost valuable time. Hans Weijs Jnr/Björn Degandt managed to avoid the flat tyre, but were held up by thick dust which followed in the wake of the slower competitors. It cost the duo dearly – two minutes were lost, time they only managed to claw back in stage three.

The pair were to suffer another bout of bad luck, though, when in stage nine, a puncture finally caught up with them, leaving them no choice but to enther the final stage with an insurmountable time deficit. It wasn’t all bad news, though, as they finished the event in a respectable fifth place. Kuun/Hodgson suffered two further punctures on the penultimate stage, leaving them with no tyres on which to complete the open section on the final stage, forcing a reluctant retirement. Fekken/Arries finished 14th overall, after deciding to compete in the Super Rally on the Saturday, rising from a 26th place starting position.

‘It has been a disappointing weekend after weeks of hard work by the entire BP Volkswagen rally team,’ said head of Volkswagen Motorsport, Mike Rowe. ‘Factors completely out of the team’s control, including roads that were unfit for rally cars, made the weekend what is was, but we used the opportunity to make massive strides with the new BP Volkswagen Polo S2000. That is a significant reward, even if it does not reflect in the standings after this event. We remain optimistic and confident that the BP Volkswagen Polo S2000 will deliver on the results we all know it is capable of.’

Lower down the orders, Gugu Zulu/Carl Peskin finished 8th overall in their Polo Vivo S2000, taking a S2000 Challenge victory in the process, thanks to a finishing time more than 20 minutes ahead of their class rivals. Megan Verlaque/Hilton Auffray posted the fastest time in the S1600 class, to lead their rivals by 28 seconds. Sadly, they had to retire close to the end of the second stage. The BP Volkswagen rally team is now focusing its attention on its home event, the Volkswagen Rally, taking place on the Eastern Cape on 13-14 July.

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Round five of the Engen Volkswagen Cup took place as part of the TopGear Festival in Durban, South Africa, on 16-17 June, with Kelvin van der Linde and Kyle Barnes snatched the victories of the two-day meeting. A grueling event, an absence of run-off areas and a track ringed with concrete barriers took its toll on the other competitors. Early casualties Adrian Wood and Mark Silverwood each made an unscheduled – and unwanted – excursion into a wall during a practice session. Wood was able to rebuild his car but Silverwood did not have the option to, and was nursing an injury (as he finished learn first aid skills recently) after his incident.

Wood also snapped a shock absorber – the only part of the car affected by the incident with the wall that wasn’t replaced. This saw him with even more work to do in order to compete in the second race – he couldn’t compete in the first race on the Saturday. Up at the front of the field Kelvin van der Linde was only interested in winning, so he could extend his championship lead. Kyle Barnes started from second and, while he kept his eyes open for a potential gap so he could overtake Van der Linde, he held his second place position throughout the race to guarantee a valuable haul of points, rather than risk both his race car and his points. Defending champion Devin Robertson was definitely among those opting for the cautious approach in the first race by letting both Mathew Hodges and Kosie Weyers challenge for position, the trio finishing third, fourth and fifth respectively.

In race two on Sunday, a grid of 22 enthusiastic Engen Volkswagen Cup racers were ready to put their Polo Vivo racers through their paces. The field tackled the 10-lap race under conditions that were not conducive to bold overtaking. This did not stop Robertson, though, from making a brave move to pass Weyers at the end of the main straight, diving through the turn to snatch third place. This was not a position Weyers was going to be able to take back and he finished behind Robertson who, in turn, crossed the finish line behind race winner Barnes and Van der Linde.

For invitational driver, journalist Sudhir Matai from Car magazine, the Durban event was a highlight for this season. Matai raced in front of his home crowd – and his family – recording a second-place finish in the Masters (rookie) class in race two into the deal. Van der Linde and Barnes swapped race wins in Durban – and this will help further extend van der Linde’s impressive championship lead. The Engen Volkswagen Cup field head to Phakisa Freeway in Welkom for the next round of the championship – and back to the traditional circuits that they are used to competing on.

The 2012 Engen Volkswagen Cup series is similar to the other racing Volkswagen Polo Cup single-series championships run in China, Europe and India. Just as in those official Volkswagen-moderated series, the South African one-make format highlights new driving talent. In the Engen series, as many as 35 drivers regularly take to the track in technically-identical, 2.0-litre 234bhp Volkswagen Polo Vivo racers.

RACE RESULTS
Race 1
1 Kelvin van der Linde (31: Ferodo Racing)
2 Kyle Barnes (4: Gold Liberations/Conti Partner)
3 Mathew Hodges (18: ITR Africa)

Race 2
1 Kyle Barnes (4: Gold Liberations/Conti Partner)
2 Kelvin van der Linde (31: Ferodo Racing)
3 Devin Robertson (1: Big Boss Auto/Sparco)

Overall standings
1 Kelvin van der Linde (31: Ferodo Racing)
2 Kyle Barnes (4: Gold Liberations/Conti Partner)
3 Devin Robertson (1: Big Boss Auto/Sparco)

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The Polo is still popular in the UK, according to the latest sales figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) for May 2012. Holding firm as the seventh best-selling car in the UK, Volkswagen’s evergreen small car also retained its sixth place in the year-to-date sales chart. In a change of fortunes, the Vauxhall Corsa finally usurped the Ford Fiesta as not only the top-selling supermini, but also the best-selling new car on the UK market. UK new passenger car registrations rose 7.9 per cent in May to 162,288 units, the largest percentage rise for 23 months.

‘May’s 7.9 per cent increase in new car registrations is good news for the motor industry and the UK economy, particularly the steady growth in demand from private buyers,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. ‘There is no doubt that vehicle manufacturers and their dealer networks are working hard to deliver value for money to motorists and the consistent climb in new car registrations during the first five months of the year suggests that confidence is returning.’ The top 10 UK best-selling cars in May 2012 and for the year overall (sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Vauxhall Corsa: 8143 (38,347, 2nd)
2 Ford Fiesta: 8337(50,507, 1st)
3 Ford Focus: 6983 (36,916, 3rd)
4 Volkswagen Golf: 5867 (28,261, 4th)
5 Vauxhall Astra: 5433 (25,011, 5th)
6 BMW 3 Series: 3520 (17,205, 8th)
7 Volkswagen Polo: 3228 (18,971, 6th)
8 Nissan Qashqai: 3179 (18,660, 7th)
9 Vauxhall Insignia: 2949 (15,031, 9th)
10 Fiat 500: 2823

(The 2012 year-to-date top 10 best-selling car absent from May’s sales figures is the Mercedes C-Class selling 14,434 units in tenth place.)

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