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Teased at the time of the demise of the multi-title-winning Volkswagen Polo R WRC last December, Volkswagen has today announced the first details of its ‘customer’-specification replacement, the Polo GTI R5.

The new 270bhp rally machine will take to the stages in the second half of 2018, and will be available to professional teams as well as ‘aspiring drivers’, and will be eligible for the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) in which its full works factory-backed car won four driver and manufacturer championships.

Based on sixth-generation Polo
The new tarmac and gravel car is based on the sixth-generation Polo (so we suspect it will share the road car’s five-door silhouette) and has been developed by Volkswagen Motorsport in Hannover, who also built the 318bhp Polo R WRC. Volkswagen Motorsport Technical Director – and ‘father’ of the Polo R WRC – François-Xavier ‘FX’ Demaison is responsible for leading the development of the Polo GTI R5.

Dutchman and former race engineer for Sébastien Ogier, Gerard-Jan de Jongh is the Polo GTI R5 senior project engineer and also brings his expertise from the Polo R WRC programme: the Frenchman won the World Rally Championship drivers’ title with Volkswagen four times in a row. Initial test drives of the Polo GTI R5 will place later this year.

‘First-class racing machine’
‘Before the first race outing next year, we will subject the Polo GTI R5 to rigorous testing to make sure it is prepared for the extremely varied track conditions around the world, commented Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Smeets. ‘With the Polo GTI R5 we are hoping to transfer our expertise from four WRC titles to customer racing successfully, and offer a first-class racing machine for countless rally championships from national series to the WRC,’ he continued.

One interesting correlation is the naming of the new car ‘GTI R5’. Already forging a link to the road-going Polo with the 2017 World Rallycross championship Polo GTI RXs run by PSRX and Volkswagen Sweden, the new car will also bear the legendary Volkswagen three letters to draw links to, and promote, the new 197bhp Polo GTI which will be launched at the end of this year.

Turbocharged, four-wheel drive
Like the new hot-shot Polo, the GTI R5 has a direct-injected and turbocharged four-cylinder engine. There is also four-wheel drive – surely now that’s reason enough for a 300bhp Polo R, Volkswagen? – as well as a five-speed sequential racing transmission. A comprehensive safety package features, too.

The R5 category was introduced by the FIA in 2012 and enables importers, privateers, and teams the opportunity to compete in regional as well as international rally championships. The Polo GTI R5 will form an important second pillar for Volkswagen Motorsport’s new and realigned customer-focused portfolio: the Golf GTI TCR touring car has been winning circuit events and titles since its introduction in 2016.

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When the Volkswagen Polo was first introduced in 1975, it was very much a car for Europe. Only really with the third-generation car of 1994 did the Polo start to become a global player, and although US success has always evaded it due to its non-availability there, over the past 20 years or so, it has gained worldwide notoriety.

First made in Germany at Volkswagen’s home Wolfsburg factory, the Polo is now built in Brazil, China, India, Spain as well as South Africa. And so, with the unveiling of the all-new sixth-generation model, it was obvious there may be versions for local markets. The first to arrive is the Novo Polo for Brazil.

Looking almost identical to the all-new Polo for Europe, the South American sixth-generation Polo, the car is based on the same MQB ‘A0’ platform, and is essentially the same car. That means it shares the European model’s much roomier cabin and larger dimensions, as well as the 94mm increase in wheelbase (now 2,564mm), although the Brazilian car strangely gains 4mm in length. This may well be due to the slightly restyled bumpers.

2017 Volkswagen Polo (Brazil)

2017 Volkswagen Polo (Brazil)

2017 Volkswagen Polo (Brazil)

Unique front end
The Novo Polo boasts a unique front end, which differs from the European new Polo. Designed after consultation with customer clinics, there is a larger ‘mouth’. The Novo Polo’s lower bumper grille is bigger than that on its European counterpart, with the numberplate hung from a black bar which forms the top part of the aperture, a feature not seen on the European new Polo.

