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Volkswagen’s state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Pune, India, has produced its 400,000th car – a New Polo Highline 1.5 TDI in Flash Red. The milestone car is bound for the local market, and comes just six days after the New Polo (refreshed 6R) was launched there.

The 4000,000th car production celebration has been reached in just five years. The Chakan factory currently produces the Polo and Vento (Polo saloon) for both the local market and South Africa, and exports left-hand drive versions to Mexico and the Middle East.

The 575-acre site also makes the the Skoda Rapid (a rebadged Vento). Its output has been exported to over 32 countries in across three continents. Polos have been built in Pune since December 2009. Skoda Fabias first rolled out of the facility in March of the same year.

Mahesh Kodumudi, President and Managing Director, Volkswagen India Private Limited said: ‘With over 400,000 cars produced at our stat-of-the-art manufacturing facility for the domestic as well as export market, we have firmly established our operations. We will continue to focus on productivity and further localisation to cater to the demand from our markets.’

Andreas Lauenroth, Volkswagen Executive Director – Technical, commented: ‘The roll out of the 400,000th car is a testimony of Volkswagen running its India productions in a higher gear without compromising our highest quality standards. With this achievement under our belt, we plan to keep moving forward with a greater thrust to position ourselves as a committed car manufacturer in the Indian market.’

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In the latest issue of Volkswagen’s online magazine Das Auto, the company states that it’s not hard to lose your bearings in a big city like Barcelona. Which is why a New Polo is ideal – it offers more driver assistance systems than any other car in its class, don’t you know? If news of these technological innovations comes as a surprise, here’s a quick recap.

Front Assist
Front Assist is an optional traffic monitoring system from Volkswagen. It constantly measures the distance of other vehicles ahead via a radar sensor mounted on the front of the car. It detects critically reduced gaps and warns you of possible collisions.

It will automatically initiate a partial braking action if it detects no driver reaction, and will increase the braking pressure if the driver doesn’t brake hard enough. At low speeds (under 19mph) the integrated City Emergency Braking function helps you respond effectively to sudden situations.

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
ACC measures the distance to the vehicle in front of you, adjusts your speed and maintains a preset distance. It does not exceed the speed you enter in the cruise control system.

Parking Assist / Rear Assist rear-view camera
The New Polo’s parking sensors make parallel parking easier with its audible warning beeps and graphic on the infotainment display. The Rear Assist rear-view camera superimposes guidelines over the camera image, with different colours depending on the distance.

Driver Alert System
If you’re tired, the New Polo’s Driver Alert System will recommend that you take a break. It can recognise fatigue and the resulting decline in attentiveness by continuously evaluating driving characteristics above a speed of 40mph. (That truly is witchcraft!)

Electronic Stability Control
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) prepares you for all sorts of slippery driving scenarios by detecting critical driving situations and preventing the car from fishtailing.

Check out the New Polo’s driver assistance systems in more comprehensive detail at Volkswagen’s special technologies website.

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Volkswagen India launched the New Polo today to a blaze of publicity. The latest model hits Indian shores after being revealed in European specification back in January. Just as that car, the ‘new’ Polo is a refreshed 6R fifth-generation model, with both major and minor detail changes. And the Indian version carries a few differences from European-spec cars, too.

Just as in Europe, styling changes are limited to a silver chrome strip linking the fog lights in the front bumper, a slightly restyled grille and headlights, redesigned tail lights and rear bumper, as well as new 15-inch ‘Tosa’ alloy wheels and a new six-colour paint palette (which includes the new ‘Copper Orange’ shade).

Inside, there’s a new aluminium finish for the infotainment and air vents in the centre console (as the European car), a new three-spoke steering wheel – multifunction on higher-specification variants – and a new infotainment system, which is more basic than the version offered in Europe.

The instruments remain the same, therefore losing the ‘tunnels’ which new mainland Europe models receive. The biggest difference between Indian and European models seems to be the lack of comprehensive safety equipment that the latter gains with the 2014 refresh. Indian models seem to do without.

The big news is the arrival of a new four-cylinder 1.5-litre TDI engine. Available in 89 and 104bhp outputs, it replaces the three-cylinder 1.2 TDI. The more powerful version is only available in the Polo GT TDI which is due to arrive later in the year. European cars have 1.4-litre three-cylinder TDI engines.

The lower-output unit is respectable enough, though, with 230Nm of torque available between 1500-2500rpm (the 104bhp version has 250Nm). The 74bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine stays. All models have five-speed manual transmissions.

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It misses out on ABS, a heated rear window and rear wash/wipe system (it’s like it’s the 1970s!), and only receives radio ‘preparation’. It rolls on 14-inch steel wheels with 175/70 R14 tyres.

The Comfortline adds dual-beam headlights, ambient cabin lights, electrically-adjustable wing mirrors, electric windows all round, remote central locking, ABS, a four-speaker CD/MP3 audio system with USB, AUX-IN, Bluetooth and SD card compatibility, and 15-inch steel wheels with 185/60 R15 rubber.

Finally, Highline versions build on that specification with an added-capability multifunction instrument display, climate control, multifunction steering wheel, rear parking sensors and 15-inch ‘Tosa’ alloys (‘Lyon’ in Europe).

Cross Polo, Polo GT TSI and Polo GT TDI versions are all expected to arrive by the end of the year. It is reported that current localisation of the Polo is 70 per cent. Volkswagen India are targeting 90 per cent, but that would depend on the outcome of an engine plant consultation.

