Selected versions of the new sixth-generation Volkswagen Polo will be fitted with Kuhmo tyres, it has been announced today. Designed for optimum fuel economy, the South Korean company’s Ecowing ES01 KH27 is now standard on Polos leaving the production lines in the Spanish Pamplona factory and wearing tyres of 185/65 R15 88H size.
Kuhmo was already an approved tyre supplier to the fifth-generation Polo, too, but the KH27 has been developed to ‘meet the needs of compact and medium sized vehicles and is characterised by its notably low-rolling resistance’, which results in lower fuel consumption and rate of wear, as acknowledged by ADAC tyre tests (ADAC Motorwelt 03/2016).
To find out more about Kuhmo’s full range of both road and track tyres, visit www.kuhmotyre.co.uk.
Even with cars now only available from dealer stock, the Volkswagen Polo remains one of the most popular cars in the UK, according to figures for July 2017 released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). In fact, the Polo moved up three places to number five in July from its eighth place in June: 3,227 Polos were registered last month, taking the 2017 year-to-date tally to 30,432 units.
The Ford Fiesta wasn’t reinstated as the king of the charts, though, with 3,372 small Fords finding homes last month. In fourth place, it was only one place above the Polo, the closest the two have been for some time. The Volkswagen Golf was at number two, with another Ford, the Focus, topping the list. So far in 2017, 62,752 Ford Fiestas have been registered in this country, so it remains the UK’s most popular model in the year so far.
At 161,997 units, the UK new passenger car market as a whole was down by 9.3 per cent, the fourth consecutive monthly fall. The SMMT states that demand was down across all sectors – business, fleet and private sales – but that the year-to-date overall performance is still at a ‘high level’, thanks to a strong first quarter: over 1.5 million new cars have been registered in the UK since January.
The UK’s top 10 most popular cars during July 2017 and the year-to-date (sales figure and position in brackets) were as follows:
1 Ford Focus: 5,521 (45,296, 2nd)
2 Volkswagen Golf: 5,236 (41,939, 3rd)
3 Nissan Qashqai: 4,640 (38,214, 4th)
4 Ford Fiesta: 3,372 (62,752, 1st) 5 Volkswagen Polo: 3,227 (30,432, 7th)
6 Kia Sportage: 3,155
7 Mercedes-Benz C Class: 2,828 (30,214, 8th)
8 Vauxhall Corsa: 2,819 (36,379, 5th)
9 Mercedes-Benz A Class: 2,809 (25,753, 10th)
10 Audi A3: 2,607
(The 2017 year-to-date top 10 most popular cars absent from July 2017’s registration figures were the sixth-placed Vauxhall Astra and the ninth-placed Mini, with 34,875 and 27,626 registrations recorded respectively.)
Elsewhere, the Polo retained its second best-selling car in South Africa status in South Africa with 1,623 examples finding new homes. Once again the entry-level Polo Vivo claimed the number one spot, with 2,675 cars registered. Based on the facelifted fourth-generation Polo sold in Europe from 2005-2009, the Vivo has topped 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 entry-level model.
As the fifth-generation Polo gets ready to become another past generation of VW’s small car, Volkswagen Group Australia has announced two new ‘purpose-built’ models. The Polo Urban and Urban+ replace the outgoing Polo Trendline and Comfortline respectively, and come with extra kit for the same price when compared to the cars they oust.
Enhanced specification
The Polo Urban is now the entry-level model to the Australian small Volkswagen range, and adds $1,500-worth of additional features. Its enhanced specification includes 15-inch ‘Tosca’ alloy wheels; illuminated vanity mirrors; a leather-trimmed steering wheel, handbrake lever and gear knob; a multi-function display; and ‘Urban’ badging.
Move up to a Polo Urban+ however, and the added value increases to around $3,000 in extra equipment. Among the additional goodies are 16-inch ‘Portago’ alloy wheels; automatic headlights; dark-tinted windows; driver fatigue detection system; front fog lights; rain-sensing wipers; and, yes, you’ve guessed it, ‘Urban+’ badging.
Inside, there is an auto-dimming rear view mirror; climate control; heated ‘comfort’ sports seats with alcantara trim; front footwell lighting; as well as chrome and silver decorative trim. Metallic paint is a $500 supplement, and buyers can also now choose the Flash Red colour, previously only available on the Polo GTI.
2017 Volkswagen Polo Urban (Australia)
2017 Volkswagen Polo Urban (Australia)
2017 Volkswagen Polo Urban (Australia)
2017 Volkswagen Polo Urban (Australia)
2017 Volkswagen Polo Urban (Australia)
Driver Assistance Package
Additional upgrades include a new $1,800 Driver Assistance Package for the Urban+ which includes adaptive cruise control; front assist and emergency braking systems; a ‘Discover Media’ navigation system, as well as front and rear parking sensors. Both the new models are powered by a 1.2-litre TSI petrol engine, tuned for 89bhp in the Urban, and 108bhp in the Urban+.
Both the Polo Urban and Urban+ will be available until the arrival of the all-new sixth-generation model, which had its world premiere in Berlin in June, and is due to arrive in Australian showrooms in March 2018.
2017 VOLKSWAGEN POLO URBAN AND URBAN+ DRIVEAWAY PRICES
Polo Urban 1.2 TSI
$16,990 (manual)
$19,490 (DSG)
Polo Urban+ 1.2 TSI
$19,990 (manual)
$22,490 (DSG)
The latest Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT) new car registration figures are out, and we’re pleased to report that even after the new sixth-generation Volkswagen Polo was unveiled in Berlin last month, the current car has remained in the UK’s most popular car chart for June 2017. In eighth place, 4,705 Polos were registered last month, with a total of 27,205 finding homes for the year so far.
