PoloDriver

It’s been another busy year for the Volkswagen Polo. On the asphalt and gravel stages of the 2016 FIA World Rally Championship, the Polo has, like 2013, 2014, and 2015, again taken on all-comers to emerge victorious: the 318bhp Polo R WRC has taken the Manufacturers’ Championship title for Volkswagen Motorsport and has also carried Frenchmen Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia to their third consecutive Drivers’ and Co-drivers’ Championship prizes. Sadly, that success is due to end this year with the announcement that Volkswagen is to quit top-level rallying.

Other Polo-based motorsport series have continued around the globe, though, with Wolfsburg’s small car taking an even larger presence in the FIA World Rallycross Championship. Volkswagen Driver magazine in the UK has also published a series of articles detailing cars in the 2015 AutoMuseum Volkswagen ’40 Years Polo’ exhibition, which were written by PoloDriver.com editor Rich Gooding. A number of Polo special edition models have also been released around the world, while 2016 is expected to be the final production year of the current fifth-generation Polo.

Here, we round up the Polo’s biggest achievements in 2016. (Bold entries are illustrated by the picture above that particular month’s list of events.)

January

– Our cars: 2015 Polo SE 1.2 TSI – report three
– Volkswagen RX Sweden rallycross team unveiled
– Volkswagen launches ‘Race Anywhere’ Polo R WRC smartphone rally game app
– Polo R WRC upgraded and improved ahead of 2016 FIA World Rally Championship
– Volkswagen Motorsport takes victory at Rally Monte-Carlo
– Polo is the seventh best-selling car in the UK.

February
– Polo E80 prototype and Öko-Polo eco models profiled in Volkswagen Driver magazine
– Volkswagen India refreshes Polo and Vento ranges; new sub-compact Ameo launched
– Polo GTI revealed for Indian market
– Sébastien Ogier, Julien Ingrassia and Volkswagen win Rally Sweden for the third time
– Polo Beats special edition announced ahead of 2016 Geneva motor show
– Polo is the eighth best-selling car in the UK.

March
– 1970s early Polos and Audi 50s profiled in Volkswagen Driver magazine
– Future Polo-based T-Cross Breeze SUV concept revealed at 2016 Geneva motor show
– Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila celebrate Rally Mexico win
– Volkswagen South Africa launches Polo Vivo Xpress van and Polo Vivo GTS
– Our cars: 2015 Polo GTI – report one
– Polo is the sixth best-selling car in the UK.

April

– 1982 Polo bb Buchmann profiled in Volkswagen Driver magazine
– Volkswagen India recalls Vento 1.5 TDIs due to ‘inconsistent emission issues’
– 2016 Volkswagen RX Sweden Polo RX rallycross Supercar revealed
– 2017 Volkswagen Polo R WRC technology announced
– Sixth for Johan Kristoffersson and Volkswagen RX Sweden at World RX of Portugal
– Polo R WRCs finish in second and third places at Rally Argentina
– Polo is the sixth best-selling car in the UK.

May
– 1983 Polo Sprint prototype profiled in Volkswagen Driver magazine
– Polo RXs finish seventh and 15th at World RX of Hockenheim
– Special edition Polo Beats hits the UK from £13,910
– Volkswagen RX Sweden Polos in World RX of Belgium final
– Rally Portugal podiums for Andreas Mikkelsen and Sébastien Ogier
– Polo GT Sedan 1.4 TSI launched in Russia
– Polo is the seventh best-selling car in the UK.

June

– 1985 Polo G40 ‘World Record’ endurance car profiled in Volkswagen Driver magazine
– Polo RXs complete World RX of Great Britain in eighth and 11th places
– New Polo Select and Vento Celeste special editions for India
– Double podium and an extended championship lead for Volkswagen at Rally Italy
– Polo RXs finish in seventh and 15th places at World RX of Norway
– Wimmer Rennsporttechnik announce 417bhp Polo R WRC tuning kit
– Polo is the eighth best-selling car in the UK.

July

– Andreas Mikkelsen and Anders Jæger take Polo R WRC to victory at Rally Poland
– Polo scoops Auto Express New Car Awards 2016 ‘small car’ prize
– Fourth and fifth place finishes for Polo RXs at World RX of Sweden
– Polo is the seventh best-selling car in the UK.

