PoloDriver

‘From super frugal to extra spicy! VW told us back in March (Issue 1107) that there would be no performance flagship Polo – but sources have now confirmed plans to produce a hardcore R.’

Source: Auto Express, 26 January 2010 (Issue 1150)

The latest issue of the UK’s Auto Express magazine reports a story that we thought was dead. The news weekly reports that Volkswagen bosses have now confirmed that the Polo performance flagship, the R, will follow the Golf and Scirocco versions into showrooms ‘early next year’. The ‘confirmation’ comes at a good time; the internet is still awash with rumours that the Polo R is on the cards, and following the good reviews and encouraging customer demand for the latest 178bhp Polo GTI, a 220bhp version of the Polo could sell. We got the denials straight from the horse’s mouth last May when Volkswagen UK rebuffed any possible Polo R development.

The current Auto Express story states little that we didn’t already know. The projected Polo R will more than likely develop 220bhp from a new 1.6-litre turbocharged TFSI engine, dispatching the 0-62mph dash in ‘around six seconds’, and have a price sticker of around £21,000, only £2500 more than the £18,790 GTI. Despite Audi developing a quattro four-wheel drive version of the Polo’s platform for the S1, any Polo R would be front-wheel drive only. Is there any truth in the latest rumours? We’re a little sceptical, but all will be revealed in due course. The reported possible demise of the Polo GTI’s 1.4-litre supercharged and turbocharged TSI engine could be a pointer, though.

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The fifth-generation Polo is showcased in the latest issue of Volkswagen interactive magazine, Das. The third issue of VW’s innovative online and digital platform publication, Das features a digital section on the latest Polo, and includes videos about its design and marketing, an animated ‘Polo Time Machine’ showing the five different generations since 1975, as well as clips showing the recent ‘Last Tango in Compton’ UK TV commercial and the Polo GTI drifting in the snow. There’s also a car configurator and links to Volkswagen’s Facebook ‘Fast Lane’ digital media advertising campaign. All slickly done (if a little slow at times), the magazine is primarily aimed at Apple iPad users, but a web-based version is also available here. As well as the Polo section, there are features on Race Touareg pilot Carlos Sainz, Volkswagen quality testing, Volkswagen news, Argentina in 3D, and the latest BlueMotion initiatives.

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We didn’t see this one coming. The latest issue of Volkswagen modders’ title Performance VW, has a feature on the very pretty Series 2 Polo saloon, owned by ‘hardcore Dubber’ Brett Keane. The 1988 Porsche Arctic Silver car features early Polo saloon square headlights, shortened tail lamps (a very subtle and neat visual trick), and ‘old-skool’ 7×13” ATS Classic alloy rims. Power is provided by a 1272cc-based HH Sorg Motorsport Formula Konig engine, fed by Weber twin-40 carbs. It really is a stunning machine, and so simple, too, providing instant inspiration. To read the full story, buy a copy of the February 2011 issue of Performance VW magazine, available until 10 February.

[Image: Performance VW]

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The Volkswagen Polo has been announced as Wheels magazine’s Car of the Year 2010, beating 21 other finalists from a total of 16 manufacturers. The Australian publication’s shortlisted top three included the Nissan Micra and Renault Megane alongside the Polo. A back-to-back win for Volkswagen, the Polo’s larger Golf sibling took the Wheels prize in 2009. Bill Thomas, Wheels editor, commented: ‘Volkswagen has elevated Polo’s quality, safety, performance, efficiency, refinement, practicality and value to the top of its class. Polo feels like a bigger car, and is also a great all-rounder. Spacious, safe, efficient, easy to drive and easy to live with, the Polo is a very worthy winner of Australia’s most coveted motoring prize.’ The Wheels judging panel thought that the Polo range represented outstanding value for the motorist, starting at $16,690 for the base-model Trendline, through to the performance-orientated GTI at $27,790.

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2011 unbelievably marks 30 years since the Series 2 Polo took over from the successful Series 1 model. Why unbelievable? We can remember when the second-generation hatchbacks, coupés and saloons were a common sight on UK roads. The Series 2 Polo was even Volkswagen UK’s best-selling model for a time during the 1980s. So, to celebrate, we’ve started a Series 2 Polo official publicity image gallery as part of our ‘Heritage’ section of the site. We’ll be adding shots throughout the year and may even have a model focus or two on the cars themselves. Head over here to see the first four images, most probably taken from the car’s European press launch in Sardinia.

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