For the first time in eight years, the Ford Fiesta didn’t top the SMMT monthly charts, the number one most popular car in the UK was the Volkswagen Golf, itself revamped earlier this year. The evergreen small Ford still tops the year-to-date chart with 59,380 models registered, and sits below the popular VW in June’s registration rundown.
As for the UK market as a whole, registrations were down by 4.8 per cent, with 243,454 units leaving forecourts across the country. That marks the third consecutive month of decline, but the market is still reported to be in-line with 2017 forecasts, the SMMT has said. The UK’s top 10 most popular passenger cars during June 2017 and the year-to-date (sales figure and position in brackets) were as follows:
(The 2017 year-to-date top 10 most popular car absent from June 2017’s registration figures was the tenth-placed Mercedes-Benz A Class with 22,944 cars registered.)
Elsewhere, the In other sales-related news, the Polo reclaimed its second best-selling car in South Africa status in South Africa with 1,897 examples finding new homes. The car that topped it? As ever, the ‘budget’ Polo Vivo claimed the number one spot, selling 2,516 cars. Based on the facelifted fourth-generation Polo sold in Europe from 2005-2009, the Vivo has topped 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 entry-level model.
Johan Kristoffersson claimed his third win of the season for PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden at round seven of the FIA World Rallycross in Höljes, the World RX of Sweden. In front of a home crowd of more than 45,000 passionate fans, there’s no doubt the young Swede and his 570bhp Polo GTI Supercar dominated 1-2 July proceedings.
With triumphs in the qualifying and semi-final already under his tyres, Kristoffersson’s victory never looked in danger during the final. The impressive home win also means that the 28 year-old has extended his lead in the drivers’ standings. Now with 181 points, Kristoffersson leads team-mate Petter Solberg by 31 points. Solberg failed to qualify for the Swedish final, but PSRX Volkswagen continues to lead the team competition with 331 points, 85 points ahead of Team Peugeot-Hansen.
‘The car was pefect’
Kristoffersson was delighted by his win: ‘Saturday was a very good day. We were out in front at the end of the day, but I was fully focussed on the final day. After all, that is what it is all about. As always, the car was perfect. I have to thank everyone in the team. Not only those here today, but everyone who works so hard for us at Volkswagen Motorsport.
‘This is the one I wanted,’ he continued. ‘This one means so much in front of my home crowd and, of course, it’s the home race for the whole team. I am so happy for everybody. When I knew this deal was happening at the start of the season I had a real dream that we could make something special, but could we make magic? I didn’t know. But now I think it looks like we are starting to do that!’
2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Sweden: Kristoffersson
2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Sweden: Kristoffersson
2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Sweden: Kristoffersson
2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Sweden: Kristoffersson
2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Sweden: Kristoffersson
Perfect tactical approach
Away from Kristoffersson’s victory, the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden team was dominant in Höljes, thanks to a perfect tactical approach which put the team in pole position after the qualifying heats. Going into day two, Kristoffersson was quickest in Q2, and second fastest in Q1, resulting in a top-of-the-table result for Sunday morning’s action. It was the same story then, though, with the Swede leading from the front to take the times in Q3, too.
Solberg meanwhile set the pace in Q4 and also the fastest race time of the whole weekend, and the Norwegian was also quickest in the free practice session. Solberg’s result meant he finished second in the Intermediate Classification and started on pole position for semi-final two on day two, pole position for semi-final one being secured by Kristoffersson.
‘It was really important to get one-two coming out of the heats – that would make sure Johan and I went into separate semi- finals,’ explained Solberg. ‘I didn’t have the best time in the heats yesterday, but it came good this morning and I won Q4 to get us in the position we wanted. It was all looking perfect until I stalled on the line in my semi-final. I couldn’t believe it. All that hard work and it had gone.’
2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Sweden: Solberg
2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Sweden: Solberg
2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Sweden: Solberg
2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Sweden: Solberg and Kristoffersson
2017 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI Supercar, World RX of Sweden: Solberg
‘A real achievement’
He continued: ‘OK, that’s racing. I’m not going to let this spoil the party we have earned here at home in Sweden. You might notice, I am a little bit more Swedish this weekend! Honestly, I am so happy for the team and for what we have achieved here. The focus is the teams’ title for me, but for us to be in this position with a team just six months old is incredible and a real achievement for PSRX Volkswagen Sweden.’
Even though he didn’t qualify for the final, Solberg was upbeat: ‘You know we don’t like to talk the talk unless we can walk the walk and, while there is still a long way to go and a lot of corners to turn before the end of the season, I believe we are beginning to walk the walk! We couldn’t ask for more than this!’
In the European Rallycross Championship at Höljes, Anton Marklund added another win to his tally, as the Swedish driver took the spoils in his Marklund Motorsport-prepared Polo RX. Peter Hedström in another Polo RX finished second, while a third Volkswagen Polo RX driven by Alexander Hvaal was also in the final of the Höljes European series races.
The 2017 FIA World Rallycross Championship circus moves to Canada for the eighth round of the series, the World RX of Canada at the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres circuit on 5-6 August. Both Kristoffersson and Solberg will be looking to protect their new one-two positions in the Drivers’ Championship and consolidate PSRX Volkswagen Sweden’s reputation.
2017 FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP, DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
1 Johan Kristoffersson, Volkswagen Polo GTI: 181
2 Petter Solberg, Volkswagen Polo GTI: 150
3 Mattias Ekström, Audi S1: 143
4 Sebastian Loeb, Peugeot 208: 125
5 Andreas Bakkerud, Ford Focus RS: 124
2017 FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP, TEAMS’ CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
1 PSRX Volkswagen Sweden: 331
2 Team Peugeot-Hansen: 246
3 EKS: 201
4 Hoonigan Racing Division: 201
5 MJP Racing Team Austria: 142
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