PoloDriver

Volkswagen India has announced details of limited edition versions of its popular Polo and Vento (Polo hatchback) models. The extra features are purely visual: no changes have been made to the existing and well-proven petrol and diesel mechanical set-ups.

Polo Exquisite
The Polo Highline provides the basis for the Polo Exquisite, in 1.2-litre TSI and 1.5-litre TDI forms. Available to order now, special exterior features include a black roof foil, carbonfibre-look caps on the electrically-foldable mirrors, coloured door and rear hatchback trim, as well as unique scuff plates.

Inside, a carbonfibre-look centre console adds a sporty touch, while uniquely-enbossed seat covers add a luxurious feel. In addition, there are also tailored floor mats, cruise control and detachable made-to-fit blinds for the rear windows. The Polo Exquisite is available at no extra cost over the Highline model.

Michael Mayer, Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, said: ‘We are very excited to present India’s favorite hatchback in its new avatar, the Polo Exquisite. This new limited edition Polo which effortlessly boasts of stunning features further cements its place as the sporty, dynamic and a powerful hatch in the hearts of its owners.’

Vento Highline Plus
The Vento Highline Plus costs Rs 29,000 over the 1.6-litre MPI and 1.5-litre TDI Highline models it is based on. Extra kit includes a Blaupunkt music system with a 7.0-inch touchscreen-enabled navigation system and an SD card slot. The Vento Highline Plus features the same exterior and interior cosmetic upgrades as the Polo Exquisite hatchback.

For more details on the limited edition Polo Exquisite and Vento Highline Plus models, visit the Volkswagen India website.

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To celebrate Volkswagen Motorsport and the Polo R WRC’s success in the FIA World Rally Championship, Volkswagen Group Malaysia has launched the special edition Polo Trophy. Very limited in number, only 100 units will be available.

While the body work and paint scheme bring to mind the all-conquering and three-times world championship winning 318bhp Polo rally car, that’s where the similarities end. The Polo Trophy is unchanged mechanically from the 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol-engined Polo on which it is based. It even has the same wheels!

‘Designed especially for Malaysian WRC fans’ according to Volkswagen Group Malaysia, the six-speed automatic-only Polo Trophy is priced at RM89,888 plus on the road costs. WRC-inspired cosmetic touches include blue and grey Volkswagen Motorsport-type decals on the bonnet and sides and black wing mirror caps.

There is also a Polo R WRC Street-look rear hatch spoiler, ’Ecotint’ darkened window film and a seven-inch Blaupunkt Philadelphia 835 infotainment unit with satellite navigation.

Celebratory it may be, but the Polo Trophy isn’t quite the four-wheel drive super-Polo Volkswagen should be building to celebrate the Polo R WRC’s rallying successes…

Appetite-whetted? To see more pictures of the Malaysian-only Polo Trophy head here.

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2015 marks 40 years of the Volkswagen Polo and the German company is celebrating with the launch of a new special limited edition. The Polo ‘Original’ costs from €19,950 and comes in six engine/gearbox variations and features a host of extra kit. Only 1,000 Polo Originals will be built.

Five-door body style
Only available with a five-door body style, the Polo Original features ‘Original’ badging on the front wings and door sill trims, 16-inch ‘Portago’ alloy wheels, a gloss black front grille and LED headlights. Other exterior highlights include body-coloured mirror caps and darkened tail lamps.

Six colours are available: Pure White, Titanium Beige Metallic, Reflex Silver Metallic, Deep Black Pearl Effect, Oryx White Pearl Effect, and the one we’d go for, the fantastic Honey Orange Metallic seen on recent CrossPolos.

One of our favourite features is the houdstooth check seat covering, which our 1978 Polo N shared. In the Polo Original, a ‘truffle’/black combination called ‘Splender’ with ‘truffle’ stitching covers the sports seats with faux-leather side bolsters. Aluminium pedals and a leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel, handbrake grip and gear lever complete the interior upgrades.

On-board technology includes ‘Climatronic’ air-conditioning, Volkswagen’s ‘Front Assist’ anti-collision system with ‘City Emergency Braking’, a rear-view camera and ‘Colour Composition’ infotainment system with six speakers, USB and media-in inputs, as well as mobile telephone connectivity.

