PoloDriver

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.

Continue Reading

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.

Continue Reading

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]

Continue Reading

After an appearance at the Geneva motor show earlier this year, the special edition and distinctive Polo Beats is now available to order in the UK. Prices start at £13,910 for the 59bhp 1.0 BlueMotion Technology (BMT) model with enhanced styling features and a 300-watt sound system which gives the car its name.

Eight-channel audio system
At the heart of the Polo Beats is the eight-channel, digital sound processor (DSP)-equipped super-sounding audio system provided by Californian music company Beats Electronics, more well-known for its range of hipster-friendly headphones. For comparison purposes, the standard Polo Match comes with an 80-watt sound system – the new Polo special ‘beats’ (sorry) that by almost four times.

Seven speakers – two A-pillar tweeters, two front door woofers, two broadband speakers in the rear and a spare wheel well subwoofer – come as standard and along with the DSP ‘delivers high-performance audio processing that gives clarity and definition’, according to Volkswagen. The car also speaks (shouts?) about its audio pedigree with ‘Beats’ side skirt decals, and B-pillar badges.

Further differentiators include 16-inch ‘Knight’ alloy wheels, darkened rear light units, a high-gloss black front grille, ‘Flash Red’, ‘Pure White’ or ‘Black’ door mirrors, and rear privacy glass. Inside, as well as the upgraded audio, is a pair of sport seats with alcantara side bolsters and ‘Beats’ cloth, red-striped seatbelts, LED footwell lighting, and ‘Cortina Silver’ centre console and air vent trim, as well as leatherette door panels, red-edged floor mats and ‘Beats’-branded door sill protectors.

Three or five doors, four engines
The Polo Beats comes with three or five doors, and a choice of four engines. A trio of 1.0 and 1.2-litre petrol engines offer power from 59 to 89bhp, while a 1.4-litre TDI version emits just 93g/km of CO2 and has a claimed economy figure of 83.1mpg. The petrol models offer emissions from 106 to 108g/km, and claimed economy from 58.9 to 60.1mpg. All have Volkswagen’s BlueMotion Technology, with the 1.2 TSI also having the option of a seven-speed DSG gearbox.

Slotting in-between the Match and SEL models, the Polo Beats features a 6.5-inch ‘Composition Media’ infotainment system, manual air conditioning, cruise control, and parking sensors. It also adds Volkswagen’s Car-Net ‘App-Connect’, which combines Apple ‘CarPlay’, Google ‘Android Auto’ and ‘MirrorLink’ and allows the ‘mirroring’ of the smartphone display on the infotainment touchscreen via a USB connection.

The Polo Beats is available to order from Volkswagen Retailers now, with first deliveries expected to arrive this month. For more details, visit www.volkswagen.co.uk.

2016 VOLKSWAGEN POLO BEATS PRICES (UK)
1.0 BMT 59bhp, 106g/km, five-speed manual, 3dr: £13,910
1.0 BMT 59bhp, 106g/km, five-speed manual, 5dr: £14,540
1.0 BMT 74bhp, 108g/km, five-speed manual, 3dr: £14,435
1.0 BMT 74bhp, 108g/km, five-speed manual, 5dr: £15,065

1.2 TSI BMT 89bhp, 107g/km, five-speed manual, 3dr: £15,055
1.2 TSI BMT 89bhp, 107g/km, five-speed manual, 5dr: £15,685
1.2 TSI BMT 89bhp, 109g/km, seven-speed DSG, 3dr: £16,430
1.2 TSI BMT 89bhp, 109g/km, seven-speed DSG, 5dr: £17,060
1.2 TSI BMT 89bhp, 109g/km, seven-speed DSG, 3dr: £16,430

1.4 TDI BMT 89bhp, 93g/km, five-speed manual, 3dr: £16,120
1.4 TDI BMT 89bhp, 93g/km, five-speed manual, 5dr: £16,750

Continue Reading

A new Polo special edition will be launched at the Geneva motor show this week. A product of Volkswagen and audio specialist company Beats Audio, the main draw of the Polo Beats is its 300W, seven-speaker audio system, which VW promises will be ‘state-of-the-art’.

Eight-channel amplifier
Along with a similar version of the new Up (also to be launched in Switzerland), the Polo Beats ‘premium’ sound system also features an eight-channel amplifier and a digital signal processor (DSP, not to be confused with the Electronic Stability Programme ‘ESP’ acronym).

The seven ‘high-end’ speakers are distributed around the Polo Beats’ cabin: there are two tweeters in the A-pillars, two woofers in the front door panels, two broadband speakers in the rear, in addition to a sub-woofer which sits neatly in the spare wheel well in the luggage area.

2016 Volkswagen Polo Beats

2016 Volkswagen Polo Beats

2016 Volkswagen Polo Beats

Special edition status
Elsewhere in the cabin, there are unique ‘Beats’ seats and door panels, coloured seat belts and a leather-trimmed steering wheel. Externally, the Polo Beats sounds out its special edition status by way of 16-inch ‘Syenit’ alloy wheels, coloured door mirrors and a gloss black front grille.

At the time of writing, there are no confirmed details on price and availability for the Polo Beats. Another Polo-based Geneva motor show debut is expected to come in the form of the ‘T-Cross’ concept, a small SUV-style car, which will preview a new member of the 2018 sixth-generation Polo family.

Continue Reading