PoloDriver

At last! Volkswagen UK has today made hands-free Bluetooth connection kits standard on selected Polo models, which should make a lot of prospective Polo owners very happy. It’s something which has been lacking from the standard specification for quite some time, if comments on internet forums are anything to go by. Standard on models above the basic ‘S’ specification, the Touch Phone Kit was previously a £245 option, and consists of a 2.8-inch colour touchscreen which displays a phone book, call lists, reception status and more, depending on which make and model of mobile device is connected.

The kit also offers voice control of answering and dialling functions and can ‘read’ text messages aloud as well as any emails which may be received. The Touch Phone Kit is just one of the technological additions which has been added to UK-bound Polos in recent months. All models now come with DAB digital radio as standard, while an MDI multi-device interface connection for iPods and MP3 players has also been fitted to models of Match specification and above. Bluetooth is also now standard on all High Up city cars; all Golf, Golf Estate, Golf Plus, Jetta, Touran, Tiguan and Sharan models above S specification; and all Golf Cabriolet, Scirocco, Eos, Passat, Passat Estate, CC, Touareg and Phaeton cars.

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In a repeat of recent months, the Polo Vivo maintained its grip on the South Africa new passenger car market, once again taking the best-seller top spot for May 2012, selling 2789 units. And, once again, the fifth-generation Polo was right behind, with 2343 examples finding new homes. A total of 4909 Polo 6Rs were also exported, further boosting the production tallies. Volkswagen Group South Africa was the leader in the passenger car market overall, too, with total sales of 8260 units and a market share of 23.7% in May. The Polo’s closely-related Audi A1 cousin sold 101 units last month in the South African market, having had its official launch at the same time.

‘Volkswagen Group South Africa maintained its dominance in the passenger car market for the fifth consecutive month in 2012. Polo Vivo was the best-selling brand in the country with 2789 units. At the same time, Polo was the second best-selling Brand in the passenger car market with 2343 units. Both models are still market leaders in the A0 segment, in spite of the new models being introduced in the most competitive segment in South Africa,’ explained Mike Glendinning, Director, Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Group South Africa. In May 2012, a total of 34,820 new passenger cars were sold in South Africa, an increase of 18% when compared to April 2012 and a growth of 20.8% against the same period in 2011.

The Polo Vivo was launched in March 2010 as an entry-level model for the South African market, replacing the Series 1 Golf-based CitiGolf, and is available as a three or five-door hatchback and four-door booted saloon with 74bhp/84bhp 1.4-litre and 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engines. Costing from R106,100 for the base-model 1.4 hatchback to R153,200 for the top 1.6 Trendline Sedan, the 2012 Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo (9N3), built from 2005 to 2009. The fifth-generation Polo (6R) is available as both a three and five-door hatchback, in addition to the traditionally-styled four-door Polo Sedan.

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The statements haven’t been confirmed, but Noticias Automotivas reports that Volkswagen is to launch a new BlueMotion version of the Polo, powered by the fifth-generation model’s existing 1.2-litre TSI petrol engine, developing 104bhp. The current Polo BlueMotion can only be ordered with a 74bhp 1.2-litre diesel engine, and reports state that the petrol model will incorporate the same economically-minded changes as the TDI car, with low rolling-resistance tyres, regenerative braking and Start/Stop all expected to make an appearance. A reprogrammed ECU and longer gear ratios will also aid fuel economy. CO2 is expected to be 115g/km, while price is expected to be around €400 above the more mainstream Polo 6R models on which the new BlueMotion will be based. Whether this points to the new car being a BlueMotion Technology version of current trim levels or a completely new standalone BlueMotion version is unclear.

[Source: Noticias Autmotivas]

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On the day that one of the most important new models in the history of Škoda goes on sale, we bring you our first impressions of the company’s new city car, the Citigo. The sixth model in the Czech company’s award-winning line-up, the Citigo combines all the modern touches expected of a 21st century car, allied to the traditional Škoda strength of value for money. Kicking off at £7630 for the three-door 1.0-litre 59bhp S, the range extends through SE trim, topping off with Elegance models. A wide range of desirable factory and dealer-fit options is available, as are five-door models, costing £350 over the equivalent three-door cars. One technological highlight of the Citigo is the Personal Infotainment Device (PID), a dashboard-mounted touch-screen information unit.

A sister car to the Volkswagen Up and SEAT Mii, the Citigo is most definitely the more ‘honest’ car, when compared to the pricier VW. All three are (for now) only available with three-cylinder, 1.0-litre engines in 59 and 74bhp tune. We tested the range-topping Elegance car, in 74bhp, GreenTech guise, available at £9860. Sounding gruff at first, the characterful three-pot is ideally suited to the town tiddler, thrumming away under high loads, but always smooth, making for easy and fun progress. The 13.2-second time to 62mph is more than acceptable for a car of this type, while the 70lb ft of torque the higher-powered engine produces is shared with its 59bhp sister. And while it does feel slightly more relaxed, there’s not a lot in it. Claimed combined mpg is 67.3, while Škoda quotes a magic 100g/km-busting emissions figure of 98g/km. Maximum speed is 107mph.

