The Polo continues to endear itself to new car buyers in 2012, according to the latest batch of sales figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). In January, it sold 2898 examples, a figure up on December’s tally, meaning it retains its sixth place in the UK bestsellers chart. Its larger stablemate, the Golf, was three places higher selling 3992 vehicles, while the reigning champion, the Ford Fiesta once again took the top slot, with 7824 units finding homes. Continuing the trend from 2011, the supermini segment once again took four of the top 10 positions, and showed the largest rise of volumes last month.

Overall, the SMMT states, UK new car registrations rose by 0.03% or 42 units in January 2012 to 128,853 units. The total was boosted by the private market, up 2.7% on January 2011 and further growth in the fleet sector. ‘The January new car market held firm with 128,853 registrations, up on January 2011, a welcome sign of stability in uncertain economic times,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. ‘2012 is set to be an exciting year with record numbers of new models coming to market filled with innovative technology that will save the motorist fuel, enhance comfort and further increase levels of safety and security.’ The UK’s top 10 best-selling cars for January 2012 (and therefore the year so far) are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 7824
2 Ford Focus: 5643
3 Volkswagen Golf: 3992
4 Vauxhall Corsa: 3624
5 Vauxhall Astra: 3340
6 Volkswagen Polo: 2898
7 Vauxhall Insignia: 2719
8 Nissan Qashqai: 2627
9 Audi A3: 2380
10 Peugeot 207: 2364

Two race-quailty boost hose kits for the Polo GTI 6R have recently been added to Forge Motorsport’s tuning parts catalogue. Based on the original specification items, Forge’s silicone woven fabric reinforcement hoses are easy and direct replacements over Volkswagen’s official parts, and can tolerate higher boost pressures and temperatures, as well as a longer life. They can be ordered black, blue, or red, and will also fit the 1.4 TSI Audi A1 TFSI, SEAT Ibiza Cupra/Cupra Bocanegra and Skoda Fabia vRS (twin-charged models only). Prices start at £111.30 excluding VAT for the four-hose kit, while the complete kit retails at £160.97 excluding VAT. For more information, visit the Forge Motorsport website.

Volkswagen Group South Africa has made a strong start to 2012, as the Polo Vivo and Polo took the country’s top two positions in the passenger car sales chart for January. From a total of 35,428 vehicles, the budget Polo Vivo sold 2964 units, while the fifth-generation Polo 6R swept up 2644 sales, an astonishing combined figure of 15.3% of the passenger car market. ‘Total vehicle sales of 9803 in January saw Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) top the total market in the first month of the year – with a 21.3% market share. Its market share in the passenger vehicle category was even more pleasing, at 25.5% with sales of 9003,’ said VWSA Sales and Marketing Director, Mike Glendinning.

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 104bhp 1.6-litre petrol engines. Costing from R104,065 for the base-model 1.4 hatchback to R156,220 for the top 1.6 Trendline Sedan, the 2011 Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo (9N3), built from 2005 to 2009. The fifth-generation Polo (6R) is available as both a three and five-door hatchback in addition to the traditional four-door Polo Sedan.

Volkswagen Australia is bringing yet more refinements to the Polo range, with the introduction of a revised range on 1 February 2012. Prices for the revised Polo range will be announced on this date. With such awards as Drive’s Car of the Year ‘Best City Car’ and Australia’s Best Cars ‘Best Light Car over $20,000’, the fifth-generation Polo has proved to be a hit for the second consecutive year, outstanding quality quality and class-leading engine technologies being its key strengths. The range revisions just make Volkswagen’s small car offering stronger.

The entry-level Polo Trendline will come in five-door form only, replacing the three-door model, and following the trend for the Australian small-car market in general. Elsewhere, equipment levels for all models have been enhanced. Bluetooth connectivity (an option sorely lacking on UK models) has been added, as has a Media Device Interface (MDI) and daytime driving lights. The top-flight GTI meanwhile, gets an RCD510 touchscreen audio system, automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers and an automatically-dipping rear view mirror, all as standard.

