PoloDriver

2018 was yet another busy year for the Volkswagen Polo. The launch and introduction of the all-new sixth-generation model into the UK and the debut of the Polo GTI R5 rally car have been the biggest happenings, while, yet again, the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo R has dominated the World Rallycross Championship in the hands of Johan Kristoffersson.

Historically featuring the current Polo, the South African Engen Volkswagen Cup also starred new sixth-generation Polo GTI racing cars, and while PSRX Volkswagen Sweden has bowed out of the World Rallycross Championship series for 2019, team boss and ex-rally champ Petter Solberg has promised there will be some action. Whether that turns out to be Polo-based or not, we’ve yet to find out.

Right now, though, we round up the Polo’s biggest achievements in 2018. (Bold entries are illustrated by the picture above that particular month’s list of events.)

January

• Sixth-generation Polo launched in South Africa
• Polo Vivo named the most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo is the fourth most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Fifteen orders confirmed for new Polo GTI R5 rally car as Petter Solberg tests the car in Sweden
• New Polo GTI chosen as basis for 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup circuit racer.

February

• Sixth-generation Polo launched in Australia from $17,990
• New-generation Polo Vivo launched in South Africa
• Sixth-generation Polo named the most popular passenger car in South Africa.
• Polo Vivo is the second most popular passenger car in South Africa.

March

• Polo claims Car South Africa magazine’s ‘Top 12 Best Buys 2018 – Small Hatchback’ award (Polo Vivo and Mazda 2 runners-up)
• Polo named as ‘Best Car 2018 – Sub-Compact Cars’ by Auto Motor und Sport
• Volkswagen India replaces Polo 1.2 with Polo 1.0 MPI
• Indian-market limited edition Polo Pace launched
• Polo Vivo is the most popular passenger car in South Africa for Q1 2018 with 7,027 units sold
• Polo is the second most popular passenger car in South Africa for Q1 2018 with 6,610 units sold
• Polo Vivo named the most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo is the second most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo announced as the World Urban Car 2018 winner
• 2018 World Rallycross Championship Volkswagen Polo R Supercar revealed
• Jeffrey Kruger wins race one of the 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup at Kyalami.

April

• Volkswagen Connect DataPlug and smartphone app-based connectivity system now standard on new Polo
• Polo named ‘Safe Car of the Year’ at inaugural FirstCar Awards
• 140bhp Polo VRS 1.2 TSI launched at 2018 Indonesia International Motor Show
• Volkswagen India launches the Vento Sport
• Polo Vivo is the most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo named the second most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo is the fifth most popular car in the UK
• Volkswagen Motorsport announces Polo GTI R5 set for competitive debut at 2018 Rally Spain
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar wins World RX of Barcelona; Petter Solberg fifth
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar wins World RX of Portugal; Petter Solberg third
• Jeffrey Kruger wins races two and three of the 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup at Killarney.

May

• Rear seat belt safety issue found on sixth-generation Polo models
• Polo is the most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo Vivo named the second most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo is the fifth most popular car in the UK
• Petter Solberg and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar finish second at World RX of Belgium; Johan Kristoffersson fifth
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar wins World RX of Great Britain; Petter Solberg seventh
• Tasmin Pepper wins races four and five of the 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup at Zwartkops.

June

• New South African-only Volkswagen Polo Vivo Maxx revealed
• Volkswagen South Africa launches new Polo GTI from R375,900
• Polo Vivo is the most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo named the second most popular passenger car in South Africa
• Polo is the fifth most popular car in the UK
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar wins World RX of Norway
• Johan Kristoffersson and PSRX Volkswagen Team Sweden Polo R Supercar wins World RX of Sweden
• Jonathan Mogotsi wins races six and seven of the 2018 Engen Volkswagen Cup at East London.

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2017 was yet another busy year for the Volkswagen Polo. The launch and introduction of the all-new sixth-generation model has been the major news, and although there has been no Polo rally action in 2017, the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI has dominated the World Rallycross Championship in the hands of Johan Kristoffersson.

But, with a debut for the new Polo GTI R5 later in 2018, the stages look set for a Polo return to asphalt and gravel action. The Engen Volkswagen Cup in South Africa is due to run new-generation Polo GTIs, too, in 2018, so next year’s Polo motorsport activity is shaping up very nicely.

Right now, though, we round up the Polo’s biggest achievements in 2017. (Bold entries are illustrated by the picture above that particular month’s list of events.)

January

• Al-Attiyah confirms no Polo R WRC in 2017 FIA World Rally Championship
• PSRX and Volkswagen Sweden rallycross team confirmed
• Polo Sound special edition launched in Germany
• Indian-market Polo GTI wins Autocar India’s Performance Hatchback of the Year award
• Polo is the tenth best-selling car in Europe (JATO).

February

• FIA prohibits complete homologation of 2017 Volkswagen Polo R WRC
• Polo GTI 230 special edition for Switzerland
• Guy Wilks confirmed for Polo RX in 2017 World Rallycross Championship
• Polo-based VW Ameo wins Car India and Bike India’s ’Compact Sedan Of The Year’ award
• Polo is the seventh best-selling car in the UK.

March

• Citi Vivo special edition launched in South Africa
• 1,250,000th Polo production jubilee celebrated by Volkswagen South Africa
• Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI R-Line launched in South Africa
• PSRX Volkswagen Sweden reveals 2017 World Rallycross Polo GTI Supercar
• Volkswagen Motorsport announces new Polo R5 rally car testing plans
• Indian-market Polo GTI wins the Thrill of Driving Award at the Times Auto Awards
• Polo-based VW Ameo wins the Compact Sedan of the Year at the Times Auto Awards
• Polo is the seventh best-selling car in the UK.

