PoloDriver

The Polo BlueMotion 1.2 TDI won its class at the 2011 Total Economy Run in South Africa last weekend. Competing in the diesel engines up to 1400cc class, driver Natie Ferreira and his co-driver Christo Ferreira achieved a winning fuel consumption figure of 4.44 litres/100km. The duo were also placed second overall in the diesel category. The official quoted imperial fuel consumption figure for the Polo BlueMotion is 80.7mpg. The 35th running of the 2011 Total Economy Run took place in and around the Thaba ‘Nchu, Free State. A Volkswagen won the event overall, too – the winning team of Eddie Bielfeld and Brian Page squeezing 4.39 litres/km from their 1.6 TDI-powered Golf BlueMotion.

The Polo BlueMotion was launched in South Africa in December 2010, and features a state of the art 1.2-litre, 74bhp/55kW TDI engine with 133lb ft/180Nm of torque at 4200rpm, a top speed of 107mph (173km/h) and emissions of 91g/km. It has many aerodynamic body styling modifications which differ from the standard fifth-generation Polo hatchback and help cut fuel consumption including a larger rear spoiler, side skirts, blanked-off front grille, front and rear skirts, 5.5J x 15 ‘Greenland’ alloy wheels with low-rolling resistance tyres and special ‘BlueMotion’ badging. The Polo BlueMotion is available in South Africa from R178,100 and was first launched in Europe in 2007, in fourth-generation Polo guise.

In other news, Volkswagen’s BlueMotion range has won the inaugural Green Award from UK magazine Auto Express. A range of innovations that help to cut the cost of motoring by making every drop of fuel take you further, Auto Express stated that, ‘Simplicity is the key to the BlueMotion line-up, as clever technology such as stop-start and brake regeneration combines with measures like low-rolling-resistance tyres and optimised aerodynamics to bring fuel-sipping economy and low emissions to the mass market. The best thing about BlueMotion is how few compromises it demands. Sealing the deal is the fact it delivers genuine gains for business users and private buyers, as well as the environment.’

The latest Polo BlueMotion will be one of the stars of Volkswagen’s BlueMotion stand at EcoVelocity 2011, the low-carbon motor show being held at Battersea Power Station from 8-11 September. Visitors to the Volkswagen stand will be encouraged to ‘Think Blue’, as they pour over the latest BlueMotion vehicles and technologies, both inside and out on the track. Among the vehicles available to drive the near-mile long circuit will be the 3.0-litre V6/34.3kW electric motor-powered Touareg Hybrid, as well as the 2.0 TDI 138bhp Scirocco BlueMotion Technology.

The 1.2-litre TDI Polo BlueMotion with 74bhp will be on the Volkswagen stand, along with its frugal yet fun petrol brother, the 1.2-litre SEL TSI with 104bhp. In addition, the popular 99g/km, 74.3mpg, Congestion Charge-beating Golf BlueMotion will also be on show. Visitors will also be able to engage with BlueMotion Technologies on the Volkswagen stand, which features an interactive touchscreen experience and the ‘rollercoaster,’ which takes visitors on a journey of discovery into the innovations which reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

Giles Brown, EcoVelocity Director, said, ‘We’re delighted to have Volkswagen at EcoVelocity as it is one of the game-changing brands that really started the movement towards no-compromise ultra-low carbon motoring. Its BlueMotion range set the industry benchmark and we look forward to getting a further insight into their ground-breaking technology at EcoVelocity in September.’ For more information on BlueMotion Technologies go to www.volkswagen.co.uk/bluemotion, and visit www.ecovelocity.co.uk to book tickets or for further details on EcoVelocity.