[Source: vwwatercooled.org.au]

In the latest issue of Volkswagen’s digital magazine ‘Das.’ the Polo GTI is captured on camera by German photographer Uwe Breitkopf. The seven stunning images feature a Shadow Blue three-door out on the streets, and the dynamic angles really catch the spirit of the small tearaway Volkswagen. With CGI used to complement the car, Breitkopf sates that, ‘Instead of revealing every detail, high contrast and a reduced colour code gives the images a strong and powerful graphic composition, inspiring the imagination.’ See the set of fantastic images for yourself at www.volkswagen-das.co.uk/#/spectacularview where you can also subscribe for future issues of the interactive magazine.

2012 Volkswagen Polo GTI by Uwe Breitkopf

2012 Volkswagen Polo GTI by Uwe Breitkopf

2012 Volkswagen Polo GTI by Uwe Breitkopf

2012 Volkswagen Polo GTI by Uwe Breitkopf

2012 Volkswagen Polo GTI by Uwe Breitkopf

2012 Volkswagen Polo GTI by Uwe Breitkopf

2012 Volkswagen Polo GTI by Uwe Breitkopf

In the same way that Volkswagen ‘Match’ models in the UK have traditionally meant more kit for less money, the German company has adopted the same principle – and name – for a range of special editions. Versions of the Polo, Golf, Golf Plus, Golf Variant, Jetta, Scirocco, Sharan and Touran can be ordered in Match configuration, with many enjoying extra kit which saves buyers over €3330 when the options are added individually. Distinguishing features for the German-market Polo Match model includes special 15-inch ‘Stratford’ alloy wheels, unique ‘Victory’ striped interior upholstery, leather-trimmed steering wheel, handbrake cover and gearshift gaiter, aluminium dashboard inserts, rain sensor, ParkPilot parking system, gloss black door mirrors, chrome-trimmed front grilles, and special ‘Match’ badging.

All Match models come in Reflex Silver Metallic, and the Polo can be ordered with 16-inch ‘Syenit’ alloy wheels with black highlights, and fitted with 215/45 R 16 tyres. The Polo Match comes with 1.2-litre 59 and 69bhp, 1.4 84bhp, 1.2 TSI 89 and 104bhp petrol engines, and 1.2-litre 74bhp, 1.6 89 and 104bhp TDI units. An 81bhp BiFuel version is also available. The ‘Match Plus’ optional extra package includes 16-inch ‘Mistral’ alloy wheels, reading lights, make-up light in the sun visors, panoramic glass sunroof, locking alloy wheel bolts, and space saver spare wheel. The Polo Match is available to order now and starts from €14,450 for the 59bhp 1.2 version, rising to €19,400 for the 89bhp 1.2 TSI with seven-speed DSG gearbox. For more information go to Volkswagen’s Match models microsite.

The Polo Vivo was once again South Africa’s top-selling passenger car in December 2011, according to figures released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA). In three and five-door hatchback and four-door sedan (saloon) configurations, the Vivo claimed the sales top spot with a total of 3060 sales. Last month also saw the the fifth-generation Polo record impressive figures, too, once again in second place, with 2114 units. The Polo 6R was also the biggest export model for Volkswagen South Africa. The sole producer of right-hand drive current generation standard and CrossPolo-trimmed models, its state-of-the-art Uitenhage factory exported 2372 units overseas last month.

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 104bhp 1.6-litre petrol engines. Costing from R104,065 for the base-model 1.4 hatchback to R156,220 for the top 1.6 Trendline Sedan, the 2011 Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo (9N3), built from 2005 to 2009. The new fifth-generation Polo (6R) is also available as both a three and five-door hatchback in addition to the traditional four-door Polo Sedan.

The Polo’s popularity was unwavering during December 2011, as it sold 2742 units, making it once again the UK’s sixth best-selling car according to the last set of figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The UK industry body also released 2011’s overall sales figures this morning, and the Polo was nothing but consistent, ending the year in seventh place in the country’s top 10 best-selling cars chart, with 45,992 cars finding homes. It was a similar but more successful story for the Ford Fiesta; Uncle Henry’s now global supermini sold 5411 units in December, taking the top spot. It ended the year in similar style, selling 96,112 cars, and top of the UK sales chart.

