PoloDriver

Riding on a decade of success, a new special edition derivative of the Polo Vivo has been launched in South Africa. The Polo Vivo Mswenko has been named after the isZulu word for ‘swag’, which is an expression of attitude and confidence in the Bantu language of the Zulus. Aimed at ‘dynamic and young at heart’ buyers, the R246,900 Polo Vivo Mswenko has some eye-catching features.

Outside, there are ‘Mswenko’ (pronounced ‘m-swe-nkoh’) diamond door decals, a black roof, coloured mirror caps, 16-inch anthracite ‘Portago’ alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, and a chrome exhaust tip. Inside, there are even more statement features. The most notable change over a standard Polo Vivo are the very bright ‘Ocean Blue’ seats, but there is also anthracite headlining, silver dashboard inserts, six speakers, a leather-trimmed multi-function steering wheel and gear knob, and App Connect.

Style and attitude
Along with that little lot, and the available four colours – Limestone Grey, Pure White, Reef Blue, and Reflex Silver – the Polo Vivo Mswenko should easily live up to the ‘mswenko’ tag. In South Africa, a self-confident and stylish person is said to have ‘swag’. The word ‘mswenko’, which is unique to South Africa, also refers to a person’s style, attitude and general demeanour.

In Volkswagen South Africa dealers from October 2020, the Polo Vivo Mswenko is based on the 1.4-litre 63kW Polo Vivo Comfortline, and costs R246,900. A three-year/120,000km warranty is standard, along with a six-year anti-corrosion warranty. A Volkswagen Maintenance Plan as well as a Volkswagen Service Plan are available as options, and service intervals are 15,000kms.

Since its introduction in March 2010, the Volkswagen Polo Vivo has been the most popular car in South Africa, with over 261,285 registered. Originally based on the fourth-generation European Polo, the Vivo took the shape of the fifth-generation Polo in February 2018. One of the reasons for its success may be that its cost of ownership over a three-year cycle makes it one of the most affordable cars to own in the South African market. Proof that swag confidence is more than style deep.

With looks inspired by the Golf GTI TCR, limited run Polo and Vento TSI Editions have been launched by Volkswagen India. Based on the Highline Plus versions of both models but with added sporty flourishes, the Polo TSI Edition costs Rs 7.89 lakh, the Vento TSI Edition Rs 10.99 lakh.

Powered by a 108bhp, BS6-compliant turbocharged 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine, both the new limited edition Polo and Vento are offered with a six-speed manual gearbox. Outside, special Golf GTI TCR-like honeycomb body decals lift the now 11-year-old fifth-generation Polo design. A 6C Polo GTI bumper and honeycomb grille also inject some pizazz, along with ‘TSI Power’ graphics, gloss black mirror caps, and a gloss black roof and rear spoiler. A set of 16-inch alloy ‘Portago’ wheels borrowed from the Indian-market Polo GT also feature.

High level of equipment
Based on the Polo and Vento Highline Plus, the TSI Editions share the a similar high level of equipment. Standard kit includes an auto-dimming interior mirror, Climatronic automatic air conditioning, cruise control, electrically-operated and folding door mirrors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a ‘Moonstone’ centre console finish, rain-sensing wipers, and a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. When compared to the Highline Plus models, the Polo TSI Edition is priced at Rs 13,000 less, while the Vento TSI Edition represents a saving of Rs 1 lakh over the Vento Highline Plus.

A brochure can be downloaded here, and both the Polo and Vento TSI Editions are available to order now. Bookings can be made via the Volkswagen India website.

Following its debut at the Vivonation music festival in March, the Polo Vivo Sound Edition special has been officially announced for sale by Volkswagen South Africa.

Available to order in September for R220,000, the most obvious addition for the Polo Vivo Sound Edition is the six-speaker R340G radio system with subwoofer and Volkswagen App-Connect functionality. Only available in Limestone Grey, Pure White and Reef Blue paint finishes, the Vivo Sound Edition also gets anthracite-coloured 16-inch Rivazza alloy wheels. Energetic Orange mirror caps and special ‘equaliser’ (how 1980s!) graphics on the doors and tailgate also mark out the Vivo Sound Edition as something special.

An optional R2,500 ‘Black’ interior styling package can also be chosen to make the Vivo Sound Edition stand out even more, consisting of anthracite headlining, sun visors and trim, privacy glass for the rear windows as well as a leather steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake grip.

‘Premium sound system’
Aimed at younger drivers, the latest version of South Africa’s most popular passenger car joins a model range that has sold 17,672 units up until the end of July 2019. ‘We are confident that the addition of a special premium sound system in the Polo Vivo will appeal to young customers that are passionate about quality sound when they are listening to music,’ said Martina Biene, Head of Sales and Marketing for the Volkswagen Brand.

Based on the 1.4-litre Polo Vivo Comfortline, the Sound Edition gets that Vivo’s 84bhp, 1,398cc engine with 97lb ft (132Nm) of torque and a five-speed manual gearbox. A three-year/120,000km warranty and a six-year anti-corrosion guarantee are standard, with Volkswagen Maintenance and Volkswagen Service Plans available at additional cost. Service intervals for the Polo Vivo Sound Edition are every 15,000km.

