25 February 2023 ~ 1 Comment

Car & Classic auction watch: 2012 Volkswagen Polo GTI

This one probably falls more under the ‘car’ rather than the ‘classic’ of the listing website’s title, but whatever, it looks very appealing to this author’s eyes. Behold the clean-lined – and red – majesty of this 2012 Polo GTI, freshly imported from Japan.

The fifth-generation Polo GTI (not the actual fifth-generation of Polo GTI) was unveiled in May 2010, 14 months after the debut of the ‘regular’ model. Following the 148bhp model of the same name based on the fourth generation ‘9N3’ Polo, the newcomer – ‘6R’ in Polo geek speak – packed a 178bhp punch courtesy of a turbo and supercharged engine.

The 1.4-litre ‘twincharger’ unit was around 400cc down on the engine of its predecessor, which appeared in all manner of Volkswagens, Audis, SEATs and Skodas. Despite being smaller in size than the one before, the new four-cylinder unit was advanced in terms of technology, and the new car scampered to 62mph from rest in 6.9 seconds, 1.3 seconds faster than its forebear. The 6R GTI was lighter, too; the three-door GTI’s 1269kg a smidge less than the 9N3 GTI’s 1283kg.

Exclusively DSG
One important difference between old and new was the fact that the 6R GTI was exclusively available with Volkswagen’s much-praised DSG dual-clutch gearbox. Both a blessing and a curse, its high-tech appeal won over some drivers, while others bemoaned the lack of a manual option. With small paddles behind the steering wheel, and a ‘Sport’ mode in the gearbox itself, Volkswagen did compensate for keener drivers, but for some, it wasn’t enough. However, it did make the car an arguably easier daily driver for those scooting about the city.

For PoloDriver.com, the 6R Polo GTI’s crowning glory was always its looks. Taking cues from the popular and acclaimed Mk 5 Golf GTI, the contemporary hot Polo featured 17-inch ‘Monza’ (or ‘Detroit’, depending on the market) alloy wheels, new front and rear bumpers, a red-trimmed and honeycomb mesh-filled front grille, side skirt trims, a rear spoiler, and twin exhaust pipes. Inside, there was ‘Jacara’ (or ‘Jacky’) tartan-trimmed sports seats, black headlining, and a squared-off and leather-trimmed steering wheel with red stitching and a ‘GTI’ badge. In terms of looking the business, it was job done. Mature and subtle it predictably was, but it was none the worse for it.

A facelift – the car renamed the ‘6C’ – in December 2014 dispensed with the twincharger engine, replacing it with a turbocharged 1.8-litre engine with 189bhp, and also brought sharper looks inside and out. But the 6R Polo GTI appeals because of its subtler appearance, the Golf GTI-aping alloy wheels and the certain charm of the earlier interior.

Still plentiful (ish) in the UK – comparatively, the GTI has never been a strong-selling Polo – a small but increasing number of right-hand drive cars are starting to appear on UK soil from Japan. One such car is the car pictured here, currently up for auction on the Car & Classic website. Resplendent in its Flash Red paintwork, the 2012 car has covered just 45,300 miles from new, and looks superb. There is a little wear and collapse on one of the driver’s seat bolsters, but that’s the only discernible mark that can be seen after 11 years of use. Due to the lack of salt on the roads in Japan, the underside looks nice and clean and the car certainly seems to have been looked after well.

Notable features
Another ex-Japanese car, this time a Candy White example with 54,000 miles, is for sale here, and like the Car & Classic GTI, has a couple of notable features over UK models. While the DSG automatic box is shared with Uk and European markets, Japanese cars appear to get climate control as standard (a £375 option in the UK), as well as a touchscreen infotainment system – a Grundig unit in the Car & Classic GTI’s case – the cheapest of which in the UK was the £300 RCD 510 system (another £420 bought the RNS 315 system with navigation). Other bonuses of these cars are the standard-fit bi-xenon headlamps and LED daytime-running lights, a £765 UK option.

While we can’t detect anything different with either car’s engine, it’s worth noting that 6R Polo GTIs in China came with a 1.4 TSI engine with 130bhp, not the full-fat 178bhp. A quick online check reveals that Japanese cars appear to share the higher output of their European cousins. One question we do have though, is why the sudden rash of imports; a handful of right-hand drive Cross Polos have also recently landed on UK shores.

A car which was transformatively much better than the car which preceded it – and the 6C is sharper still – the 6R Polo GTI is an evergreen PoloDriver.com favourite. We’d have very little hesitation in investigating the Car & Classic car, but do check is all well mechanically, as the twincharged engines can have oil use issues. Once that is done, though, just drive and enjoy, revelling in the high quality fifth-generation Polo build. If the Car & Classic GTI goes for under £8,000, then someone will get a bargain. The Car & Classic 2012 Polo GTI auction ends at 20:15 on Monday 27 February.