Our drive was limited to a couple of laps of the Millbrook Proving Ground ‘Hill Route’, and although not ideal for steep gradients and tight corners, the tiny Citigo coped admirably, with agile, but not sparkling handling. The ride is excellent (thank the 2.5m wheelbase for that), while you can quite believe Škoda’s claim that the Citigo (and therefore its Volkswagen Group cousins) sets new city car class standards for comfort, environmental considerations and technical sophistication. ‘GreenTech’ terminology means fuel-saving technologies including stop/start and brake energy recuperation, and lowered suspension. Elegance trim cars come with 14-inch ‘Apus’ alloy wheels, detachable PID, heated front seats, leather steering wheel, and front fog lights. Our car featured an entertainment pack, safety pack, and convenience pack, bringing the total price to £10,450.

While that’s Polo (or Fabia) money, the Citigo makes you smile, isn’t actually too much smaller, and is a much better proposition than the old Volkswagen Group city cars, the Lupo and Arosa. Yes, if we’re picky, the interior isn’t as nice as its German Up cousin, with lots of black plastic on show in our test car, but what there is, is well-built, the chunky three-spoke steering wheel feeling particularly nice. The most recent VW Group city car, the Volkswagen Fox was, although charming in a basic sort of a way at times, almost bland to the point of boring. You certainly can’t level that criticism at the Citigo. And, with ‘on the road’ prices around £500 less than the equivalent Volkswagen Up, its no-nonsense, not-quite ‘back to basics’ nature actually makes a lot of sense. Affordable, characterful, fun and neatly-styled, the Citigo should be a popular weapon in Škoda’s sales cannon.

ŠKODA CITIGO ELEGANCE GREENTECH
Price: £9860
Engine: 1.0-litre three cylinder
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Power/torque: 74bhp/70lb ft @ 3000rpm
0-62mph: 13.2 seconds
Top speed: 107mph
Economy/CO2: 67.3mpg/98g/km
Equipment: 14” ‘Apus’ alloy wheels, PID, heated front seats, front fog lights
On sale: Now
Find out more: www.skoda.co.uk/gbr/newcars/citigo

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A three-race round of the Engen Volkswagen Cup took place at Zwartkops Raceway, Pretoria, South Africa on 26 May, and it was action all the way. A field of 34 Polo Vivo racers ran in the two six-lap sprint races and one longer clash, with Jordan Pepper leading race number one, until Kyle Barnes and Mark Silverwood overturned his lead and sprinted to the finish. Race two saw an inverted grid, so sixth-place finisher Kelvin van der Linde claimed pole position, with Kosie Weyers in second place, and Devin Robertson in third. On the off, Weyers took the lead, and dominated the field, pushing van der Linde into second place. Following a safety car lap, the top three positions stayed as they were before, with Weyrers taking the chequered flag, followed by van der Linde and Robertson.

The final race of the day saw five of the 34 cars retire after 12 laps, after many thrills and spills. With bumpers caught under cars and dragging along the track, and bonnets hitting windscreens, the circuit was awash with casualties. Despite it all, van der Linde romped home in first place, followed by Silverwood and Weyers. Rookie driver Sudhir Matai from Car magazine tangled with Dino Manelis in the first corner, after Matai was shunted from behind. But the incident wasn’t enough to stop either of them from crossing the finish line, although it did mean that their finishing positions weren’t as good as they could have been. The next round of the 2012 Engen Volkswagen Cup will be the Durban street race on 23 June, which forms part of the 2012 Top Gear Festival.

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 234bhp VW Polo Vivo racers.

RACE RESULTS
Race 1
1 Kyle Barnes (4: Gold Liberations/Conti Partner)
2 Mark Silverwood (38: Q8 Oils)
3 Jordan Pepper (46: PG Glass/Blue Label Telecoms)

Race 2
1 Kosie Weyers (2: Engen Xtreme/Tsogo Sun)
2 Kelvin van der Linde (31: Ferodo Racing)
3 Devin Robertson (1: Big Boss Auto/Sparco)

Race 3
1 Kelvin van der Linde (31: Ferodo Racing)
2 Mark Silverwood (38: Q8 Oils)
3 Kosie Weyers (2: Engen Xtreme/Tsogo Sun)

Overall standings
1 Mark Silverwood (38: Q8 Oils)
2 Kosie Weyers (2: Engen Xtreme/Tsogo Sun)
3 Kelvin van der Linde (31: Ferodo Racing)

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