While in some markets, the new Polo is available with a 20-strong colour palette, the Brazilian Novo Polo has seven shades to choose from: Black Ninja (!), Blue Night, Platinum Gray, Tornado Red, Sirius Silver, Silver Tungsten, and White Crystal.

The interior of the South American Polo is identical to the European car, though, with the new dashpad sweeping across the main part of the dashboard and bleeding into the front door panels. There’s the same horizontal axis instruments, too, and a suite of 6.5 and 8-inch colour touchscreen infotainment systems. The same second-generation 1,440 x 540 pixel Active Info Display system features as an option, too. One notable difference is the addition of a smartphone holder on the top of the dashboard – with an input for USB charging – which will be useful to cars fitted without satellite navigation.

2017 Volkswagen Polo (Brazil)

2017 Volkswagen Polo (Brazil)

2017 Volkswagen Polo (Brazil)

Polo, Polo MSI, Comfortline 200 TSI and Highline 200 TSI
Trim levels largely follow those in Europe and the rest of the world. The range starts with the Polo (1.0) and Polo MSI (1.6), the equivalent of entry-level Trendline models elsewhere. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, electric windows all-round, an on-board computer, and remote central locking. Optional ‘Connect’ and ‘Safety’ packages include luxuries such as a multifunction steering wheel, ‘Composition Media’ infotainment upgrade, 15-inch ‘Viper’ alloy wheels and electronic stability control.

Much of the optional packages on the 1.0 and 1.6 make up the specification of the Comfortline Novo Polos, which also gain electric mirrors, front fog lights, and rear parking sensors. The ‘Tech I’ optional pack includes automatic cruise control, automatic dimming rear view mirror and wipers, automatic headlights with ‘coming home’ function, front parking sensors, gear shift paddles, keyless entry and engine start/stop button, and 16-inch Avalanche’ alloy wheels.

The ‘Tech II’ package meanwhile offers a chilled glovebox, ‘Climatronic’ digital air conditioning, fatigue detector, luggage compartment storage system, a multifunction leather steering wheel, rear-view camera, a tyre pressure monitoring system and gloss black interior accents. Safety upgrades include an automatic post-collision braking system.

As for drivers seeking more enhanced driving experience and a well-equipped vehicle, the Polo lineup offers a range of trim levels that cater to various preferences, much like its counterparts in Europe and around the world. However, for those looking for even more technological enhancements, there’s valuable information about dash cam for car enthusiasts who prioritize safety and security, providing an additional layer of protection on the road. With a variety of trim levels and optional packages, the Polo range ensures that drivers can find the perfect fit for their driving needs and preferences.

The Highline sits at the top of the Novo Polo range, and includes most of the optional kit offered on the Comfortline as standard. Options include synthetic leather seats, while the ‘Tech High’ package includes a ‘shark’ radio aerial, and the ‘Discover Media’ infotainment system. Additionally, the ‘Technology’ package adds the Active Info Display system and 17-inch ‘Razor’ alloy wheels.

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With an all-new platform, the sixth-generation Polo marks the biggest change for the model since the switch from the second to third-generation car twenty-three years ago. The largest and most technologically advanced Polo ever, Rich Gooding finds that the car’s traditional strengths haven’t been forgotten

Over 14 million Polos have been sold over the past 42 years, so the sixth-generation model is big news for Volkswagen. The second biggest-selling VW in the UK, the fifth-generation car has remained popular throughout its eight-year life with a staggering 4.2 million examples sold. The new model has a very tough act to follow, but with a state-of-the-art chassis, a raft of technical changes, and armed with a vibrant and contemporary colour palette, the latest version of VW’s small car has been equipped with some of the best tools for the job.

Longest and largest Polo yet
First things first. The latest SEAT Ibiza may have debuted it, but the sixth-generation Polo finally gets the Volkswagen Group’s Modular Transverse Matrix (‘MQB’) platform in its smallest ‘A0’ size. That means an increase in wheelbase by 94mm (now 2,564mm), while at just over four metres, the newest Polo is the longest and largest yet.