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05 October 2021 ~ 0 Comments

Volkswagen India announces limited Polo and Vento Matt Edition models

Volkswagen India has launched another special model of the fifth-generation Polo; the Polo Matt Edition is based on the Polo GT, and as its name suggests, is distinguished by its striking matt grey paint finish. A sister saloon model accompanies it, the Vento Matt Edition a new version of the fifth-generation Polo-based saloon.

Powered by Volkswagen’s three-cylinder 1.0 TSI petrol engine with 108bhp mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, the Polo Matt Edition features 16-inch ‘Portago’ alloy wheels, unique Carbon Steel matt grey paintwork, and gloss black door handles and door mirror caps. It also gets a gloss black rear spoiler atop the tailgate.

The Vento Matt Edition meanwhile – based on the Highline or Highline Plus models – has a neat gloss black boot spoiler with the same body colour options as its Polo sibling, with the exception of the Highline-based car which wears 15-inch ‘Linas’ wheels. Inside, both the Polo and Vento Matt Edition have no upgrades over the cars on which they are based, but standard equipment is high, with a 6.5-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system featuring Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, automatic wipers, and a leather-wrapped sports steering wheel.

Prices for the Polo Matt Edition start at Rs 10.25 lakh (ex-showroom), the Vento Matt Edition offered at Rs 13.36 lakh for the Highline-based variant, rising to Rs 14.79 lakh for the Highline Plus model. For more details on the Polo and Vento Matt Editions, visit the Volkswagen India website here and here.

 

 

 

 

 

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11 May 2020 ~ 0 Comments

Volkswagen Polo and Vento TSI Editions offer sports-inspired value

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.

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08 April 2019 ~ 0 Comments

New Polo, Vento and Ameo Black & White Edition models launched in India

2019 Volkswagen Polo Black & White Edition (India)

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.

‘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.

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.

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09 May 2018 ~ 0 Comments

Volkswagen India replaces Polo 1.2 with Polo 1.0: new Polo GTI for India?

2018 Volkswagen Polo (India)

Volkswagen India has replaced the petrol-powered Polo 1.2 with a new version packing a 1.0 engine. The new Polo 1.0 produces almost identical power to the now discontinued 1.2-litre engine – 75bhp as opposed to 74bhp – but is slightly down on torque (1.2: 81lb ft / 110Nm at 3,750rpm, 1.0: 70lb ft / 95Nm at 3,000-4,300rpm). As before, a five-speed manual gearbox is standard.

The new three-cylinder Polo 1.0-litre MPI is between 14kg to 24kg lighter than the outgoing 1.2-litre car dependent on specification. Volkswagen India quotes official fuel economy of 18.78km/l, an improvement of 2.31km/l over the 1.2. Indian Autos Blog also reports that the new multi-point-injected 1.0 engine is likely to power the new MQB platform-based sixth-generation Polo when it arrives in India, around 2020.

New Polo GTI considered for India
Reports are also circulating that the new Polo GTI is also being considered for India. The fifth-generation Polo GTI is already sold in the country, but with a slightly altered specification with smaller wheels than the now-discontinued European versions. If the sixth-generation car made it to India, it would appear as a ‘CBU’ (Completely Built Up car) and sold in limited numbers, as seen with the current car, and although the first 99 units sold as fast as the GTI accelerates, the second batch needed to be discontinued to shift.

Indian Autos Blog reports that a price over INR 25 lakhs would have to be stomached, which would put the MQB-A0-based Polo GTI perilously close to the Mini Cooper S. For comparison, the much larger Skoda Octavia RS can be had for around INR 26 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi). The new Polo has yet to arrive in India, as complexities with the MQB platform make it expensive to produce locally, although Volkswagen India is said to be working on a budget version of the chassis module, codenamed ‘MQB A0 IN’ to reduce costs.

2018 Volkswagen Polo Pace (India)

Limited edition Polo Pace launched
In the meantime, Volkswagen India has also announced a new limited edition version called the Pace, based on the current Indian-market fifth-generation Polo. Taking the INR 6,10,700 to INR 6,20,700 (ex-showroom Delhi) Polo Comfortline as a starting point, the Pace gets 15-inch ‘Razor’ alloy wheels, dual-beam headlamps and airbags as standard. Powered by either the new 1.0-litre MPI engine with 75bhp or an 89bhp 1.5-litre TDI, the special Polo Pace model also features ambient interior lighting, electric windows, and front fog lamps.

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