PoloDriver

Volkswagen opened its continental order books for the new Polo BlueMotion yesterday, with prices starting at €16,500 (£14,766). The company state that its new eco-baby is the world’s most fuel-efficient five seater, and if that’s the case, it should sell well in these hardened times. The new Polo BlueMotion made its debut as a concept car at the Geneva motor show in March and will come to the UK at around the same time next year.

We’ve written about the new miserly Polo before, but the basics are a three-cylinder 1.2-litre 74bhp TDI engine with BlueMotion-specific modifications, including a Stop-Start system and regenerative braking. Emissions of left-hand drive cars are down to 87g/km and fuel consumption is up to around 83mpg, or 22 per cent down when compared to the regular Polo 1.6 TDI with the same power output.

There’s also a relatively light weight of 1,150kg, a closed-off radiator grille for better air flow, aerodynamic underbody panels, 15-inch ‘Greenland’ alloy wheels with low rolling resistance tyres, ‘sports’ bumpers with lower lips, rear spoiler, front fog lights and door handles and outside mirror housings painted in body colour. Inside buyers get leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear knob, special ‘Power On’ upholstery and a tyre pressure indicator.