The supermini segment remains the largest in the UK, with a market share almost unchanged on 2010 at 36.3%, while new car demand totalled 1,941,253 units in 2011, down 4.4% on 2010, but ahead of the 1.92 million forecast. Registrations in December 2011 fell by 3.7% to 119,188 units and the market was down 1.8% in quarter four, while diesel and alternatively-fuelled cars both took record market shares over the year. The SMMT also says that average new car CO2 emissions fell to a new low of 138.1g/km in 2011, down 4.2% on the 2010 level, and the Volkswagen Golf was the best-selling diesel model.

‘2011 proved to be a challenging year for the UK motor industry. Total new car registrations were slightly ahead of industry expectations at 1.94 million units, still down 4.4% on 2010,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. ‘Weak economic growth will make trading conditions tough in 2012, but record numbers of new and updated models, significantly improved fuel efficiency and exciting new technologies will help to encourage consumers into showrooms. Business and consumer confidence will be the key to a successful year, so it will be important that government delivers on its growth strategy and helps to resolve instability in the Euro Zone.’ The top 10 best-selling cars in the UK for December 2011 and for the year overall (sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 5411 (96,112, 1st)
2 Vauxhall Corsa: 5258 (77,751, 3rd)
3 Vauxhall Astra: 4856 (62,575, 5th)
4 Ford Focus: 4047 (81,832, 2nd)
5 Volkswagen Golf: 4031 (63,688, 4th)
6 Volkswagen Polo: 2742 (45,992, 7th)
7 Mini: 2706 (35,845, 10th)
8 Nissan Qashqai: 2580 (39,406, 9th)
9 Vauxhall Insignia: 2494 (46,264, 6th)
10 Hyundai i10: 2411

(The 2011 top 10 best-seller absent from December’s sales figures, is the BMW 3 Series selling 42,471 units in eighth place.)

Volkswagen recorded one of its strongest performances at the 2011 Australia’s Best Car Awards, taking five category wins. For the second consecutive year, the Polo 66TDI took the ‘Best Light Car over $20,000’. Other Volkswagen Group Australia winners included the Golf 90TSI (‘Best Small Car under $35,000’), Jetta 118TSI (‘Best Medium Car under $50,000’), Tiguan 103TDI (‘Best SUV under $40,000’), and Touareg V6 TDI (‘Best Luxury SUV over $60,000’).

Anke Koeckler, Volkswagen Group Australia’s Managing Director, was honoured to receive these accolades: ‘2011 has been huge for Volkswagen, with awards such as these, it is really the perfect conclusion to what has been an overwhelmingly positive year. The Polo continues to impress, being recognised for the second consecutive year. One of our strongest and most popular models, the Golf 90TSI, has been judged as one of Australia’s best vehicles marking it the sixth time a Golf has appeared amongst the winners at Australia’s Best Cars.’

The Australia’s Best Cars judges were particularly impressed with the Volkswagen Polo: ‘The Volkswagen Polo has redefined the class with the German carmaker adding a touch of esteem and luxury to a sector of the market not traditionally known for above average levels of quality and refinement.’ Australia’s Best Car Awards are now in their eleventh year and are a co-operation between the seven State and Territory based car clubs of Australia. It is the nation’s most comprehensive and independent consumer vehicle testing and award program.

Australian motoring website Drive has named the Polo 77TSI as the Best City Car in its Car of the Year 2011 awards. The Volkswagen supermini took the overall title in 2010, and the car was an unanimous choice by the judges for 2011’s accolade, largely due to its ‘great engine, excellent road manners and classy cabin.’ Up against the Kia Rio Si and the Toyota Yaris (both newer rivals), the judges described the latest iteration of the Polo as ‘a little Volkswagen with big car credentials,’ stating that ‘the fifth-generation Polo’s 1.2-litre turbo engine delivers unrivalled performance and refinement for a car priced from $19,850.’

