PoloDriver

If you’re reading this website, we’re assuming you already know how good a drive the Volkswagen range of GTIs is, but the German manufacturer has partnered up with Waze, the Google-owned navigation app to allow its two million users (and not just drivers of GTIs) to experience a selection of the UK’s best driving roads via a new ‘GTI Superdrives’ campaign. Up to 75 of the country’s finest driving roads will be offered through the partnership, which will be discoverable in-app for a limited period over the summer months.

Launched just after the new Polo GTI hits UK roads, Waze’s team of data scientists has selected the GTI Superdrives after analysis and ranking of roads based on a number of key variables. Perhaps obviously, GTI Superdrive routes are scenic, but are close enough to points of interest; have the right driving conditions – including engaging corners; low amounts of traffic; as well as low incident reports. The data has also been cross-referenced by volunteer Waze map editors from across the UK. Volkswagen states that all GTI Superdrives routes ‘fit with the GTI ethos of driving enjoyment’. Game on, then!

To enjoy a GTI Superdrive, Waze users need to look for a GTI badge when the app is active. If they are within 12 miles of a GTI Superdrive road, drivers will be able to tap on the badge – which has designed to reflect the famous brown UK road signs for tourist destinations – to receive directions to the road. Once a GTI Superdrive has been found, the driver simply follows in-app instructions to discover the road. When they are not driving, users can find out more about the route and discover its ranking among the top routes.

Waze and Volkswagen GTI Superdrives

2018 Volkswagen Up GTI

2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI Performance

The top 10 roads from Waze’s analysis of proximity to urban areas, number of points of interest nearby and driving stats are:

• B3135 from Cheddar to Ashwick
• 940-A939-A944-A97 (from Forres to Alford)
• From A701 Moffat to A700 Edinburgh
• A4069
• A82
• A308, B3021, B3026, Old Windsor – Dorney
• Alcester to Wilmcote
• Draycote Water to Warwick
• Hard Knot Pass: Skelwith Bridge to Gosforth
• A675 Bolton to Blackburn.

Of course, as well as the new 197bhp Polo GTI available in standard (£21,260) and enhanced GTI+ (£22,760) specifications, there is also the smaller £14,055 113bhp Up GTI, and above them, the legendary £28,205 227bhp Golf GTI*. So there’s never been a better time to get out and veer off the beaten track – go discover a GTI Superdrive!

*Standard Golf GTI models are only available from Volkswagen Retailer stock and not available for factory order. Enhanced specification 242bhp Golf GTI Performance models are available to factory order from £29,930.

About Waze
Waze is a social navigation pioneer using mobile technology and a global community to redefine expectations of today’s maps. Home to the world’s largest network of drivers who work together daily to outsmart traffic to save time and money. The app consistently recommends the fastest routes based on real-time driving and data from two million users, as well as traffic re-routes and low fuel price alerts.

Becoming very predictable, and just as the first batch of new GTIs arrive in VW retailers, the Volkswagen Polo was again the fifth most popular car in the UK last month according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). A total of 5,494 Polos found homes in June. That was enough to see it rise two places to seventh in the year-to-date list. The Ford Fiesta once again topped the list, with an 8,900 registrations tally.

Volkswagen’s best-selling Golf was second with 6,873 units, and with 39,930 cars registered, it stays in second place for the year-to-date. Here, too, though, in a familiar story, the Ford Fiesta leads the charge with 56,415 examples registered since January. With 3,527 registrations, Volkswagen’s Tiguan also crept into the top 10 chart, earning it a ninth place. In a reversal of May, the UK market as a whole declined 3.5 per cent in June when compared to the same month in 2017, with 234,945 cars registered. Small cars like the Polo remained the most popular, the supermini and lower medium models taking a 57.4 per cent market share.