August

– Five generations of sports Polos profiled in Volkswagen Driver magazine
– Second place for Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila at Rally Finland
– Goodridge Performance launches 2014-onwards Polo GTI 1.8 TSI ‘Phantom’ brake line kit
– PoloDriver.com profiles Belgian-only special edition Polo RX from 1978
– Kristoffersson scores Volkswagen RX Sweden podium at World RX of Canada
– Volkswagen Group announces roll-out particulate filters for petrol-engined cars
– Polo 1.2-litre TDI included in Volkswagen EA189 engine recall
– Sixth-generation Volkswagen Polo spotted testing; ‘hybrid’ platform car to be sold in India
– Polo R WRC takes on Kamaz 4326 Dakar Rally truck in Ouninpohja, Finland
– Cobra Sport announces performance exhaust system for 2014-onwards Polo GTI 1.8 TSI
– Ogier and Volkswagen Motorsport win Rally Germany
– Polo is the sixth best-selling car in the UK.

September
– 1986 Volkswagen Motorsport Polo GT G40 profiled in Volkswagen Driver magazine
– Kristoffersson scores emphatic first team victory at World RX of France
– Polo Vivo expanded production plans announced with building of Kenyan factory
– Pete Hedström pilots Polo RX at World RX of Spain and World RX of Latvia
– Remus stainless steel exhaust upgrade for 2014-onwards Polo GTI 1.8 TSI announced
– Kristoffersson finishes sixth at World RX of Spain
– Polo is the sixth best-selling car in the UK.

October
– 1986 Wintershall VW Polo G40 Cup profiled in Volkswagen Driver magazine
– Ogier and Volkswagen Motorsport victorious at Rally France
– PoloDriver.com tests the Polo R-Line 1.0 TSI
– Kristoffersson claims second place at World RX of Latvia
– Special edition Polo Vivo Storm released in South Africa
– Polo Beats special edition launched by Volkswagen South Africa
– A solid sixth for Kristoffersson at World RX of Germany
– Ogier and Ingrassia claim fourth WRC drivers’ championship title at Rally Spain
– Volkswagen claims its twelfth WRC title in four years at Rally Great Britain
– Polo is the seventh best-selling car in the UK.

November
– Second-generation Polos profiled in Volkswagen Driver magazine
– Volkswagen announces it is to exit the World Rally Championship
– ‘Limited edition’ Polo GTI launched in India for Rs 25.99 lakh
– Polo Beats special edition arrives in Ireland
– Polo Allstar and Vento Preferred special editions launched by Volkswagen India
– Volkswagen bids farewell to Polo R WRC with Rally Australia win
– Polo is the eighth best-selling car in the UK.

December
– Late-generation Polos profiled in Volkswagen Driver magazine
– Polo R WRC is named as Autosport magazine’s 2016 Rally Car of the Year
– Sébastien Ogier is named as Autosport magazine’s 2016 Rally Driver of the Year
– Polo GTI named Overdrive magazine’s Performance Car of the Year
– Ameo, Polo and Vento Crest Collection special edition models launched
– PoloDriver.com compares the SEAT Ibiza Cupra and Volkswagen Polo GTI
– Value-driven Polo Match Edition launched in the UK
– Polo is the seventh best-selling car in the UK for the month and the year overall
– Over 704,062 Polos are registered worldwide during 2016, making it the eighth best-selling car in the world.

Once again, we would like to thank the loyal readers and followers who have helped make the year another enjoyable one for PoloDriver.com, and hope that you’ll enjoy the developments and stories coming to the website in 2017.

[Click on the ‘Polo 2009-’, ‘WRC’ and ‘Motorsport’ tags in the category drop-down list in the right-hand sidebar of the website to see all entries pertaining to the revised fifth-generation Polo, Polo R WRC, and Polo motorsport activity respectively. Choose other category or month sections for relevant entries.]

