PoloDriver

The new Polo has added two more awards to Volkswagen’s trophy cabinet. It scored two wins at the ‘Golden Steering Wheel’ awards in Berlin last Wednesday evening. The Polo not only came top in the supermini category, but also picked up the ‘Green Steering Wheel’ for its BlueMotion variant.

The ‘Goldenes Lenkrad‘ is one of the most important awards for new car models in Germany. First awarded by Bild am Sonntag and Auto Bild magazines since 1976, it recognises the best cars in each sector. This year’s winners were determined by an independent jury, made up of editors-in-chief from the 22 international editions of Auto Bild (which includes the UK’s Auto Express), as well as technicians, motorsport professionals and celebrities. Test drives take place in Balocco, Italy and last several days.

The ‘Green Steering Wheel’ was introduced in 2007, with winners decided upon by experts from political parties, environmental associations and automotive clubs (as well as luminaries from the automotive industry), after a preliminary selection has been made by readers. In both categories, the Polo beat its competitors due to its efficient powertrains, low fuel consumption, safety, comfort and quality.

[Image: Volkswagen]

It’s now in dealers across the country and available on our roads (though I haven’t seen any) and still the new Polo is appearing in the UK motoring weeklies at an encouraging frequency. This week it’s the turn of the new BlueMotion and the 74bhp 1.6 TDI SE.

Autocar has published a first drive of the production version of the new eco Polo, saying that it’s better than ever before, even if it’s not as clean as it could be (left-hand drive cars stick with 87g/km of emissions as per the concept version, whereas right hookers are saddled with 3g/km more due to the relocation of the catalyst and diesel particulate filter in relation to the engine).

Auto Express meanwhile have announced the 40 least-depreciating new cars on sale, and even though it’s only just available to buyers, the new Polo has scooped the honours in the closely-fought supermini class, beating rivals such as the SEAT Ibiza and Mazda 2. The magazine states the £13,205 Polo 1.6 TDI SE five-door is the safest supermini financial bet, holding onto over 54.1% of its value over three years, when it will be worth £7,144. Read what other attributes make the Polo top of the supermini residual value tree here.

The print-based editions of both titles are on sale now until Wednesday, and carry a cover date of 3 November, along with first drives of the tasty and performance-orientated VW coupé, the Scirocco R.

Volkswagen has announced today that the new fifth-generation Polo is now included in the Motability scheme, with attractive rates and offers to customers. S, Moda A/C and SE models are available to order to Motability customers with zero advance payment on selected engines.

Standard equipment on all new Polos includes ABS, four airbags and ESP. Moda and SE models gain alloy wheels and other enhancements, while A/C versions include semi-automatic climate control as standard. For more information on Motability and your nearest Volkswagen Retailer, call 0800 333 666 or to download the new brochure, click here.

Volkswagen is a long-term supporter of the National Motability Charity which was designed to allow people of all ages to use some or all of their allowance to buy or lease a car, including disabled people and their families. Since its inception in 1977, Motability has acquired almost 400,000 customers and is the leading car scheme for disabled people.

In another new Polo advertising spin-off, Volkswagen have got together with five partners to find the ‘Timeless 50‘, in the fields of design, fashion, food, music and TV. The German giant has selected Livingetc, Marie Claire, BBC Good Food, Heart FM and LOVEFILM to help the great British public choose items which have ‘timeless potential’.

Ten items from each field will make up the ‘Timeless 50’, voted for out of a list of between 20 and 50 items in each category. Once the definitive list is complete, voters will be in with a chance to win the items on it, or even a new Polo of their very own, the inspiration for the whole competition and poll.

You have to sign up to vote and not only will you obviously get more information on the car itself, but also be in with a chance of winning dinner at Le Manoir in Oxfordshire and £500 of Selfridges vouchers, through entry into a prize draw. There’s also 5 x £100 Selfridges vouchers for the runners up.

Voting and prize draw entry closes on 15 November. Choose your ‘Timeless 50’ by clicking the banner below.

The new Polo is one of the seven finalists in the running for the title of European Car of the Year 2010. Up against the Citroën C3 Picasso, Mercedes-Benz E-class, Vauxhall Astra, Peugeot 3008, Škoda Yeti and Toyota iQ, the new small Volkswagen made it through from the initial list of 29 runners.

Twenty-three countries from Europe will field 59 well-respected jurors from the motoring press, and it will be these established figures who will choose the winner on Friday 27 November. Volkswagen’s last entry, the recently rejuvenated Golf, came third in 2009’s contest, behind the second-placed Ford Fiesta and overall winner, the Vauxhall Insignia.

So, what the Polo’s chances? We obviously want it to win, but up against ground-breakers such as the Toyota IQ, we wouldn’t like to say what the outcome will be. The Toyota offers something genuinely different (but not necessarily better) in the city car class, and while the Polo has 34 years of heritage and a premium feel on its side, in this contest, those attributes just might not be enough.