Volkswagen Polo 2002 News

The World Rally Championship is one of the most epic spectacles in motorsports, but sometimes the pace is just too fast. Rally fans are known for camping out in frozen Finnish forests just for a split-second glimpse of their favourite drivers hurtling past in a mud-splattered blur. This video, featuring driver Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia in their Volkswagen Polo R WRC, slows things down considerably -- and will have you thinking WRC cars can fly. No, the Polo R WRC can't actually fly, but it is a pretty capable machine to get airborne. It's powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with turbocharging and direct-injection, developing 232 kilowatts of power at 6250rpm and 425 Newton-metres of torque at 5000rpm, delivering it to all four wheels with permanent four-wheel drive via a transversely-mounted six-speed sequential transmission. There's even a road-going version, albeit with a much less savage 160kW of power and 350Nm of torque from a 2.0-litre engine mated to a manual gearbox driving the front wheels to a top speed of 243km/h. It also gets to the 100km/h mark in 6.4 seconds -- shaving the Volkswagen Golf GTI by 0.8sec. Watch the slo-mo hot WRC rally action video here. www.motorauthority.com  

That's how things roll, with the mid-sized Golf followed by the baby Polo and picking up engineering and styling lines from the bigger brother. If the Carparazzi wizards are right, the next Polo will be more angular than the current car and also - inevitably - bigger in the cabin. Here probably 2014, starting below $20k.  

Jost Capito joined Volkswagen in May of 2012 as the head of Volkswagen’s motorsports division. Prior to this, Capito worked at Ford, where he was head of its Global Performance Vehicles group, and ultimately the man responsible for products like the Ford Focus RS.In other words, he knows a thing or two about making cars go fast, as well as building cars that are slightly over-the-top. Now that he’s settled in at Volkswagen, Whatcar is reporting that Capito wants to expand VW’s performance car offerings, and we say that’s a very good thing.In addition to getting the Polo WRC car ready for the 2013 Monte Carlo Rally, Capito is expected to take on more responsibility for the development of future production cars. While the Polo R (set to debut at next year’s Geneva Motor Show) is a given, we see potential in VW models ranging from the GTI through the Passat and even the Touareg.Rumors of a higher-performance, lightweight GTI are already circulating, though the car is likely to be limited in production. Could the processes developed for this car (like the blending of carbon fiber, aluminum and steel in assembly) be applied to future VW models?Our guess would be yes. The key to future performance Volkswagens will be saving weight as much as boosting power, and the lessons learned from VW’s WRC efforts could pay dividends here.In Capito’s words, “I have always had the view that the production cars have to support and reflect what is happening on the circuits and rally stages. I implemented that at Ford, and that view hasn’t changed now that I’m at VW.By definition it would mean more than the Polo R.” Capito went on to clarify that his immediate focus is on getting ready for the 2013 WRC season. Beyond that, however, the future for Volkswagen enthusiasts is starting to look bright.www.motorauthority.com  

A hotted up ‘R’ version of the Volkswagen Polo, essentially a smaller version of the recently launched Golf R, has been rumoured to be in development for close to two years. Volkswagen has previously denied such a model, maintaining it would prove too costly for buyers in the sub-compact segment. However, at the annual GTI Meeting at Wörthersee earlier this year, Volkswagen rolled out the Polo R WRC Street Concept, essentially a road-going version of its Polo WRC car that will be competing in the World Rally Championship from 2013 onwards. Now, there are reports claiming the production Polo R will make its official world debut at March’s 2013 Geneva Motor Show, before going on sale shortly afterwards. Speaking with Autocar, Volkswagen R&D chief Ulrich Hackenberg confirmed the Polo R would debut at the Geneva show, with its launch coinciding with the automaker’s WRC entry. He went on to reveal that the car’s introduction is due to the desire of VW’s motorsport division, which is hoping to draw attention to its WRC efforts, and that originally VW had no plans to launch such a model. Like the Polo R WRC Street Concept, the production Polo R will get a tuned version of the turbocharged 155kW/280Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine from the outgoing MkVI Golf GTI. Peak output will be tuned up to around 168kW of power, which should give it a nice edge over the 132kW Polo GTI but keep it under the Golf R’s 188kW/330Nm. To ensure it doesn’t encroach on the performance of its Golf R big brother, the Polo R will remain a front-wheel drive model, though it will still benefit from a mechanical limited-slip differential. Expect a 0-100km/h time of around 6.0 seconds (the Golf GTI does 6.9, while the Golf R dispatches it in 5.9) and a top speed of 242km/h.www.motorauthority.com   