As with other markets across Europe and the UK, Volkswagen has launched the special edition Polo Beats in South Africa. Costing from R260,700 (VAT and emissions tax included), the most obvious feature of the latest distinctive fifth-generation Polo is a 300 watt ‘premium sound system’, complete with an 8-channel amplifier and digital sound processor.

As the name suggests, the Polo Beats’ is the product of a collaboration between US audio specialist Beats Electronics – founded in 2008 by Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine – and Volkswagen. The special small VW is the first Volkswagen in South Africa to feature a Beats makeover, with the new Up to follow, replicating the European and UK model roll-outs.

Seven speakers
The Polo Beats seven speakers include a pair of A-pillar tweeters, two woofers in the front doors, twin rear broadband speakers as well as a subwoofer integrated into the spare wheel well in the luggage compartment. Volkswagen South Africa claims that ‘this combination delivers powerful, punching bass tones which makes the occupants feel the music’. A ‘Composition Media’ infotainment system is standard, too, with Bluetooth, iPod, iPhone, AUX-in and App Connect interfaces.

2016 Volkswagen Polo Beats (South Africa)

2016 Volkswagen Polo Beats (South Africa)

As with other global editions of the Polo Beats, the exterior of the South African car is the obvious differentiator: 16-inch anthracite-finished ‘Portago’ alloy wheels are standard, along with red door mirror caps, dark red rear lights, and ‘Beats’ branding along the side of the car and on the B-pillar. Inside there are ‘quilted’ front sports seats, uniquely-trimmed door panels, coloured seat belts and a leather steering wheel.

For more information on the Polo Beats for South Africa visit bit.ly/2dZbL6V. Volkswagen South Africa has even commissioned a unique audio track for the car, which can be downloaded here.

Volkswagen South Africa has once again struck on the popularity of its Polo Vivo model by introducing a new special edition, the Storm. Based on the 1.4-litre 84bhp/63kW Trendline, the Storm costs R187 300 (including VAT and emission tax) and includes equipment and special styling to differentiate it from the numerous standard versions of Volkswagen South Africa’s budget Polo offering.

Prominent change
Outside, black metallic 15-inch ‘Tosa’ alloy wheels jostle for attention with the ‘Storm’ body decals, gloss black mirror caps, front fog lights with chrome surrounds and chrome-tipped exhaust pipes. Inside, a two-tone grey and ‘ceramique’ dashboard is the most prominent change, while a leather trimmed steering wheel, gear lever gaiter and handbrake lever are also standard.

2016 Volkswagen Polo Vivo Storm (South Africa)

2016 Volkswagen Polo Vivo Storm (South Africa)

Special features
Other special features include an anthracite-coloured roof lining, and exclusive three-tone seat upholstery. As standard, the Polo Vivo Storm is fitted with a CD radio system with Bluetooth and SD card connectivity, and six speakers. The Storm joins the GTS as one of the most distinctive Vivo models available.

The Storm follows an announcement in September that Volkswagen South Africa is to also manufacture the Polo Vivo in Kenya, expanding production to cope with the demand the popular car has. Continually a best-seller since its introduction in 2010 when it replaced the CitiGolf, the Polo Vivo is based on the facelifted Series 4 Polo which was sold in Europe from 2005-2009.

One of the 1970s stars of Volkswagen’s rejuvenated and company-changing range of new front-wheel drive and water-cooled cars, the lifespan of the Mk 1 Polo was only six years, but a small number of special editions were wheeled out in that time to either bolster interest and create something special – Polo Jeans, 1976 and 1978 – or to rekindle demand towards the end of its life – Polo LX, 1981.

There was another, more elusive limited edition, though – the Polo RX. Not to be confused with the 600bhp Polo RX rallycross car of today, the 1970s Polo with the similar name had around ten times fewer horsepower and looked a lot less extreme. Only available in Belgium during 1978, production was limited to 1000 examples only.

Sports styling
Sports styling took nods from the Golf GTI – then only two years old remember – and previewed the Polo GT which arrived a year later in 1979. A matt black rear window surround matched the black-painted metal bumpers perfectly, while stripes in a similar shade emblazoned with the ‘RX’ legend adorned the side panels. A large badge on the front grille left cars in front in no danger of what was behind them, while under-bumper front fog lights further added to the menace.