Another Australian website has also praised the Polo highly. Pitting the small VW against its 10 chief rivals in a Light Car mega-test, motoring.com.au stated that ‘There are ample reasons the Polo has won more trophies than the athletics champion at the school sports carnival. It’s earned almost straight As in a category dominated by B and C-grade students. You might argue it’s not fair that one of the richest kids in school gets all the kudos, but in this instance, the $22,350 Polo is worth every cent and has earned each of its accolades.’

The Polo 6R ended 2011 with as much success as it enjoyed in both 2009 and 2010. European sales were up by 1.2 per cent in October 2011 (compared to same month the year before) and it ended the year by being the second best-selling car in Europe, behind its bigger brother, the Golf. The figures – released by industry body Jato on 20 December – speak for themselves. The Golf’s 2011 European sales tally was 449,882, while 329,891 Polos found new homes. Volkswagen’s Passat finished seventh, making the German manufacturer Europe’s most popular in 2011, with 1,550,036 cars sold. Ford was second, its popular Fiesta and Focus models accounting for almost 600,000 new car sales alone. The Polo (including its Vento saloon variant) was a similar success story in India last year, with Volkswagen reporting sales of 74,305 units for the January–December 2011 period.

The most exciting Polo news of 2011 was the final unveiling of the Polo R WRC, with which Volkswagen Motorsport intends to complete in the 2013 World Rally Championship. Signing the first factory driver, Sébastien Ogier was the icing on the cake. Other motorsport series also continued around the world, with the Volkswagen Polo Cup India being renamed the Volkswagen Polo R Cup India, and the Polo Vivo made its track and rally debut. As far as the road car was concerned, it still continued to win awards and make a good impression, especially on us, as we took a Polo GTI on a 1000-mile road trip. Strong sales figures in the UK and further afield continued to add to the Polo’s success. (Bold entries are illustrated by the picture above that particular month.)

January

• Volkswagen UK kicks off the year with a £500 saving on selected Polo models and free servicing package
• Auto Express reports that previously denied 200bhp Polo R ‘is confirmed’
• Polo wins Wheels magazine’s Car of the Year 2010 award in Australia. Judges state that it’s ‘a very worthy winner.’
• Polo revealed as one of the best-selling cas in the UK in 2010, with 45,517 units sold, putting it in sixth place, and 8000 ahead of Volkswagen UK’s preliminary forecasts
• Polo Vivo revealed as the best-selling car in South Africa during 2010, shifting 23,297 examples
• Polo BlueMotion exempted from London Congestion Charge due to rule changes
• Polo sells 3010 units in UK
• Polo Vivo sells 2986 units in South Africa.

February

• A Vento (Polo saloon) is the 50,000th car produced at Volkswagen’s hi-tech factory in Pune, India
• Autocar quashes latest Polo R rumours
• Polo GTI 6R pitted against rivals in both Auto Express and evo magazines
• Polo sells 1570 units in UK
• Polo Vivo sells 2552 units in South Africa.

March

• Polo crowned ‘Best Small Car’ at 2011 Fleet News Awards
• £500 saving offer on selected Polo models extended
• New Polo Vivo S2000 rally car unveiled
• Cricket-themed Vento IPL Edition launched in India
• Polo 1.6 TDI declared 2011 Wesbank/SAGMJ Car of the Year in South Africa
• Polo sells 7634 units in UK
• Polo Vivo sells 2768 units in South Africa.

April

• 1.2-litre TDI displacing 74bhp replaces 1.6 unit of same output in the UK
• Polo awarded maximum safety rating in Japanese NCAP crash testing programme
• Polo GTI 6R launched in South Africa, costing R259,000
• Polo sells 4524 units in UK
• Polo Vivo sells 2221 units in South Africa.

May

• Polo Sedan launched in South Africa, with 84 and 104bhp engines and a starting price of R159,900
• New promotional Polo Harlequin appears, film-wrapped courtesy of Drift Bridge VW Epsom and Creative FX
• Five-door 250bhp Polo Chinese Touring Car Championship racers appear for the first time
• Milltek announce performance exhaust system for Polo GTI 6R
• Automatic transmission and BlueLine models added to the Polo Vivo range
• 300bhp, four-wheel drive Polo R WRC unveiled – to contest the 2013 World Rally Championship
• Polo GTI 6R launched in Singapore
• Polo Vivo sells 1935 units in South Africa.

