PoloDriver

2011 marks 35 years of the Stanford Hall Volkswagen event, and this year saw the return of fine, sunny and warm weather, absent from 2010’s proceedings. Held on the traditional May Day Bank Holiday weekend, more than a few handfuls of Volkswagens descended upon Swinford-on-Avon (borne out by the fact that getting out of the venue took us at least 30 minutes), to kick-off the VW show season proper. Leicestershire and Warwickshire VW Owners Club once again put on a fantastic show, although if we were nit-picking, the lack of water-cooled trade stands was disappointing, as was the lack of entries in the Polo concours class, but the blame for either point shouldn’t be laid at the organisers’ door.

Overall, the Concours d’Elegance was well-stocked, with ‘classic’ Volkswagens of all classes, shapes and sizes, and it’s traditionally been one of the draws of the event. One of our favourite classes was the Mk 1 Scirocco peg, with a stunningly immaculate 1978 TS model in Viper Green rubbing shoulders with an equally pristine 1979 Storm. Now few and far between, this pair represented the absolute best of the breed. Moving onto Class 18, Polos and Saloons (Derby, Polo Classic), the sole two cars entered were notable not only because of their fantastic condition, but also by the lack of compatriots. The 1980 GLS of classic Polo stalwart Dan Higgins was once again vying for honours, fighting it out with the 2001 Polo GTI of Gianni Ciarciaglini. Ciarciaglini won with 119 points, and we can see why, but after years as a runner-up, it would have nice to have seen Higgins walk away with the top prize. Especially as we thought comparative age was supposed to have come into the judge’s score of 113.

There was a good sprinkling of Polos elsewhere. In the outer reaches of the car park, there were several interesting examples, and along with our editorial GT (no stand for us this year), made walking the formation-parked aisles worthwhile. Inside the show area, Club Polo represented the Polo brand, with a varied display of 10 cars, stretching from Dan Higgins’ other Mk 1 – a 1981 N model with a 100bhp 16V engine – to Jon Gallant’s 2000 Polo TDI. Away from the club stands, a solitary Polo Dune on the Volkswagen Owner’s Club GB caught our eye, as did a mid-1980s ‘rat-look’ Polo C hatchback representing the same organisation. Meanwhile, a Polo trailer made from a rear end of a coupé sold for £450, while numerous Mk 2 Polo coupés seemed to have been brought out of the woodwork to bask in the glorious sunshine. Click on the gallery below to see some of our favourites from Sunday 1 May’s event.

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Stanford Hall 2011: historic Beetle line-up

Stanford Hall 2011

Stanford Hall 2011: Dan Higgins' 1980 Polo GLS

Stanford Hall 2011: Dan Higgins' 1980 Polo GLS

Stanford Hall 2011: Dan Higgins' 1980 Polo GLS

Stanford Hall 2011: Gianni Ciarciaglini's 2001 Polo GTI

Stanford Hall 2011: Gianni Ciarciaglini's 2001 Polo GTI

Stanford Hall 2011: Club Polo stand

Stanford Hall 2011: Club Polo stand

Stanford Hall 2011: Dan Higgins' 100bhp I6V Polo I

Stanford Hall 2011: Vic Marshall's Derby

Stanford Hall 2011: Gareth Williams' Polo Saloon

Stanford Hall 2011: Club Polo stand

Stanford Hall 2011: Club Polo stand

Stanford Hall 2011: Mark Croxford's Polo GT (LHD)

Stanford Hall 2011: Brett Cooper's Polo G40

Stanford Hall 2011: VWOC (GB) stand

Stanford Hall 2011: VWOC (GB) stand

Stanford Hall 2011: VWOC (GB) stand

Stanford Hall 2011: so do we!

Stanford Hall 2011

Stanford Hall 2011

Stanford Hall 2011

Stanford Hall 2011: another sentiment we agree with!

Stanford Hall 2011: Steve Morris' Polo G40

Stanford Hall 2011: PoloDriver Polo GT

Stanford Hall 2011: Polo trailer

Stanford Hall 2011: Polo Dune (VWOC (GB) stand)

Stanford Hall 2011: 1978 Scirocco TS

Stanford Hall 2011: 1978 Scirocco TS

Volkswagen of South Africa has added an automatic transmission version into its best-selling Polo Vivo range. Since its launch in March 2010, the Polo Vivo has been a phenomenal success, with over 25,500 units (hatchback and sedan) sold. The new six-speed ‘Tiptronic’ will be offered with a 1.4-litre 84bhp/63kW engine in both hatchback and sedan bodies. The engine reaches its maximum torque of 132Nm/97lb ft at 5000rpm and has a top speed of 172km/h (107mph). VW quotes an official combined fuel consumption of 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres (42.8mpg Imperial).

‘The introduction of an automatic transmission derivative into the Polo Vivo model range will give our customers an option of an affordable six-speed automatic gearbox. We are very pleased with the sales success of the Polo Vivo. We are confident that the addition of an automatic transmission into the range will be well received by our customers,’ said Mike Glendinning, Director, Sales and Marketing at Volkswagen Group South Africa.

Volkswagen South Africa is also introducing a frugal derivative into the Polo Vivo range. The Polo Vivo BlueLine complements the Volkswagen BlueMotion Technology brand which was first introduced locally with the new Touareg in 2010. The 1.4-litre 74bhp/55kW Polo Vivo BlueLine has claimed combined fuel consumption of 5.4 litres per 100 kilometres (52.3 mpg Imperial) and has a CO2 emissions value of 128g/km. The Polo Vivo BlueLine takes its inspiration from the Polo BlueMotion available in Europe, and is differentiated by a tailgate spoiler, lowered suspension, 15-inch ‘Charade’ alloy wheels with low resistance tyres and exclusive ‘Active’ cloth seat trim, and will only be available with the hatchback bodystyle.