Other figures to note are those of hybrids and plug-in hybrid cars which rose 45 per cent (15,549 units), to take a record 6.6 per cent market share. Diesels fell by 28.2 per cent from June 2017, while the petrol-engined car tally saw a rise of 12.3 per cent. The UK’s top 10 most popular cars during June 2018 and the year-to-date (sales figure and position in brackets) were as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 8,900 (56,415, 1st)
2 Volkswagen Golf: 6,873 (39,930, 2nd)
3 Vauxhall Corsa: 6,076 (28,003, 5th)
4 Mini: 5,839 (23,641, 6th)
5 Volkswagen Polo: 5,494 (22,027, 7th)
6 Ford Focus: 4,840 (30,757, 3rd)
7 BMW 3 Series: 4,002
8 Nissan Qashqai: 3,939 (30,066, 4th)
9 Volkswagen Tiguan: 3,527
10 BMW 1 Series: 3,383

(The UK’s 2018 year-to-date top 10 most popular cars absent from June’s registration figures were the eighth-placed Ford Kuga, the ninth-placed Mercedes-Benz A Class, and the tenth-placed Mercedes-Benz C Class with 21,784, 20,002, and 19,684 registrations respectively.)

In South Africa, the sixth-generation Polo was second to the fifth-generation Polo-based Polo Vivo as the best-selling passenger car during June 2018. A total of 1,844 new Polos found homes in the country where it is also built, compared to 2,285 Polo Vivos. The Polo Vivo has been consistently top of the registrations chart since its introduction in 2010. According to figures by Jato Dynamics, the Polo was the second most popular supermini in Europe in 2017 with 272,061 units registered. The Clio took the top spot, with 327,395 small Renaults finding new homes.

Following its market introduction in Europe – UK customer and VW retailer cars are now arriving – the latest sixth-generation Polo GTI has been launched in South Africa. Priced from R375,900, the new hot Polo is over R12,000 cheaper than the model it replaces, despite having more on-board technology and – with 147kW / 197bhp – more power.

Almost identical to the European-specification model, one of the main reasons for the South African Polo GTI’s lower price is that of local assembly. The car is built at Volkswagen South Africa’s Uitenhage factory, rather than imported from Europe, and features the same 2.0 TSI turbocharged engine as its continental cousin, too.

2018 Volkswagen Polo GTI (South Africa)

2018 Volkswagen Polo GTI (South Africa)

Key ingredients
The key ingredients are the same as the latest European Polo GTI. There’s 320Nm / 236lb ft of torque from the engine, 15mm lower sports suspension, VW’s ‘XDS’ electronic differential lock, and a whole host of technological safety systems. These include assisted parking, a blind spot monitor, driver and rear traffic alert systems, as well as a tyre pressure loss indicator.

All new sixth-generation Polos receive an automatic post-collision braking system, and an advanced safety package is available on the GTI which includes blind spot detection, electric folding mirrors, parallel park assist, park distance control systems and a rear view camera.

As with other GTIs, the South African Polo GTI is front-wheel drive. It features coil spring struts and lower wishbones with a track-stabilising scrub radius. The front running gear also features an anti-roll bar, and the front coil springs have telescopic gas-filled dampers integrated into the spring struts. The rear running gear consists of semi-independent twist-beam suspension with an integrated anti-roll bar, featuring gas-filled dampers and separate springs.

‘A great driving experience’
Volkswagen South Africa states that ‘in the new Polo GTI the engine starter button becomes the trigger for a great driving experience’, and, having put the car through its paces at the Ascari race circuit near Malaga recently, we’d agree. We’d also confer with Volkswagen South Africa’s statement that the GTI concept allies ‘dynamism, safety and comfort’, and in the case of the 1,335kg Polo GTI, part of that dynamism comes from its fast 6.7-second 0 to 62mph time and 237km/h / 147mph top speed.

The 1,988cc ‘EA888’ TSI engine delivers maximum power between 4,400 and 6,000rpm, with maximum torque coming in from just 1,500rpm up to 4,400rpm. Like its European counterparts, the South African Polo GTI is launched with only a six-speed DSG gearbox, and the option of ‘Sport Select’ suspension with active dampers. As well as the two ‘Normal’ and ‘Sport’ modes, new Polo GTI drivers can also choose from four ‘Normal’, ‘Sport’, ‘Eco’ and ‘Individual’ settings in the standard ‘Driver Profile’ selection.