April


• PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTIs show pace at World RX of Barcelona
• Kristoffersson drives Polo GTI Supercar to World RX of Portugal podium
• Volkswagen India launches limited edition Polo GT Sport
• Indian-market Polo GTI wins Flywheel Auto Awards’ 2017 Performance Hatchback of the Year award
• Indian-market Polo GTI wins BBC Top Gear Awards’ 2017 Hot Hatch of the Year award
• Polo is the ninth best-selling car in the UK.

May

• Fifth-generation Polo-based Volkswagen Vento Allstar and GT launched in Malaysia
• World RX of Hockenheim podium place for Kristoffersson and Polo GTI
• PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTIs dominate World RX of Belgium with double podium
• Sixth-generation Polo prototype drives and ‘sneak peek’ video published
• Solberg and Kristoffersson do the double at World RX of Great Britain
• Polo is the fifth best-selling car in the UK.

June

• Volkswagen launches sixth-generation Polo ‘teaser’ video campaign
• Johan Kristoffersson takes second 2017 World RX victory in Norway
• First images of new Polo revealed ahead of 16 June world premiere
• New sixth-generation Polo unveiled at Berlin world premiere event on 16 June
• Polo is the eighth best-selling car in the UK.

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As the Volkswagen Derby celebrates its fortieth birthday, the saloon version of the all-new sixth-generation Polo has been unveiled. Mooted for some time, the Polo-based Volkswagen Virtus has been launched in Brazil and offers, according to VW, ‘the latest in design, innovation, interior space and high performance in the premium sedan segment.’

Arriving at Brazilian retailers in in January 2018, the Virtus is the first model to preview the new design language which will feature on all future Volkswagen sedan cars, and is focused particularly on Latin American markets. Like the all-new Polo, the Virtus is based on the smallest ‘A0’ version of the MQB platform, which means it includes Active Info Display digital instruments, and an eight-inch ‘Discover Media’ infotainment system, alongside other hi-tech features.

Sharing its bodywork with the recently-unveiled all-new Novo Polo, the Virtus draws on VW saloons of the past but adds modern, more sculpted lines. A high rear window line flows into a longer rear deck than we’ve seen on Volkswagen saloons of more recent times, and while it can’t be described as elegant in the way the first-generation Polo-based Derby can, it’s a solid effort and the boot doesn’t appear to be ‘tacked on’. The new Polo’s ‘tornado line’ terminates just above the rear lights, while the bootlid itself incorporates a neat rear spoiler.

521 litres of luggage space
The 4,480mm-long Virtus is 42.5 inches longer than the Novo Polo, with a 2,650mm wheelbase, the same as the current Jetta. That’s also 85mm longer than that of the new Polo, which itself saw a 94mm increase over the fifth-generation car. The height of VW’s new baby sedan is 1,468mm, 4mm more than the new Polo. Width is the same at 1,751mm. Volkswagen says there is room for three adults in the rear seats ‘with comfort’, while the large doors – larger than the Novo Polo – offer better ingress. Boot space is impressive: the new Polo can hold 351 litres, but the Virtus 521-litre trunk improves on this by a sizable 170 litres. That’s 67 litres up on the fifth-generation Polo-based saloon sold in some markets.

Inside, the familiarity of the sixth-generation Polo continues. The Virtus shares the new small Volkswagen’s dashboard and cabin, including the horizontal axis of instruments, and high quality glass displays. Just like the new Polo, there’s also the second generation of the 10.25-inch Active Info Display digital instruments, as well as MirrorLink, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

1.0, 128bhp 200 TSI engine
No exact details on engine specifications have been given, but the Virtus will be available with the same 1.0-litre turbocharged 128bhp ‘200 TSI’ (so-called because of its 200Nm torque output) three-cylinder engine. While the full power output is developed when fuelled with petrol, the three-pot can also run on ethanol, when 115bhp is developed. Torque is unchanged on both versions, while a six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission will also be offered, complete with steering wheel-mounted shift paddles. The Virtus 200 TSI does the 0 to 62mph dash in 9.9 seconds.

As you’d expect being based on the new Polo, the Virtus is one of the safest cars in its class. The Virtus 200 TSI is fitted with electronic stability control as standard, which also includes a hill hold function, and hydraulic brake assist and XDS+ electronic differential lock systems. In addition, the Virtus will be Brazil’s first car to offer a ‘cognitive manual’ which uses IBM’s Watson system to respond to drivers’ questions, including information which can be found in the car’s manual.

‘Stamp of innovation’
‘We are advancing rapidly in our product offensive with the revelation of the Virtus sedan just 60 days after the launch of the Novo Polo,’ said Pablo Di Si, President and CEO of Volkswagen South America and Brazil. ‘It is another step towards gaining a relevant position in the Latin America region. Virtus is already born with the stamp of innovation: it is a pioneer in the use of artificial intelligence, to help the owner to better know and enjoy Virtus in everyday use,’ he continued. The Virtus will be made at Volkswagen’s Anchieta factory, 20kms north of Sao Paulo.

The Polo has featured a saloon version in every model generation since the first-generation Polo-based Derby of 1977. Not sold in all global markets, the fifth-generation Polo spawned the Polo Sedan in Russia, South Africa and South America. The same car was re-christened Vento in India, where it was built and exported alongside local-market and export versions of the fifth-generation Polo.

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