All refreshed Polo models for India have a galvanised body with a six-year anti-corrosion warranty. Petrol models start at Rs 4.99 lakh to Rs 6.07 lakh, while TDI versions start at Rs 6.27 lakh, topping out at Rs 7.37 lakh. Visit Volkswagen India’s website for more information and comprehensive specifications.

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The Polo emerged as the best-selling vehicle during June 2014 in South Africa, according to sales figures released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA). 2994 South African Polo 6Rs were sold last month, 367 more than the Toyota Hilux.

The Polo sat at the top of the best-selling passenger car tables, too, outselling its cheaper Polo Vivo sibling by 357 units. In May 2014 it was the reverse – the Vivo sold 2467 units, while 2326 Polos found new owners.

The Polo Vivo was launched in March 2010 as an entry-level model for the South African market, replacing the Series 1 Golf-based CitiGolf, and is available as a three or five-door hatchback and four-door booted saloon with 74bhp/84bhp 1.4-litre and 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engines.

Costing from R138,200 for the base-model 1.4 hatchback to R178,800 for the top 1.6 Polo Maxx, the 2013 Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo (9N3), built from 2005 to 2009. A new version of the fifth-generation Polo (6R) is now available as a three and five-door hatch, in addition to the four-door Polo Sedan.

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The New Polo market roll-out continues. South Africa is the latest country to take the refreshed Polo 6R under its wing. A consistent strong sales tool for Volkswagen South Africa (23,501 found new homes in 2013), the Polo hatchback is built in Uitenhage for both local and export markets.

Along with Europe, new South African Polos come with visual and technical enhancements. Driver assistance and infotainment systems are, as with other markets, the big news. The 1.2-litre 66kW/89bhp TSI engine is the sweet spot of the range according to Volkswagen South Africa – just as well, as that is the only engine which will be offered intially.

Sharper looks
Externally, as with European models, new head and tail lights contribute to sharper looks, while chrome trim around the fog lights widens the frontal apsect. At the rear, a wider numberplate recess, reprofiled bumper and embedded rear reflectors are the main changes.

In profile, new 15-inch and 16-inch alloy wheels offer visual differentiation, while the ‘Rivazza’ rim featured on European ‘Fresh’ and UK ‘SE Design’ models can be added to the mid-range Comfortline specification.

Base colours are Black, Flash Red and Pure White, but, as with other markets, the new – and favoured in these parts – Cornflower (read ‘Mayan’ in the UK) Blue can be chosen to really brighten up your choice of New Polo. The stand-out colour in the CrossPolo range is Honey Orange Metallic.

1.2-litre TSI engines
Two 1.2-litre engines of 66kW (89bhp) and 81kW (108bhp) will be available at launch. Both offer low emissions (117 and 120g/km CO2 respectively) and good fuel consumption (4.9l/km, 58mpg and 5.1l/km, 55mpg respectively), along with nippy performance with 160Nm of torque available from 1400-3500rpm.

Trendline and Comfortline cars will have the lower output engine and a five-speed gearbox, while Highline models have the choice of the higher-output unit, a six-speed gearbox or a seven-speed DSG. CrossPolo models also feature the 108bhp engine. Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESC), ABS, Hill-Hold, engine drag torque regulation (MSR) and Electronic Differential Locks (EDS) are fitted to ensure safety at all times.

As with European models, the South African New Polo offers the most driver assistance systems in its class. These include the standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and Driver Alert System (visit our ‘Polo 6R (F)’ pages for full description of these systems).

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Moving up the range, Comfortline models feature 15-inch ‘Torsa’ alloy wheels are an option), leather multifunction steering wheel, and multifunction display. Chrome accents on the exterior and body-coloured door handles are outside signifiers, while standard equipment includes electrically-adjustable and heated door mirrors, under-seat sliding drawers, and ‘Rail’ fabric.

The range-topping Highline has 16-inch ‘Portago’ alloy wheels, gloss black grille trim, graphite grey centre console trim, centre armrest, and sport seats trimmed in ‘Cell’ fabric upholstery.

All South African New Polos have three-spoke steering wheels, instruments housed in ‘tubes’ and the new centre console controls already seen in Europe. Two touchscreens are available for the infotainment system: ‘Composition Touch’ is five inches in size and has SD card and AUX-IN ports and a monochrome display for all standard entry-level Trendline models.

A five-inch ‘Composition Colour’ system is standard on mid-range Comfortline and top-end Highline models, and boats SD card, USB and Bluetooth connectivity. Additional chrome highlights on the door panels and air vents and gearshift surround lend an additional air of sophistication.

The design-led CrossPolo can also be chosen by buyers wanting something a little more rugged. It offers unique ‘off-road’ styling including a silver underbody protection panel front and rear, black wheel arch cladding, silver finish door mirrors and roof rails, 17-inch ‘Canyon’ alloy wheels, and unique ‘Link’ interior trim.

Optional extras
High-specification optional extras include bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights (only available with CrossPolo at launch), panoramic sunroof, removable towbar, climatronic air-conditioning, light and vision package (includes auto-dimming interior mirror, rain sensor wipers and low beam assist), Park Distance Control, ‘Rear Assist’ rear view camera and cruise control.

For more information on the South African New Polo, click here.

2014 VOLKSWAGEN POLO (ZA) PRICES

(VAT and CO2 emissions tax included)

1.2 TSI 66kW Trendline, R188,300
1.2 TSI 66kW Comfortline, R209,700
1.2 TSI 81kW Highline, R233,300
1.2 TSI 81kW Highline DSG, R247,800
1.2 TSI 81kW CrossPolo, R241,000

South African New Polos come with a standard 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.

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