The new Polo has a very tough act to follow, but with a state-of-the-art chassis, a raft of technical changes, and armed with a vibrant and contemporary colour palette, the latest small Volkswagen has been equipped with the best tools for the job

Width is up by 69mm to 1,751mm, while wider 1,525m front and 1,505mm rear tracks give the new car a four-square stance. Arguably the most impressive figure is the increase in luggage space: now 351 litres, an amazing 25 per cent (70 litres) larger than before, and only 29 litres down on big brother Golf. Indeed, much has been made of the fact that the latest Polo is a big as the fourth-generation version of VW’s biggest-selling model.

The MQB platform brings many benefits – not least the technology, which we’ll come on to later – including an improved silhouette and a more dynamic look. In our eyes, there was little wrong with the neat looks of the outgoing car, and although the new model follows the well-trodden ‘evolution not revolution’ path, it does manage to look both refreshed and rejuvenated, as well as more youthful, which reflects Volkswagen’s new focus on style and technology to lure in younger buyers.

Confident stance
We were fans of the broad ‘shoulders’ of the fifth-generation Polo, and on the new car they are even more defined. That’s thanks in part to Volkswagen’s new ‘Tornado’ line which starts on the front wing and extends the whole length of the car, finishing at the new tail lights. In profile, the new Polo’s overall look is similar to what went before, but shorter overhangs give the car a confident and more dynamic stance. It’s up front where perhaps the biggest changes occur.

The bonnet is more curved than on the fifth-generation Polo, and the four creases extend down to the bonnet ‘brow’, a body-coloured ‘extension’ which sits in-between the headlights spanning the front grille. We’re not quite sold on this feature yet, but like the way the chrome strip (red on the GTI) extends into the headlights. When optioned, this becomes the LED headlamp, also doubling as the turn signal – very clever and a high-class, ‘big car’ touch. At the rear, the tail lights are similar to before in overall shape, but sharper graphics ensure they are more distinctive under the cover of darkness.

2017 Volkswagen Polo

2017 Volkswagen Polo

2017 Volkswagen Polo

Second generation of Active Info Display
Thanks to the MQB underpinnings, there are more ‘big car’ features, too. A whole suite of safety systems, including Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detection and Front Assist monitoring systems. The new Polo also debuts the second generation of Volkswagen’s ‘Active Info Display’ colour digital instrument panel.

The 10.5-inch high-resolution 133dpi/1,280 x 480-pixel display really does look stunning and adds a luxurious touch to what is – despite the well-documented dimension increases – let’s not forget, still a small car. It can be configured in various views to prioritise driving information, navigation or assistance functions. Infotainment system data can also be displayed, and, although it’s not standard kit on lower-rung cars, it’s only a £325-£475 option on selected models. It’s a proper ‘big car’ option and a small car segment first.

Also impressive is the range of full-colour infotainment touchscreen systems which are arranged in the same horizontal sight line as the instrument panel. This sounds a very minor change, however, by grouping all the displays in a horizontal axis rather than a vertical one, it means the driver needs less time to view the required information.

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Continuing its success story, the Volkswagen Polo remains one of the most popular cars in the UK according to the latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). During September 2017, it was in sixth place in the UK top 10, with a tally of 8,189 Polos registered. A total of 40,455 examples of Volkswagen’s small car have found new homes in 2017 to date. It’s even more impressive given that these figures refer to the outgoing fifth-generation model, the sixth-generation car has just gone on sale with first deliveries expected in January 2018.