The Polo Vivo has been the most popular car in South Africa for most of the last nine years and replaced the Citi Golf in 2010 as Volkswagen South Africa’s entry-level model. A budget hatchback which traditionally sits under the most recently-introduced version of the Polo, the second-generation Vivo was introduced in February 2018, based on the fifth-generation Polo. For more information on the Polo Vivo range, visit the Volkswagen South Africa website.

Volkswagen India has launched a new Polo special model, the Polo Black & White Edition. Based on the range-topping Polo Highline Plus model and only available in Deep Black or Candy White paint finishes, the special edition features a range of equipment and unique features.

Also available in Vento Polo-based saloon and Ameo Polo-based compact saloon models, too, the Polo, Vento and Ameo Black & White Editions incur no additional cost when compared to the versions on which they are based. Special kit includes grey lower body graphics, 16-inch ‘Portago’ alloy wheels, gloss black rear roof spoiler (Polo), gloss black rear boot spoiler (Vento and Ameo), a black-painted roof, black wing mirror cappings, a ‘Black & White’ wing badge, as well as ‘Black & White’ leatherette seat covers. The app-based Volkswagen Connect system is also standard.

2019 Volkswagen Polo Black & White Edition (India)

2019 Volkswagen Polo Black & White Edition (India)

2019 Volkswagen Polo Black & White Edition (India)

‘Dash of style’
Steffen Knapp, Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars said: ‘We constantly enhance our product offerings in line with evolving consumer aspirations. The Polo and Vento have been strong contenders within their segments. Adding a dash of style, these enhanced feature models make an attractive value proposition for our discerning customers’.

For the Indian market, the Polo is currently offered with 74bhp 1.0 MPI petrol and 88bhp 1.5 TDI engines. The Vento offers more choice with 103bhp 1.2 TSI and 103bhp 1.6 MPI petrol engines, in addition to a 107bhp 1.2 TDI unit. The Ameo meanwhile comes with the same 74bhp 1.0 MPI petrol engine as the Polo and a more powerful 107bhp 1.5 TDI unit. From 1 January 2019, all Volkswagen India cars are also offered with a four-year/1 lakh standard warranty, four-year free roadside assistance and also a scheme which offers three free services in one year, or up to 15,000 km.

2019 Volkswagen Vento Black & White Edition

2019 Volkswagen Ameo Black & White Edition

2019 Volkswagen Polo Black & White Edition (India)

The Volkswagen India Polo range currently starts at RS 5.75 lakh, with the Vento beginning at Rs 8.68 lakh. The smaller Ameo range is priced from 5.87 lakh. For more information on the Polo, Vento and Ameo Black & White Editions and the rest of the ranges, visit the Volkswagen India website.

Volkswagen has launched the Polo IQ Drive special edition model in Germany as part of a broader range of IQ Drive cars. Priced from €18,125 and offering a saving of €2,500 over a mid-range Polo Comfortline with a few selected options, just like the Polo Join of 2018, the Polo IQ Drive includes a series of upgrades and special features.

Externally, the Polo IQ Drive gains 5J x 15-inch ‘Dublin’ black and polished alloy wheels, as well as darkened rear windows. There’s a unique Petroleum Blue Metallic paint finish (other colours are available, too), and if the €1,450 ‘IQ Drive Plus’ box is ticked, 16-inch ‘Sebring’ rims become standard, along with ‘Climatronic’ climate control and Volkswagen’s Composition Media infotainment system. Inside, more style is added by way of brushed stainless steel sports pedals, a multifunction leather-rimmed steering wheel, unique ‘Cushion’ seat trim, and a Limestone Grey Metallic dashpad.

Intelligent driving features
Sold on the intelligent driving features of its ‘IQ Drive’ billing, the latest Polo special edition includes a suite of safety technologies as standard. As well as blind spot warning and parking assist systems, Volkswagen’s ACC automatic distance control also features on the Polo IQ Drive. For added safety, smartphones can also be accessed by the optional Car-Net App-Connect system which offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Other Polo IQ features include rain-sensing wipers, the ‘Front Assist’ automatic braking system, and a low washer fluid warning light.

If a sports Polo is nearer the mark, the €1,285 ‘R-Line’ package adds black and diamond-turned 7J x 17-inch ‘Bonneville’ alloy wheels wrapped in 215/45 R17 tyres, as well as a special ‘R-Line’ front and rear bumpers with gloss black inserts, a rear spoiler, and sill extensions. If that’s still not enough, the €320 ‘Sport’ package which includes the Polo GTI’s ‘XDS’ electronic differential and lowered sports suspension can also be optioned.

Style and technology
With a firm remit of style and technology, no versions of the the Polo IQ Drive will set the world on fire. Petrol engines range from the 1.0-litre 64bhp normally-aspirated unit through to the turbocharged 1.0-litre 113bhp TSI, and a brace of turbocharged diesels are offered in 79 or 94bhp states of tune. Depending on engine, a range of five and six-speed manual gearboxes can be selected, as well as seven-speed version of Volkswagen’s DSG transmission.

The Polo IQ Drive is priced from €18,125 for the 1.0-litre 64bhp car, rising to €24,075 for the 94bhp 1.0-litre TDI SCR. For more information on the latest addition to the Polo range, head over to Volkswagen’s German website.