June

• Polo sells 19,467 units in UK year-to-date
• Polo Vivo sells 2933 units in South Africa
• PoloDriver.com drives the Polo GTI 6R for the first time and publishes a digital mini-magazine of its findings.

July

• Polo GTI 6R awarded Motor magazine’s ‘Bang For Your Bucks’ prize
• Volkswagen UK introduces value-packed Polo Match introduced to replace SE and Moda models
• Polo sells 22,897 units in UK year-to-date
• Polo sells 3684 units in UK
• Polo Vivo sells 3142 units in South Africa.

August

• Novo Polo and Polo Sedan: Volkswagen do Brazil reinvigorates Series 4 Polo
• Polo BlueMotion 1.2 TDI wins its class at the 2011 Total Economy Run in South Africa
• Volkswagen UK launches Polo Accessories app
• Polo sells 1467 units in UK
• Polo Vivo sells 3322 units in South Africa.

September

• Austrian special-edition Polo Sky featuring panoramic sunroof and LED daytime running lights launched
• Drivable Volkswagen Polo R WRC revealed at 2011 Frankfurt motor show
• Volkswagen launches Polo R-Line styling package at 2011 Frankfurt motor show
• Polo sells 8607 units in UK
• Polo Vivo sells 3679 units in South Africa.

October

• Auto Express pits the 84bhp 1.4-litre Polo Match five-door against the new Chrysler Ypsilon SE
• Polo Match squares up to 14 of its most notable rivals in a 14-page Autocar supermini mega-test
• Drift Bridge VW Epsom create Polo R WRC replica with Creative FX film wrap
• Polo and Vento Breeze special limited editions blow into India
• Volkswagen Group Malaysia introduces the Polo GTI 6R
• Volkswagen South Africa adds a new sporty flavour: Polo Vivo GT unveiled
• Polo sells 3289 units in UK.

November

• AutoMuseum Volkswagen starts search for the ‘Super-VW’ – 1977 Polo L in contention
• Sébastien Ogier becomes first factory Polo R WRC driver at Volkswagen
• Polo BlueMotion makes Honest John’s top 10 cheapest and fuel-efficient new car list
• 9N and 9N3 Polos recalled in Japan due to side airbag wiring system defect
• PoloDriver.com publishes its 2012 Volkswagen Polo GTI 1000-mile road test mini-magazine
• Volkswagen UK offers free insurance on Polo S, Match, and SEL models
• Volkswagen Polo R WRC testing programme starts
• Polo sells 3305 units in U
• Polo Vivo sells 2270 units in South Africa.

December

• Dytko Sport’s 400bhp, four-wheel drive hillclimb Polo 6R breaks cover
• Volkswagen Polo R Cup India holds its first night race in Sri Lanka
• Debut Polo R WRC / Sébastien Ogier gravel test appears online, as Frenchman wins 2011 Race of Champions.

With the global roll-out of the new fifth-generation Polo completed, it’s again been a busy year for Volkswagen and also for us here at PoloDriver. We would like to thank the loyal readers and followers who have helped make the year an enjoyable one (and those who continue to find the site a ‘forum’ to talk about the Polo GTI 6R), and hope that you’ll enjoy the developments and stories coming to the website in 2012. [Click on the ‘Polo 2009-’, 'Polo Vivo' and 'WRC' tags in the category drop-down list in the right-hand sidebar of the website to see all entries pertaining to the fifth-generation Polo, South African Polo Vivo, and Polo R WRC respectively.]

We like this. It would appear that Volkswagen Motorsport’s Polo R WRC isn’t the only rally-prepared monster Polo. Surfacing on the internet earlier today, Paul Dytko’s 400bhp/298kW (that’s 100bhp more than VW’s factory effort, remember) four-wheel drive Polo 6R has been built to contest the 2012 FIA European Hillclimb Championship, which has rounds in both mainland Europe and Paul’s home country of Poland. Capable of 0-62mph in 4.0 seconds, the Dytko Sport car appears to be clothed in similar clothes to Volkswagen’s official Polo R WRC, its cut-back extended wheel arches signalling its storming intent. Paul is looking for sponsorship for further development of the car, and has plans for a full lightweight tube-frame structure. Once we find out more, we’ll bring you more details of this exciting project.

