PoloDriver

The UK rate of value-added tax (VAT) rose 2.5% on 4 January 2011 to 20%, and Volkswagen has correspondingly realigned its ‘on the road’ prices for all models, the Polo included. The range stays as it is, with six basic models, and eight engine choices. The cheapest Polo is the three-door S with 59bhp, at £9995, a whisker under £10,000. BlueMotion models kick off with the £14,860 three-door, while the mid-range, fashion-conscious Moda 1.2-litre, 69bhp five-door is £12,810. The 84bhp 1.4-litre SEL three-door is £15,410 when ordered with the seven-speed twin-clutch DSG gearbox, while the 104bhp turbocharged TSI starts at £15,155. The fiery Polo GTI with 178bhp now starts at £18,790 for the three-door, while the five-door with the same 1.4-litre TSI engine is £19,410. A fixed price, 3-year/30,000-mile servicing plan is also available until 31 March 2011 for £299. Full prices and specifications for the 2011 Volkswagen Polo range can be found here.

As well as being exempt from road tax, from today, drivers of the Polo and Golf BlueMotion no longer have to pay the London Congestion Charge.* Under changes made to the rules governing the London Congestion Charge, vehicles emitting less than 100g/km of CO2 are no longer required to pay the £10 daily charge to enter the Congestion Charge Zone. The Polo BlueMotion (91g/km) and Golf BlueMotion (99g/km) both fit this criteria, allowing owners to potentially save over £2500 a year based on a daily commute into the UK capital.

All Volkswagen BlueMotion models feature a series of subtle yet effective modifications aimed at maximising efficiency. These take the form of optimised aerodynamics, low rolling resistance tyres, Start/Stop, battery regeneration and longer gearing. The result is less strain is put on the common rail diesel engine, which in turn leads to lower emissions and greater economy. Despite the keen focus on economy, the Polo BlueMotion is equipped with alloy wheels, air conditioning, a CD stereo system, electric windows, Hydraulic Brake Assist and ABS as well as driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags, and is priced from £14,860.

* Customers must register with the TfL and make an annual £10 payment per vehicle. Failure to register will result in a fine.

[Source: Volkswagen UK]

Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September 2010, the new Passat is the seventh generation of this popular model that has sold over 15 million during the 37 years since its debut. Victoria Stubbs from Volkswagen retailer group Vindis previews the new model, due in UK showrooms this month

New design
While the grille and headlights are perhaps the most noticeable changes, the only panel of the exterior of both the saloon and estate models that is unchanged is the roof. For a quieter ride, the side windows have thicker glass, the windscreen has two layers of glass with a thin plastic film between them, and the front bulkhead is thicker. However, despite all these changes the dimensions of the car are practically unchanged.

New interior
New seats feature both heating and cooling elements, and the dashboard, centre console and door trims have all been revisited. An iPod interface and leather multifunction steering wheel are standard for the S trim; the next level up (SE) comes with eight-speaker digital radio and is Bluetooth-enabled. The top of the range Sport has touchscreen satellite navigation. The estate is expected to out-sell the saloon for the first time.

New engines
There is a range of both petrol and diesel engines, all available with manual or DSG transmission. The petrol units are 1.4, 1.8 and 2.0-litre TSIs, topping off with a 3.6-litre V6. You have a choice of two diesels; a 1.6 or 2.0-litre TDI. The most economical of these is the 1.6-litre, the BlueMotion variant of which is capable of 68.8 mpg with only 109g/km of CO2. That fuel economy gives it a possible range of over 1000 miles on a single tank of diesel. If you think this is just hype, you’d be wrong – an unmodified Passat recently broke a Guinness world record by doing over 1500 miles on just one tank of diesel!

New safety and comfort features
Like previous Passats, VW’s ‘ESP’ (electronic stabilisation system) intelligent suspension is standard; if you opt to have a factory-fitted towbar then the system also takes into account your trailer. Six airbags, ABS and anti-whiplash headrests are also standard. However, there are also new features which were previously only available for the more expensive Touareg and Phaeton.

Automatic distance control and emergency braking
This new system means that at speeds below 18mph the car will automatically brake if it senses a possible collision in front. And – so long as there is space in front – if a collision from behind is anticipated then the car will automatically accelerate.

Fatigue detection
Another new feature (on the SE and above) monitors the driver’s actions and will give a warning message to the driver (both audio and visual) if it is felt that the driver is not active enough. Tiredness is a real killer and this warning to take a break could save lives.

New differential
The new XDS electronic transverse differential (also standard on the Golf GTI) makes the seventh-generation Passat feel more responsive by reducing understeer and improving traction on wet roads.

‘Hands Full’ boot opening system
Finally, saloon models with the optional keyless entry specification can be opened at the rear with a simple foot motion so long as you are carrying the key fob, making loading the boot easier.

Orders are being taken now for immediate delivery. Prices start at £18,470 (RRP on the road) for the saloon and £19,745 (RRP on the road) for the estate.

Victoria Stubbs, Vindis
Vindis are VW dealers for all models including used Volkswagen Passat

The Indian-built, Polo-based Vento saloon will cost 2.9% more from today, 1 January 2011. Volkswagen announced the price rise at the end of 2010, and has blamed the constant rise of raw material prices and an increase in manufacturing costs. Profit margins are decreasing, so the German giant has been forced to pass on increases to its customers. Neeraj Garg, Member of Board of Director for Passenger Cars, Volkswagen India, said: ‘The company has been continuously facing the issue of rise in input prices for sometime now. Volkswagen has tried its best to absorb the price hike, but now it is too hard to maintain the quality for which the company is known.’

[Source: cardekho.com]

2010 was the first full year of production for the fifth-generation (6R) of the Volkswagen Polo and one where the model became a truly global car, with local production in India and Russia. It also won more major awards than in 2009, and made its international debut in motorsport, with the inaugural season of the Volkswagen Polo Cup India. We look back at both the major Polo 6R developments and happenings over the last year, and also chronicle the main news stories pertaining to the Polo Vivo, the South African entry-level replacement for the CitiGolf. (Bold entries are illustrated by the picture above that particular month.)

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