Volkswagen is set to take to the road for the next six months, visiting a number of shows and exhibitions with its BlueMotion Technology products, encouraging the nation to ‘Think Blue’ and find out about the latest innovations which help cut the cost of motoring by making every drop of fuel take you further. Visitors to events including the Gadget Show Live, the Ideal Home Show Scotland in Glasgow and Gardeners’ World Live will have the opportunity to learn about Volkswagen’s range of BlueMotion Technologies by engaging with an interactive touchscreen experience and riding the ‘rollercoaster’ which takes them on a journey of discovery into the innovations which reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

Visitors will also get the chance to get up close and personal with one of Volkswagen’s BlueMotion products and see for themselves that these cars are standard vehicles – but better. The Polo BlueMotion, for example, looks like a Polo, has the same safety and technology features, is conventional to drive, service and maintain – and yet returns 80.7mpg on the combined cycle and emits just 91g/km of carbon dioxide making it exempt from VED and the London Congestion Charge. Volkswagen will also be giving away tickets to some of the shows via an online competition through its @UKVolkswagenTwitter feed. For details on the events, visit the links below or the Volkswagen UK Facebook page.

Gadget Show Live 2011
NEC, Birmingham; 13–17 April
www.gadgetshowlive.net

Ideal Home Show Scotland
SECC, Glasgow; 27–30 May
www.idealhomeshowscotland.co.uk

Drive the Future at Motorexpo
Canary Wharf, London; 6–12 June
www.motorexpo.com

Gardener’s World Live
NEC, Birmingham; 15–19 June
www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com

EcoVelocity
Battersea Power Station, London; 8–11 September
www.ecovelocity.co.uk

[Source: Volkswagen UK]

As well as being exempt from road tax, from today, drivers of the Polo and Golf BlueMotion no longer have to pay the London Congestion Charge.* Under changes made to the rules governing the London Congestion Charge, vehicles emitting less than 100g/km of CO2 are no longer required to pay the £10 daily charge to enter the Congestion Charge Zone. The Polo BlueMotion (91g/km) and Golf BlueMotion (99g/km) both fit this criteria, allowing owners to potentially save over £2500 a year based on a daily commute into the UK capital.

All Volkswagen BlueMotion models feature a series of subtle yet effective modifications aimed at maximising efficiency. These take the form of optimised aerodynamics, low rolling resistance tyres, Start/Stop, battery regeneration and longer gearing. The result is less strain is put on the common rail diesel engine, which in turn leads to lower emissions and greater economy. Despite the keen focus on economy, the Polo BlueMotion is equipped with alloy wheels, air conditioning, a CD stereo system, electric windows, Hydraulic Brake Assist and ABS as well as driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags, and is priced from £14,860.

* Customers must register with the TfL and make an annual £10 payment per vehicle. Failure to register will result in a fine.

[Source: Volkswagen UK]

Volkswagen Group South Africa has launched both the Polo and Golf to local markets this week. Both models are equipped with new common rail TDI engines, recovery of braking energy by regenerative systems, a Stop-Start feature and refined aerodynamic body tweaks. The success story of BlueMotion started in 2006 when Volkswagen first launched the Polo BlueMotion. The 9N3 Polo BlueMotion was the first five-seater in the world to consume less than 4.0 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres. The Polo BlueMotion (6R) for the South African market costs from R175,400 and is available to order now.

Just as in Europe, the latest eco-Polo has a combined fuel consumption of just 3.4 litres diesel (equivalent to 89g/km CO2) per 100 kilometres. It is eventually aiming to become the ‘3-litre fuel economy car’ of the modern era and the most economical five-seater in the world. Its 45-litre fuel tank has a potential driving range of nearly 1,200 kilometres. At the heart of the Polo BlueMotion is a 1.2-litre TDI with three cylinders derived from the 1.6-litre four-cylinder TDI of the new Polo. The BlueMotion’s maximum torque of 180Nm is produced from 2000rpm, with peak power of 55kW produced at 4200rpm.

The new engine and other specific modifications have delivered fuel savings of 0.8 litres per 100 kilometres. This represents a 20% reduction in fuel consumption, from 4.2 to 3.4 litres, compared to conventional 1.6 Polo TDI with 77kW. CO2 emissions are similarly reduced from 109 to 89g/km. The new Polo BlueMotion can sprint to 100km/h from rest in 13.9 seconds, and the top speed of the 1075kg car is 173km/h. Other features developed with economy in mind include low-rolling resistance tyres, lightweight ‘Greenland’ alloy wheels and longer economy-minded gearing. Standard equipment includes unique ‘Power Up’ interior trim, cruise control and multifunction steering wheel.

[Source: Volkswagen South Africa]