[Source: German Car Scene]

The latest batch of sales figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), and it’s good news once again for the Volkswagen Polo. Climbing one place up the top 10 best-sellers chart, in November it was in sixth place, with a tally of 3306 units. It’s standing firm in the 2011 sales-to-date chart, in seventh place. While the supermini sector saw a modest fall in registrations recorded, the Ford Fiesta remains the UK’s best-selling car, with 6195 units finding homes last month. That’s a fair chunk of the supermini’s 34.6% of the new car market, up from 33.9% a year ago. The small Ford is also the best-selling car of the year so far (a title it has held for some time), shifting 90,701 units.

The latest set of figures released by the SMMT state that new car registrations are down just 0.9% in the last three months than at the same period last year, and that the closing figure for 2011 is expected to be 1.94 million units, exceeding expectations. Registrations in November at 134,027 units were down 4.2%. ‘While the November new car market saw a 4.2% dip, the fuel efficiency of new models broke all records with the average new car achieving 52.5mpg,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive.

‘Despite the Chancellor delaying the 3p rise in fuel duty, our cost of fuel is still among the highest in Europe, so customers will welcome the 29.3% improvement in new car fuel efficiency over the last 10 years, a demonstration of industry’s commitment to delivering good value to motorists.’ The top 10 best-selling cars in the UK for November 2011 and the year-to-date (sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 6195 (90,701, 1st)
2 Vauxhall Corsa: 5324 (72,493, 3rd)
3 Volkswagen Golf: 4924 (59,337, 4th)
4 Ford Focus: 4910 (77,785, 2nd)
5 Vauxhall Astra: 4518 (57,719, 5th)
6 Volkswagen Polo: 3305 (43,250, 7th)
7 Nissan Qashqai: 3724 (36,826, 9th)
8 BMW 3 Series: 2898 (40,212, 8th)
9 Mini: 2834 (33,139, 10th)
10 Mercedes C-Class: 2540

(The 2011 year-to-date top 10 best-seller absent from November’s sales figures, is the Vauxhall Insignia selling 43,250 units in sixth place.)

Performance braking systems manufacturer Tarox has released details of its ‘Motorsport’ kit for the 6R Polo GTI, which will also fit SEAT Ibiza Cupra and Skoda Fabia vRS models from 2010 onwards. The company states that each kit is manufactured in the company’s Italian factory, and is based around race-proven B30 six-piston billet calipers, and uses two 323mm heat-drilled discs which come in either ‘F2000’ (grooved) or ‘Sport Japan’ (drilled and grooved) options. The rotors are made from European high carbon casts, meaning the disc will withstand much greater heat without distortion.

All the Tarox kit’s components bolt onto Volkswagen’s OEM mounting points, and also integrate with the car’s original ABS system. The Tarox conversion also has a weight saving of over 1kg per corner, and ‘Strada’ street, or ‘Corsa’ circuit pads can be specified. Everything is included in the B30 6 550×366 kit, which comprises of all fittings, all-braided stainless steel race-quality lines and fluids. All are covered under a lifetime guarantee. For more information on the Tarox range, visit http://en.tarox.com/.

Volkswagen Polo ‘Unbelievable But True’ TV campaign credits
Creative agency: DDB India
Client: Volkswagen
Office Head: Rajiv Sabnis
Chief creative officer: Bobby Pawar
Business head: Anurag Tandon
Creative head: Rajeev Raja
Art: Sreejith Kadoth
Copy: Ranjit Sasidharan
Account management: Avik Choudhury, Monish Debnath, Aaron Dsouza
Films department: Michael Remedios
Director: David Popescu
Production house: Fleet

[Source: Campaign India]

Motoring website www.honestjohn.co.uk has revealed the top 10 cheapest and most fuel-efficient new cars currently on sale in the UK. The latest of its Data Bank features, the economy-minded list includes the 80.7mpg Polo BlueMotion 1.2 TDI makes the chart at number seven, with its in-house cousins the 83.3mpg Skoda Fabia Greenline II and 80.7mpg SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive at numbers four and five respectively. The first-placed car is the Kia Rio Ecodynamics, which manages a quoted official fuel consumption figure of 88.3mpg.

