PoloDriver

Since our last post about the Polo R on 28 January, various online forums, websites and publications have once again added to the ongoing development story. It all started with Autocar posting a story on 14 February stating that Volkswagen have cooled on the project (and its possible Euopean market only four-wheel-drive CrossPolo sister) and ‘is unlikely to launch an R version of its Polo, despite Audi having developed an all-wheel drive version of its PQ25 platform for its new A1 quattro (and über-hatch S1).’

The reasons? The German company reportedly sees little market for the car, which would cost somewhere between the £18,790 Polo GTI and the larger £25,045 Golf GTI. Various motoring online sites have since jumped on the Autocar story, creating yet more speculation. There’s been no official comment from Volkswagen, although a UK spokesman did tell us back in May 2010 that the company line was that an extra-strong Polo R wasn’t in the product plans then. Are the latest denials finally the end of the saga?

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Following a successful 2010 in not only UK but also worldwide sales, January saw the Polo make an encouraging start to 2011’s UK volumes. The first set of 2011 figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) record that, in a market down 11.5%, Volkswagen sold 3010 Polos in January, putting in seventh place in the UK top 10 best sellers. The larger Golf was two places higher, selling 4110 examples. Once again, the Ford Fiesta was the top-selling supermini, in second place overall with 5844 units sold. ‘Despite the challenging conditions, the demand for low CO2 emitting and highly fuel efficient cars continues to grow,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. The UK’s top 10 best-selling cars for January 2011 and the year-to-date are as follows:

1 Ford Focus: 7582
2 Ford Fiesta: 5844
3 Vauxhall Astra: 4510
4 Vauxhall Corsa: 4363
5 Volkswagen Golf: 4110
6 BMW 3 Series: 3184
7 Volkswagen Polo: 3010
8 Vauxhall Insignia: 2236
9 Peugeot 207: 2171
10 Nissan Qashqai: 2108

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Continuing its 2010 sales success, the Polo Vivo once again topped the passenger car market in South Africa last month. Volkswagen Group South Africa sold 2986 Polo Vivos in January 2011, comfortably securing the number one selling position. The company also leads the market in both total vehicle and passenger car sales, in a market up by 24% when compared to December 2010. ‘Volkswagen Group South Africa captured 24.1% of the passenger market – starting the New Year on a very positive note,’ said Mike Glendinning, Director of Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Group South Africa.

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. Available as both a three or five-door hatchback and four-door booted saloon with 74bhp/84bhp 1.4-litre and 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engines, two trim levels are available: base and Trendline. Costing from R104,065 for the 1.4 hatchback to R156,220 for the 1.6 Trendline Sedan, the Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo, built 2005 to 2009.

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Another day, another Polo GTI group test. The recently-introduced Volkswagen UK press fleet Polo GTIs really are seeing a lot of action at the moment. Following the recent evo magazine hot hatch group test, the new issue of the UK’s Auto Express pits the latest Polo GTI against rivals from Citroën and Škoda. In our opinion, the £19,410 178bhp Polo GTI certainly looks the part when compared to the £16,300 DS3 DSport and £16,260 Fabia vRS, but which car gives the best hot hatchback-like driving experience? While the DS3 DSport is down on power by 30bhp when compared to the Polo and its in-house rival Fabia – which use the same 1.4-litre TSI engine – does it put its typically French driving characteristics to good use? Buy a copy of Auto Express Issue 1151 to find out.

[Image: Auto Express/Otis Clay]

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The new issue of evo magazine sees the new Citroën DS3 Racing square up to its rivals, one of them being the new Polo GTI. Over roads in South Wales, ex-Autocar hack Chris Harris and the team tests the hot Polo (for the first time in right-hand drive on UK roads) against the 204bhp DS3-R, the 208bhp Mini Cooper S, the 198bhp Renaultsport Clio and the 189bhp Vauxhall Corsa VXR. Surprisingly, the 1390cc TSI-engined Polo scampers to 62mph faster than its four rivals and sits towards the lower end of the price range, too, at £19,410 for the five-door tested here. The main criticisms? As with other recent tests (revised online Autocar first drive here), the DSG-only option comes in for some flak, as does the GTI’s more refined nature. Which car is victorious? Watch the video (unfortunately we couldn’t embed it), and read the full group test in issue 154 of evo, out tomorrow, 2 February.

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