PoloDriver

Second victory in a row for the Volkswagen brand; BlueMotion models declared 2010 World Green Cars

It’s no April Fool’s joke. Not only is the new fifth-generation Polo 2010 European Car of the Year, but it is also now 2010 World Car of the Year, and we’ll be honest, we didn’t think it would win. Why? Announced today at the start of the New York International Auto Show in Manhattan, the Polo isn’t even sold in the US, although rumours persist about its Stateside introduction.

Merit, value, safety, environment, significance and emotional appeal are the criterias for the World Car of the Year and it’s the second time Volkswagen has been victorious; the Mk 6 Golf was declared the winner last year. The Polo fought off its European Car of the Year adversaries the Mercedes E-Class and the Toyota Prius to come out on top. The decision was unanimous, too; the majority of the 59 World Car jurors from 25 countries across the world chose the Polo from 30 entries.

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On 19 March, to spectacular fanfare, Volkswagen formally launched the new Polo Vivo at the Sun City Superbowl. The company gathered Volkswagen fans from all over South Africa and treated them to a concert to celebrate the new car’s arrival. Not only were there pyrotechnics a plenty, but also a ‘flying’ Polo Vivo precariously suspended from the 6000-seat Superbowl’s ceiling. Among the acts entertaining the ecstatic crowd were Big NUZ, Freshlyground, Kelly Clarkson, The Parlotones, TKZee and Westlife. Click here for more pictures.

[Images: CelebrateVW]

Now that the marketing machine has swung into action, Volkswagen South Africa has aired the first new TV commercial for the entry-level Polo Vivo. Created by Ogilvy Cape Town and with ‘So much to celebrate,’ the 60-second spot plays on the feelgood factor of the car that Volkswagen wants to use to capture potential Polo Vivo owners. The company will be hoping that, like the on-screen bystanders in the spot, prospective Vivo drivers will be carried along by a wave of euphoria for its new baby…

German modifying firm Rieger Tuning has taken the latest 6R Polo under its wing and launched a styling kit for Volkswagen’s award-winning newcomer. Visual enhancements include a front spoiler with a carbon-look lip and a rear apron with carbon-look diffuser. There are also new sill extensions and 18-inch matt black/polished Barracuda Racing ‘Karizzma’ multi-spoke alloy wheels with 215/35-18 tyres. A suspension kit is also on offer. Want to know more? Download the PDF here.

‘The new Polo is very attractive,’ it says. We’ve got our hands on the latest brochure for the new 2010 Polo GTI. Months before the car comes across to the UK, this French language, February 2010-dated, 12-page catalogue could be considered a piece of preview literature, but with specifications and paint colours, the only thing that’s really missing is a price list. We suspect it was a hand-out at the recent Geneva motor show.

There’s not much contained within it that we don’t already know. But, what we can tell you is that the new hot shot Polo is available in two standard flat paint colours (Black and Candy White), while optional metallic finishes are Flash Red, Argent Grey and Shadow Blue. Intense Black is the only pearl-effect colour. Standard kit includes a larger rear spoiler, ‘GTI’ script (in recent VW tradition, no Polo badging is on the car at all), Xenon headlamps, twin exhausts, front fog lights, 7J x 17 ‘Denver’ alloy wheels and a 15mm lowered chassis.

Moving inside, there’s ‘Jacky’ red and black tartan trim covering the sports seats, Climatic semi-automatic air-conditioning, a multifunction computer and an RNS 310 CD/MP3/SD card music system. The only factory-fitted, pay-extra options appear to be optional LED running lights, automatic Climatronic air-conditioning, RCD 210/310/510 music systems and black alcantara trim for the sports seats. We’ll let you know when UK prices and specifications for the 178bhp, DSG-equipped new Polo GTI have been confirmed.