All of the cars in the www.honestjohn.co.uk list are fitted with diesel engines and offer free VED and congestion charge exemption. All fuel economy figures quoted are the official manufacturers’ tallies, and the website states that drivers are reporting different economy figures in the Honest John Real Life Fuel Economy Register, which averages reader fuel economy submissions. The latest £14,860 Polo BlueMotion was launched in October 2009 and is powered by a 1.2-litre TDI engine developing 74bhp, and 91g/km of CO2. It also features Start/Stop and battery regeneration and various aerodynamic aids and low rolling resistance tyres.

The Honest John top 10 cheapest and most fuel-efficient new cars
1 Kia Rio Ecodynamics: 88.3mpg
2 Smart ForTwo CDI: 85.6mpg
3 Citroen C3 e-HDI Airdream: 83.1mpg
4 Skoda Fabia Greenline II: 83.1mpg
5 SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive: 80.7mpg
6 Vauxhall Corsa Ecoflex: 80.7mpg
7 Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion: 80.7mpg
8 Alfa Romeo MiTo JTDm-2: 78.5mpg
9 Citroen DS3 e-HDI Airdream: 78.5mpg
10 Ford Fiesta Econetic: 78.5mpg

[Source: www.honestjohn.co.uk]

Volkswagen Group Japan released a statement on 16 November, stating that 50,736 Polos were to be recalled to have a side airbag wiring system defect fixed at no cost to the owners. The report revealed that cars built between August 2004 and August 2009 (so we assume 9N and 9N3 models) will have the problem, which causes the a 0.015 second delay in the airbag sensor’s deployment. Volkswagen Group Japan were keen to stress that no accident has been induced by the problem, and that it found the defect through in-house investigations. Only right-hand drive models are affected, and cars in the UK and Australia are likely to be recalled in accordance with regulations in each individual country.

[Source: www.pddnet.com]

Leading performance exhaust supplier Jetex now offers a cat-back system for the latest 6R Polo GTI 1.4 TSI (2010 onwards). Costing £460 including VAT, the half-system is made from 2.5-inch (63mm) T304 stainless steel with twin 80mm round pipes, providing an enchanced, but not intrusive, exhaust note. The 6R GTI performance system also features reduced back pressure to complement the supercharged and turbocharged TSI engine’s performance. Interested? Contact Jetex on 01789 298989 (quoting part number 27-HADR) or visit the company’s website for more details and to find out about its products for older Polo models.

Volkswagen South Africa has announced a sponsorship of two vehicles to the Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT). A Polo BlueMotion and Touareg BlueMotion Technology will assist DICT with beach rescues, transporting researchers and volunteers, as well as the general running of the organisation. Dyer Island is a 20-hectare nature reserve in Gansbaai and is managed by CapeNature. It is a rich breeding ground for birds, most significantly the endangered African penguin, and is classified an important bird area by Birdlife International. Dyer Island’s surrounding waters are home to African penguins, great white sharks, seals, dolphins and whales – otherwise known as the ‘Marine Big 5’.

The Dyer Island Conservation Trust plays a pivotal role in the research and conservation of the animals in the Gansbaai area and has partnered with leading universities, the Department of Environmental Affairs and other Non-Governmental Organisations. One of their main efforts is focused on supporting education to the community. ‘Volkswagen’s vision is to become a company with meaning and impact in terms of environmental consciousness, and an industry leader in environmental responsibility. We believe our partnership and support of the Dyer Island Conservation Trust will play a critical role in assisting them to conserve the rich marine life in the Gansbaai area. Our sponsorship forms part of our “Think Blue” initiative by which we try to implement small changes that will make big differences in the future,’ said Mike Glendinning, Director, Sales and Marketing at Volkswagen Group South Africa.

[Source: Volkswagen South Africa]