... two-time World Rally Champion and "Dakar" winner Carlos Sainz. The vehicle has completed its first test kilometres without any problems in the vineyards of Veldenz near Trier in Germany. Deutschland. It's not scheduled to start competition in WRC until 2013 but the all wheel drive, 220kW Polo will undergo continual testing in the run up to the season kick off in a little more than  a year.  VW says it's well on schedule and are able to start testing concepts and developments in reality. The first Polo represents a preliminary stage of the subsequent rally car and during the upcoming months will serve as a test vehicle for various components such as engines, gearboxes or suspension parts. The findings obtained in these tests will be directly fed into the first thorough-bred Polo R WRC. The intensive testing program is on tarmac, gravel, mud and snow. Sainz said "I immensely enjoy being involved in the development and testing of the new Polo R WRC and having the privilege of driving the first kilometres is naturally a great honour." "The car is still in an early stage but already feels very good. For the whole team, whether engineers, mechanics or drivers, it's very important to get to know the first real car as early as possible and to test and continue to develop it."

Thanks a whole heap for walking down our entire street in Erskineville at 2am on New Year’s Day and keying every single car including my brand-new VW Polo. You liked my Polo, didn’t you? You must have liked it a lot because you singled it out and instead of just going sideways along the car you took the time to dig your key all the way through the paint into the metal up and down, up and down, up and down. I’m sure that once you were done doing over $30,000 worth of damage you had a laugh to yourself. You probably thought that what you were doing was hilarious and then went home. I just thought I would let you know that you serve no purpose to society. You create havoc and discord for no reason other than your personal enjoyment. I wonder what that high must be like? That knowledge that you personally attacked 20 pieces of property that people work hard to pay for? You must have felt just fantastic when you woke up on January 1, 2011, knowing that you had created misery for 20 families. They all have to contact the police and report the damage so they can call their insurance and sort out for the car to be repaired. Then they have to drive their car to the repair centre, take time out of their working day simply so that you could get five minutes of enjoyment. Well, do you know what? I hope that you grow up and have a family. You work your arse off to buy a new car to be able to take your kids places and one day you wake up and go out to look at your beautiful new car and someone has keyed the utter shit out of it. I hope you take a second to look at your life at that point and realise the gut-wrenching feeling you have is what you caused to 20 families when you did it all those years ago. Alternatively, I hope the next time you do it the police catch you in the act and you end up being put in jail for it. But most of all I hope you were drunk and dumb and realise the mistake of your ways. Because if you do it again and someone catches you they won’t be as lenient as the police. And to be honest I wouldn’t shed a tear if that happened. You are the lowest of the low. You are an arsehole. Yours annoyed, Scott P.S. We got to know more of our neighbours thanks to this and we are all going to be a lot more vigilant. Source: The Punch

Volkswagen unveiled its Golf Bluemotion that boasts a 3.8 litres/100km average without using electric motors. Volkswagen Group Australia managing director Anke Koeckler says some owners will be able to drive 1400km without refuelling.But evolutionary it is, visually exciting it is not. It just looks like any other Golf.  To spark AIMS visitor interest, however, Volkswagen has unveiled the hot-hatch Polo GTI. The five-door on display will be sold from next month.One of the most important models in Volkswagen’s future, says Ms Koeckler, isn’t a car. The Amarok ute is touted as Europe’s first ute entrant into the global market.To be launched mid-2011, the Amarok will come to Australia as a two-wheel or all-wheel drive, and with an optional off-road pack with lowrange gearing and underbody protection.

A starting sticker of $16,690 and everything from six airbags and ESP stability control is being used to improve the Polo, which looks and drives for the first time like a mini Golf.  There are three engines and two trim levels in the car, which has taken significant price cuts and also gained a value boost with all the safety gear which was previously in a $1000 option pack.  The basic Polo will be followed later this year but a go-faster model, a GTi. Production of the Polo is split between Spain and South Africa, with the three-door starter coming from Europe and the five-door models from South Africa to ensure a short supply pipeline.  Volkswagen is massively committed to the Polo, which lines up against everything from the Hyundai Getz and Ford Fiesta to the latest Mazda2, which was given a $16,990 driveway price at the bottom end earlier this week. "We want this car to be the third volume pillar for Volkswagen in Australia, alongside the Golf and Tiguan," says VW's product marketing manager Vladan Dimic.  There is a lot to the new Polo story, but the basics are an all-new model, a larger and better-planted chassis, a seven-speed DSG gearbox for the first time, and engine outputs from 63kW/132Nm in the 1.4 petrol, 77kW/175Nm in the trubocharged 1.2-litre petrol and 66kw/230Nm in the 1.6-litre turbodiesel. New equipment on the car includes everything from the soft-touch gearbox and steering wheel designs to a new steering wheel. All models also have a full-sized spare tyre.  "From the quality point of view we make a very big step forward, says Dimic. The bottom line is the biggest change and the head of VW Group Australia, Anke Koeckler, says it is the key to the car's success.  "To get to this price was a very long process. But finally we managed it because Polo, is for us, the next step in the Australian market," she says. "We know the light segment is a very competitive segment . . . and we are really confident.  We want to be a major competitor. The Polo is the right product at the right moment.  We are confident of getting a major increase in volume. But we are concentrating on our own business."