With 426,170 units registered, the September 2017 UK new passenger car market dropped by 9.3 per cent, the sixth consecutive monthly decline. It’s also the first time the traditional new registration month of September has fallen in six years. The UK’s top 10 most popular cars during September 2017 and the year-to-date (sales figure and position in brackets) were as follows:

1 Nissan Qashqai: 13,499 (53,197, 4th)

2 Volkswagen Golf: 12,800 (57,018, 3rd)
3 Ford Fiesta: 10,826 (75,814, 1st)
4 Ford Focus: 10,235 (57,526, 2nd)
5 Vauxhall Corsa: 8,562 (46,600, 5th)
6 Volkswagen Polo: 8,189 (40,455, 7th)
7 Mini: 8,137 (36,784, 9th)
8 Nissan Juke: 7,757
9 Mercedes-Benz A Class: 7,672 (34,547, 10th)
10 Mercedes-Benz C Class: 7,584 (39,055, 8th)

(The 2017 year-to-date top 10 most popular car absent from September 2017’s registration figures was the sixth-placed Vauxhall Astra with 41,250 registrations recorded.)

Elsewhere last month, the Polo held onto its second most popular car status in South Africa with 2,324 examples registered. Once again the entry-level Polo Vivo claimed the number one spot, with 2,942 cars finding new homes. Based on the revised fourth-generation Polo sold in Europe from 2005 to 2009, the Vivo has dominated the South African new car sales charts since it was introduced in 2009, when it took over from the fondly remembered Citi Golf as Volkswagen South Africa’s lowest-priced model.

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Volkswagen UK has opened the order books for its all-new Polo today, and has also released the first round of pricing. The sixth-generation car will be available from £13,855 OTR, and the range will expand to feature a seven-model range, including the 197bhp GTI and an enhanced-specification GTI+ trim.

We’ve covered the main technological developments of the new car here, but with more passenger space thanks to being based on VW’s ‘MQB’ platform, a new range of engines, a sharper design, as well as myriad safety and enhanced infotainment systems, the latest Polo is a thoroughly modern update of Volkswagen’s perennially popular small car. How popular? Over 1.4 million Polos have found UK homes since the first-generation Polo arrived in 1975.

Segment firsts
Always a standard-setter, segment firsts this time around include the debut of digital instruments in a compact car, as well as a new level of assistance systems in the small car sector. These include Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detection, City Emergency Braking, and Pedestrian Monitoring technologies. In a move which does away with the 6.5-inch units available in other markets, there are also eight-inch glass-encased colour infotainment systems standard across the whole of the UK new Polo range.

The £13,855 1.0-litre S with 64bhp kicks off the UK range, the trims running S, SE, Beats, SEL, R-Line, GTI, and GTI+. The only prices released so far are those pertaining to the 1.0-litre MPI and TSI models, though we do know that the 1.5-litre ‘EVO’ engine with 147bhp and active cylinder management – which shuts down two cylinders under light load for increased efficiency and reduced emissions – will only be available in higher-specification R-Line trim. The lowest-priced diesel will be the SE 1.6-litre TDI with 79bhp, and both it and the more powerful 94bhp version have SCR catalytic converters.

Manual or DSG
The range-topping GTI and GTI+ models are powered by a 2.0-litre TSI engine producing 197bhp, which comes from the ‘EA888’ engine series, higher output version of which also make an appearance in the Golf GTI, Golf GTI Performance and Golf R. All new Polos have a stop-start system and regenerative braking, while cars with an output of 94bhp upwards can be ordered with a six or seven-speed DSG gearbox as an option to the five or six-speed manual gearbox which comes as standard.

Standard on both the GTI and GTI+, but a £115 option on other models, the Driving Profile Selection allows the choice of one of four programmes – ‘Eco’, ‘Sport’, ‘Normal’ and ‘Individual’ – which tailor the Polo’s character to the driver’s precise need and mood. In the ‘Eco’ driving mode, engine control, air conditioning and other auxiliary systems are regulated for optimal fuel efficiency. In DSG-equipped Polos, a coasting function can be used in the ‘Eco’ mode, while in ‘Sport’ mode, engine response and shift points of the DSG are configured to be more dynamic and, where fitted, tuning of the adjustable dampers is modified.

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