While the appearance of the Polo RX was similar to the later GT, the engine was, too. A 1.3-litre four-cylinder unit taken from other models in the Volkswagen range was installed in the RX’s engine bay, and made the same 60bhp as the ‘proper’ hot Polo, too, with 0-62mph coming up in 12.9 seconds. Inside, occupants were treated to dark-coloured padded seats, a rev counter and a water temperature gauge.

1978 Volkswagen Polo RX: Geoffroy Thirion

1978 Volkswagen Polo RX: Geoffroy Thirion

1978 Volkswagen Polo RX: Geoffroy Thirion

1978 Volkswagen Polo RX: Geoffroy Thirion

1978 Volkswagen Polo RX: Geoffroy Thirion

The brochure promised: ‘The “RX”, a special edition of the Polo. With much punch.’ There was more: ‘The Polo is like no ordinary vehicle. But here is really something extraordinary.’ The RX certainly worked its magic on Geoffroy Thirion, who has owned the Polo RX featured in the photos here since 2012. Geoffroy is from Belgium and likes the fact that the RX is so rare, even more so that it was a limited model for for his own country.

Rarest Polo models
Probably one of the rarest first-generation Polo models, Geoffroy has lusted after one since he was a young boy: ‘Since I was a kid, one of my dreams was to one day be able to make the acquisition of a Polo RX – they have become so rare! To my surprise, while rummaging in period magazines at the 2011 Techno Classica Essen show, I came across the photo of a Polo RX. A year later I managed to buy one!’ he enthuses.

Geoffroy’s car has worn various wheels over his five-year ownership, from the standard 13-inch steel wheels (not as nattily painted as the red and black rims on the GT), through red cross-spoke alloys, to ‘telephone dial’-style rims. It also has a spoiler from the Polo GT nestling under its front bumper. The car sits alongside his 1979 UK-specification Polo GLS in his garage, and is an award-winner, too, having won the Best in Show’ prize at the 2015 WPG20 show in Belgium which celebrated the Polo’s 40th birthday.

1978 Volkswagen Polo RX: Geoffroy Thirion

1978 Volkswagen Polo RX: Geoffroy Thirion

1978 Volkswagen Polo RX: Geoffroy Thirion

1978 Volkswagen Polo RX: Geoffroy Thirion

1978 Volkswagen Polo RX: Geoffroy Thirion

With only one other Polo RX owned by a member of the Belgian Typ86.be Polo forum, the question is where have the other 998 cars got to? We suspect by the age – 38 years is a long time in first-generation Polo circles – that sadly many are no longer with us, but it doesn’t stop us holding out hope that one day, a collective rasp of RXs will line-up in all their red and black-striped glory.

Once that has happened, we need to look out for the perhaps even scarcer ‘J’ and ‘CLE’ special edition first-generation Polo models, as well as the ultra-rare 850cc-engined version sold in selected Scandinavian markets and early ‘square-roof’ cars… Find out more about the Mk1 Polo special editions here.

Following in the tyre tracks of the Polo GT Sedan announced by Volkswagen Russia this week, Volkswagen India has unveiled new special editions of its Polo hatchback and Vento saloon models. The Polo Select and Vento Celeste special editions offer an enhanced appearance and upgraded equipment count when compared to the Highline models on which they are based.

Extra kit
Similar to last year’s Polo Exquisite and Vento Highline Plus limited edition cars, the Polo Select and Vento Celeste can be specified with a distinctive black roof wrap, black side mouldings, and fake carbonfibre mirror caps. The Polo Select also offers a roof spoiler and sill plates for all four of its doors, while the Vento Celeste can count a rear boot spoiler and a Blaupunkt audio/navigation system among its extra kit.

Inside, both cars receive a carbonfibre-look centre console, branded seat covers, detachable sun blinds, as well as floor mats. The latest Indian special editions are fitted with the same engine and transmission choices as the regular Polo and Vento. The Polo Select comes with 74bhp 1.2-litre petrol or an 89bhp 1.5-litre TDI engines, while the Vento Celeste is only fitted with the 1.5-litre TDI mated to a seven-speed DSG gearbox.

[Source: Indian Autos Blog]