2018 Volkswagen Polo GTI (South Africa)

2018 Volkswagen Polo GTI (South Africa)

2018 Volkswagen Polo GTI (South Africa)

2018 Volkswagen Polo GTI (South Africa)

Dynamic and purposeful look
As important as the driving experience, though, when it comes to a GTI, are the looks. And just as with its mechanical make-up, the South African Polo GTI is identical to its European relatives. The enlarged dimensions of the new Polo allow for a more dynamic and purposeful look, but extra GTI signifiers identify the top-flight sports model. The traditional red grille stripe and badge (now also in red), and honeycomb grille are present, while the grille stripe flows into the optional LED headlights.

A more muscular front bumper with sections picked out in gloss black add to the design, while the rear boasts a gloss and matt black rear spoiler, an under-bumper diffuser, a pair of chrome exhausts and darker, tinted LED tail lamps. In profile, keen GTI spotters will see the 17-inch ‘Milton Keynes’ (‘Parker’ in the UK) alloy wheels – 18-inch ‘Brescia’ rims are available as an option – and the matt black sill extensions. Red brake calipers and the ‘GTI’ ‘arrow’ badge on the front wing also mark out the new Polo GTI.

Colours, as with the original Golf GTI of 1976, are limited. The traditional Deep Black Pearl Effect, Flash Red, and Pure White can be chosen as well as the new Reef Blue Metallic. Inside, the roof lining and pillars are trimmed in Titan Black material, while the seats feature ‘Art Velour’ upholstery, and sadly not the ‘Jacara’ check material of European cars. Black leather is an option, though, and the dashpad covering can be specified in Deep Iron or Velvet Red finishes, although Flash Red cars will strangely only come with Deep Iron dashpads.

2018 Volkswagen Polo GTI (South Africa)

2018 Volkswagen Polo GTI (South Africa)

2018 Volkswagen Polo GTI (South Africa)

The new South African Polo GTI’s cabin is as impressive as it is on other sixth-generation Polos, with an eight-inch ‘Composition Media’ colour touchscreen infotainment system as standard – the ‘Discover Media’ system is optional – and the option of the 10.25-inch Active Info Display digital instruments. GTI-specific features include white ambient lighting, and a multifunction display plus driver information system.

Available to order now, find out more about the the Volkswagen South Africa Polo GTI at the Volkswagen South Africa website.

2018 VOLKSWAGEN SOUTH AFRICA NEW POLO GTI: RECOMMENDED RETAIL PRICES

GTI
2.0 TSI 147kW DSG, six-speed DSG, 5dr: R375,900

All prices include VAT and emissions tax. The new Volkswagen South Africa Polo GTI models come with a 3-year / 45,000km Service Plan, 
3-year / 120,000km warranty and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty. Service intervals are 15,000km.

Following its return to the UK’s top 10 most popular cars list last month, once again the Volkswagen Polo was the fifth most sought-after model during May 2018, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). A total of 3,961 Polos found homes in May, a scant 29 units ahead of its Vauxhall Corsa rival. The Ford Fiesta once again beat both, though, with an almost double 6,896 registrations tally.

Volkswagen’s perennial best-seller, the Golf, slipped to third place with 6,372 units registered, though with 33,057 cars with new homes, it stays in second place for the year-to-date. Here, too, though, the Ford Fiesta leads the market with 47,515 examples registered since January. The UK market as whole grew 3.4 per cent in May, with 192,649 cars registered. In May 2017, the market saw a -8.5 per cent decline, while 2018 year-to-date figures also record negative values, the UK market falling 6.8 per cent.