TSI and TDI engines
Engines range from the 1.2-litre TSI petrol in 88 and 103bhp guises, as well as TDI units with the same outputs. All feature BlueMotion Technology. The entry-level Polo Original 88bhp TSI costs €19,950, while the range-topping TDI is €22,500. Volkswagen states that buyers save €1,119 over similarly-equipped cars when all the standard kit is taken into account.

To promote the Polo Original, Volkswagen has released a cheeky film (above) featuring the original Polo, the Mk 1 from 1975. We’ve been lucky to drive the featured car (which is owned by Volkswagen Classic), but not quite like that!

The limited edition Polo Original is available to order now in Germany. For more details, visit the special website, and download the brochure here.

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A new version of the best-selling Polo Vivo has been announced by Volkswagen South Africa. The Eclipse special edition is available in both five-door hatchback and four-door sedan body styles, and is powered by a 1.4-litre 63kW (84bhp) petrol engine. Tax-inclusive prices start at R168,600 for the hatchback and rise to R174,600 for the sedan.

Silver-coloured door mirrors
Distinguished by Pure White or Deep Pearlescent Black paintwork, the Eclipse gains silver-coloured door mirrors, 16-inch ‘Mistral’ alloy wheels, ‘Eclipse’ badging, chrome strips on the boot edge, and lowered suspension. Inside, the centre console has a ‘steel graphite’ finish, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, gear lever and handbrake grip, as well as ‘Global’ seat fabric.

Both cars come with a 3-year/120,000km warranty and a 6-year anti-corrosion warranty. A 5-year/60,000km Volkswagen Automotion Maintenance Plan as well as a 5-year/60,000 km Service Plan are available as options. A 15,000km service interval is standard.

‘Dominant model’
‘Polo Vivo has been the dominant model in the local A0 hatch segment in spite of the new competitor models being launched. Its key product attributes such as affordability, German build quality, safety, space and comfort have a set an unparalleled benchmark in the segment.

‘These attributes continue to re-affirm Polo Vivo’s unique offering of “affordable and accessible mobility” to the South African customers. The cost of ownership over a 3-year cycle makes Polo Vivo one of the cheapest cars to own in the South Africa market,’ said Petra Hoffmann, Volkswagen Group South Africa Director, Sales and Marketing.

With over 175,000 sold since its introduction in March 2010, the 2005-2009 Mk 4 Polo-based Polo Vivo range has dominated the ‘A0’ hatchback market in South Africa, and is continually in the NAAMSA monthly best-selling car lists. The car, along with its Polo 6C sibling are the only locally-built models in the segment, and have a combined market share of 33 per cent.

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A new special edition Polo has been announced for the German market. The Polo Lounge comes with unique exterior embellishments and a choice of four petrol (59-109bhp) and three TDI engines (74-104bhp). Prices start at €15.200 for the five-speed 1.0-litre model and rise to €20.375 for the 89bhp TDI with DSG.

Extra exterior kit distinguishing the Polo Lounge from its siblings includes dark red rear lights, silver 6J x 15 ‘Novara’ alloy wheels, gloss black front grille, ‘Lounge’ badges and dark-tinter rear windows. Inside, there are ‘Deep Inox’ centre console inlays, ‘Tartan’ upholstery, leather-trimmed steering wheel, gearknob and handbrake lever, and ‘Lounge’ floor mats.

Other standard equipment features front fog lights, ‘coming home’ headlight function, rain-sensing wipers, fatigue detection system, ‘Climatronic’ climate control, auto-dimming interior mirror, cruise control and six speaker ‘Composition Colour’ infotainment system.

Optional packages include the R-Line styling package comprising of colour-coded rear spoiler, ‘R-Line’ badging, ‘R-Line’ bumpers, and 7J x 17 ‘Mallory’ alloy wheels. A ‘Lounge Plus’ package adds ‘Salvador’ 7J x 16 alloy wheels, LED headlights, headlamp washers, and a low washer fluid level warning light.

The Polo Lounge is just one of the Volkswagen’s new Club and Lounge new special edition models, launched this month by Volkswagen’s new ‘Marketing Manager’ Robbie Williams. To find out more, click here.

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