The Volkswagen Polo beat stiff competition, sweeping away luxury and green contenders to become this year's World Car of the Year.  The Polo won out against the luxury Mercedes-Benz E-Class and hybrid Toyota Prius. Almost unanimously, the jurors described the Polo is one of VW's star performers, holding its own in the most competitive market segment.  "Boasting best-in-segment packaging and handling, this supermini's blend of classy looks, reliability and quality has meant it’s consistently been one the markets best-sellers," they said. "Draped in head-turning stylish curves, the Polo is certainly one of the classiest small VWs ever built.  "It's also safe with a maximum five-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating." Dr Martin Winterkorn, chairman of the board of management of Volkswagen AG, says he is honored that the small hatch won.  "After the great triumph of the Golf last year, we are delighted to repeat this success with the new Polo," he says. Volkswagen had a double world car win.  The 2010 World Green Car of the Year award was taken out by three models instead of one - the Volkswagen Polo, Golf and Passat, all featuring BlueMotion fuel-saving technologies. It was noted by the awards group that jurors felt that it is not necessary to add an electric motor and a heavy battery pack to achieve class-leading efficiency.  Although the Polo is still three months away from local showrooms, it has been a sell-out success in Europe. It was chosen from an initial entry list of 30 cars nominated by 59 World Car jurors - including Carsguide editor Paul Gover - from 25 countries.  Each juror was appointed by the a steering committee on the basis of their expertise, experience, credibility, and influence. In January the jurors narrowed their choices to a top 10 shortlist.  At a second round of voting in February jurors were asked to score the top 10 candidates based on merit, value, safety, environment, significance and emotional appeal. Now in their seventh year, the annual World Car awards have become one of the world's most prestigious, credible and significant programs of its kind.  This year's World Performance Car of the Year title went to the Audi R8 V10.WCOTY finalists Audi Q5BMW X1Chevrolet (Holden) CruzeKia SoulMazda3Mercedes-Benz E-ClassOpel/Vauxhall InsigniaPorsche PanameraToyota PriusVolkswagen PoloPrevious winners 2009 Volkswagen Golf2008 Mazda22007 Lexus LS4602006 BMW 3 series2005 Audi A6

Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show this week, the newest member of the VW family is safer, lighter and has a range of new, more economical petrol and diesel engines. In Europe five new engines are available, two using VW’s TSI petrol technology, joined by three of the latest common rail TDI engines. All will be available with manual and dual clutch gearboxes. With fuel economy of 3.8 litres/100km and 96g/km C02 for the 66kW 1.6-litre TDI BlueMotion model, the Polo now sets a benchmark for five-seaters. Polo was specifically designed to attain the recently established, stricter and more comprehensive, 5-star EuroNCAP rating. The car has a stiffer bodyshell and in the footwell area alone, intrusion – related to the car body’s deformation strength in a frontal crash – was lowered by 50 per cent. In the case of a side impact, the intrusion value was reduced by 20 percent. Euro Polos will come with standard ESP with Hill Hold Control, as well as front airbags and combined side head-thorax airbags integrated in the front seatbacks, seatbelt tensioners and belt force limiters, active front headrests. VW has also managed to reduce the Polo’s weight by 7.5 per cent and fuel consumption has improved across the board thanks to TDI and TSI technology. The new 1.2 TSI turbo-charged four-cylinder direct injection petrol engine produces 77 kW, yet it consumes just 5.5 litres/100 kilometres, 19 per cent less than on the equivalent model of the previous generation. In total, seven different engines will be available in Europe, four petrol and three diesel. The new Polo is expected to go on sale here early next year. Volkswagen Australia spokesman, Karl Gehling, said more information and prices will be available closer to launch. VW Australia is also looking at adding the BlueMotion cars to the lineup.