Polo Vivo range: retail prices (VAT and Emissions Tax included)

Hatchback
1.4 55kW 3-door: R104,065
1.4 55kW 5-door: R116,065
1.4 55kW 5-door Blueline R119,900
1.4 63kW 5-door Trendline: R127,465
1.4 63kW 5-door Trendline Tiptronic: R140,965
1.6 77kW 5-door: R142,320
1.6 77kW 5-door Trendline: R150,320

Sedan
1.4 55kW 4-door: R121,965
1.4 63kW 4-door Trendline: R133,365
1.4 63kW 4-door Trendline Tiptronic: R146,865
1.6 77kW4-door: R148,220
1.6 77kW 4-door Trendline: R156,220

Service and warranty
The Volkswagen Polo Vivo range comes standard with a three-year/120,000km warranty and a six-year anti-corrosion warranty. The Volkswagen Automotion Maintenance and Service Plans are optional. Service intervals are at 15,000km.

Is there no stopping the Polo Vivo? Once again, it was the best-selling car in South Africa in April 2011, according to figures released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA), posting an impressive sales tally of 2221 units. It was good news for the Polo 6R – 2011 South African Car of the Year – too, as it was once more behind its stablemate, in second place with 1955 cars finding new owners. During April 2011, a total of 26,347 new passenger cars were sold in South Africa, a decline of 25.1% when compared to March, but a rise of 11.7% when compared to April 2010. South African year-to-date sales of new passenger cars in 2011 are now 22.4% above January to April sales in 2010.

‘Volkswagen Group South Africa captured 24.3% of the passenger market in April with 6428 units sold. Polo Vivo again dominated the market, with Polo a close second. Just over a year after its launch, we are still elated by the reaction from the market to our entry-level Polo Vivo,’ 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, 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 1.4 hatchback to R156,220 for the top 1.6 Sedan, the 2011 Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo, (9N3) built from 2005 to 2009.

The latest set of UK sales figures from the are in from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ (SMMT), and the Polo’s popularity among the UK car-buying public appears undimmed. 4524 Polos found new homes in April 2011, meaning it was sixth in the monthly table – a rise of one place over March. It also sits at sixth place in the year-to-date tallies. The Ford Fiesta was once again the top seller, while Volkswagen’s Golf was runner-up in April (and the bet diesel seller), a jump of three places from March’s charts. There was yet more reason for VW to celebrate, too: the Passat slipped into the top ten at number 10, with the arrival of the new model no doubt playing a part.

New car registrations were ahead of expectations despite challenging conditions last month. The April new car market in the UK fell by 7.4% to 137,746 units. This was the 10th successive decline in volumes, although the market was 1.5% ahead of forecast and on par with the 2010 market with scrappage volumes removed. Overall, registrations over the first four months of 2011 were down 8.5% to 696,082 units. ‘New car registrations in April demonstrated continued stability in the marketplace, with demand remaining lower than in 2010, although slightly ahead of industry expectations,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. ‘The coming months will remain challenging, but we do expect to see a return to growth in the second half of the year.’ The UK’s top 10 best-selling cars for April 2011 and the year-to-date (sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 6755 (34,679, 1st)
2 Volkswagen Golf: 4973 (22,074, 5th)
3 Vauxhall Astra: 4900 (22,150, 4th)
4 Vauxhall Corsa: 4888 (25,424, 3rd)
5 Ford Focus: 4843 (29,278, 2nd)
6 Volkswagen Polo: 4524 (16,738, 6th)
7 Vauxhall Insignia: 3912 (15,816, 7th)
8 Nissan Qashqai: 3738 (12,991, 9th)
9 BMW 3 Series: 3133 (13,274, 8th)
10 Volkswagen Passat: 2720

(The 2011 best-seller absent from April’s sales figures is the Peugeot 207 selling 12,188 units in 10th place.)

Here it is then. After months of speculation, Volkswagen has finally announced that it is to mount a full World Rally Championship (WRC) assault in 2013 with the wide-arched and aggressive-looking Polo R WRC. Pulling the covers off the Polo R WRC in Sardinia barely an hour ago, Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen said, ‘We look forward to this new challenge and are working on this project with the same passion with which we won the Dakar Rally in the past three years.’ Final specifications are yet to be finalised, but expect 300bhp from a 1.6-litre TSI engine and four-wheel-drive. The timing of the unveil is significant: today is the eve of the Rally d’Italia Sardegna, and both Series 2 and Series 5 Polos were unveiled in Sardinia.

New technical rules have come into effect in the WRC this year. For the first time, engines with a maximum displacement of 1600cc, direct-injection and turbochargers are permitted. Citroën, Ford and Mini currently field cars in the championship – DS3, Fiesta, and Mini Countryman respectively – and Volkswagen sees the WRC as a perfect fit. ‘Downsizing, high efficiency and reliability are top priorities for our customers. The timing of the Wold Rally Championship debut is optimal for Volkswagen. The big task of engineering a vehicle that is competitive and capable of winning at a large number of challenges holds great appeal for us,’ said Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Management Board of the Volkswagen Brand, Development Division.

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Volkswagen Polo R WRC

Volkswagen Polo R WRC

Volkswagen Polo R WRC

Volkswagen Polo R WRC