Other figures of note are that of hybrids and plug-in cars which rose more than a third (36.1 per cent, 11,240 units) to take a record 5.8 per cent market share, while superminis (the Polo’s segment) were up six per cent. Diesels fell by 23.6 per cent, while petrol-engined car totals rose by 23.5 per cent. The UK’s top 10 most popular cars during May 2018 and the year-to-date (sales figure and position in brackets) were as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 6,896 (47,515, 1st)
2 Ford Focus: 6,573 (25,917, 4th)
3 Volkswagen Golf: 6,372 (33,057, 2nd)
4 Nissan Qashqai: 4,956 (26,127, 3rd)
5 Volkswagen Polo: 3,961 (16,533, 9th)
6 Vauxhall Corsa: 3,932 (21,927, 5th)
7 Mini: 3,505 (17,802, 7th)
8 Mercedes-Benz C Class: 2,955 (16,414, 10th)
9 Mercedes-Benz A Class: 2,939 (17,788, 8th)
10 Audi A3: 2,791

(The UK’s 2018 year-to-date top 10 most popular car absent from May’s registration figures was the sixth-placed Ford Kuga, with 18,570 registrations recorded.)

Further afield, the sixth-generation Polo has overtaken the fifth-generation Polo-based Polo Vivo as the best-selling passenger car in South Africa. During May 2018, 1,979 examples of the latest Polo found new homes in South Africa, beating the Polo Vivo by a mere 75 units. The Polo Vivo has been consistently top of the registrations chart since its introduction in 2010.

Volkswagen has stated that passengers of the sixth-generation Polo as well as its SEAT Ibiza and Arona SUV siblings should not use the middle rear seat after the left rear passenger belt came unbuckled during high-speed lane-change manoeuvres conducted by Finnish magazine Tekniikan Maailma.

UK car weekly car magazine Autocar broke the story on the morning on 9 May, and reports that Volkswagen has advised not to use the rear place on affected cars until an official recall has been issued. Tekniikan Maailma discovered that the rear left buckle can come undone when the cars are carrying their full complement of five passengers. Autocar reports that a Volkswagen representative confirmed that the company ‘will provide a technical solution shortly and recall the vehicles concerned’.

‘Design fault’
It is reported that the higher-mounted middle buckle is pushed onto the lower left rear latching under high-speed left direction lane changes due to the weight of the passenger in the centre seat. Tekniikan Maailma confirmed that all three cars acted in this way, and even tested a pair of SEAT Aronas to make sure it wasn’t an isolated case, saying that the unlatching is ‘caused by a design fault’.

Owners of the latest sixth-generation Polo are advised not to use the middle rear seat until affected models have been remedied with a redesigned seat belt lock fixing. Volkswagen told Autocar that the recall will be ‘carried out in co-operation with the national vehicle registration authorities’ in markets where the car is sold.

Update, 11 May 2018: Volkswagen has officially confirmed there is a rear seat belt lock fixture issue and has released the following statement.

Volkswagen announces a recall for the current Polo generation due to issue with rear seat belt lock fixtures

• Technical solution has been identified
• Recall campaign to start within the next few weeks
• Safety remains top priority for Volkswagen

Wolfsburg – Volkswagen has confirmed a technical issue on the new Polo (model year 2018). There is the possibility that in rare situations (e.g. sudden quick lane changes with five passengers on board) and when the rear center seat and the rear left seat are occupied at the same time, the left seat belt lock could be unintentionally released.

At Volkswagen safety remains a main priority and the brand has identified a technical solution: a redesigned belt lock fixture, which will prevent this from happening.

Volkswagen Polo is legally homologated and safe to drive; however the brand advises its customers not to use the middle seat of the new Polo until the car will be equipped with the redesigned belt lock fixture.

Volkswagen is now addressing the concerned authorities for their final validation in order to implement the solution, both on vehicles in the market as well as on the future series production.

Within the next few weeks, Volkswagen will start a recall campaign. Customers will receive a letter so as to plan an appointment with a Volkswagen service partner. The check, as well as the implementation of the redesigned belt lock fixture will be free of charge.