Volkswagen Polo 2015 News

Tiguan R-Line, new Scirocco R, expanded Golf range, new Polo GTI, revised Jetta and new Passat to help maintain Volkswagen sales growth.  Volkswagen has a range of revised and new models planned to help maintain the brand's current sales strength, despite the overall Australian new car market being down 2.1 per cent so far this year. VW Australia's managing director John White expects these new models to help strong sales of the existing Golf, Polo, Tiguan and Touareg to top the brand's 54,892 unit 2013 result, particularly considering the 32,562 units sold by VW to the end of July already represent a 3.8 percent increase year to date. "Overall this year, we believe that even with a market that's going to be down, we should be ahead of last year," he said.Starting with the revised Polo light hatch that arrives in showrooms this week, a revised version of the strong-selling Tiguan SUV will also touch down in September, strengthening its appeal ahead of an all-new model that is still at least two years away. TIGUAN R-LINEThis will see the Tiguan fitted with a standard reversing camera, rear parking sensors and a colour touchscreen display for the first time, plus the addition of a performance-themed Tiguan R-Line model with a 130kW turbodiesel engine as a new range-topper. GOLF R-LINE WAGONA wagon version of the Golf R-Line will appear in October, based on the success of the sports styled option pack available on existing Highline Golf hatch models.SCIROCCO RThis will be followed in November by the surprise arrival of the refreshed Scirocco R performance coupe, which was widely tipped as a non-starter for Australia after the also slow-selling Up and Eos models were discontinued in April. The revised Scirocco R made its first appearance at the Geneva motor show in March, with styling that has been brought in line with the Mk7 Golf R that arrived here in April.Mr White cited a positive response from the public, media and dealers as a key reason for the model's return to our shores, but it will be accompanied by a new sales strategy."There is going to be significant simplification in terms of colours and option packs, and significant reduction in the expectation of sales, where we are going to focus on making the Scirocco R a low volume, highly desirable vehicle," he said. POLO GTIA revised version of the hot Polo GTI is set to appear at the Paris motor show in September, before arriving down under in the first half of 2015. The GTI will score similar visual and interior upgrades to the regular Polo, but will boost power from 132-141kW and is also tipped to bring a manual transmission for the first time in a Mk5 Polo GTI.JETTAA refreshed Jetta mid-size sedan will also make its way to Australia in the first half of 2015, and John White is expecting the new model to better challenge segment leaders like the Toyota Camry and Mazda6, unlike the current model which has fallen 35 per cent year to date and is currently outsold by the 6 by more than 3:1."We're taking a look at the way that we're going to be configuring the car line, and you can count on the car line having more features and benefits to it, as we look to maximise the opportunities for the Jetta and make it a much better volume competitor," he said.  GOLF ALLTRACKMr White also confirmed the local future of a high-riding all-wheel drive Golf Alltrack wagon near the end of the first half of 2015, with the new model to follow a similar formula to the Alltrack version of the Passat wagon.PASSATRounding out 2015 for Volkswagen will be the all-new Passat that is due to make its public debut at the Paris motor show in September. Mr White confirmed that we will see  the new model late next year, and will be available in sedan, wagon and Alltrack bodystyles.NOT COMINGVW Australia Polo product manager Todd Ford confirmed there are no plans to put a Polo R into production, despite various reports to the contrary and the media being given the chance to drive prototype versions of the Audi S1 mechanical twin earlier this year."We'd love it if we could, but there won't be an R version of the current generation Polo," he said.Mr Ford was also unable to shed any light on the expected Golf R wagon's local future, despite several prototypes being spied testing in recent months."There  has been no model confirmed for production, so I cannot speculate on any Australian future," he said.  He also reiterated that there are no plans to bring the Mk7 version of the hot diesel Golf GTD to Australia, due to a lack of suitable business case.  Upcoming Volkswagen modelsTiguan spec upgrade and R-Line – September 2014Golf Wagon R-Line – October 2014Scirocco R update – November 2014Polo GTI update – first half 2015Jetta update – first half 2015Golf Alltrack – mid-2015Passat redesign – late 2015

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  

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   

On display for the first time in Australia, the pint-sized, but power-packed, Polo GTI is sure to live up to its legendary name thanks to crisp handling, uncompromising engine responsiveness, impressive safety features and excellent fuel economy. Never before has such a powerful Polo come even close to the fuel efficiency of this GTI. Thanks to clever downsizing of the twincharged 1.4-litre TSI engine (turbo plus supercharging) and the extremely efficient seven-speed dual clutch DSG gearbox, the development team was able to deliver official fuel consumption of just 6.1 litres per 100km together with a low CO² output of just 142g/km. By comparison, its direct predecessor – equipped with a 1.8-litre turbo engine − consumed 8-litres per 100km and 190g/km CO²). This new car is an incredible 24 percent more fuel efficient. This economy is matched by highly dynamic driving performance. The light 1189kg Polo GTI accelerates to 100km/h in just 6.9 seconds. Power is transferred to the front wheels via the standard DSG transmission. An electronic transverse differential lock reduces understeer and improves handling during demanding cornering. Like all Polos, the GTI also comes equipped with ESP standard – including Hill Start Assist. The car’s extensive safety-features list consists of a highly effective airbag network, including front, front-side and curtain airbags, belt pre-tensioners with load limiters plus belt warning, head restraints designed to avoid whiplash trauma (in front) and three rear head restraints. The Polo GTI’s convenience features include electro-hydraulic power steering, electric windows, remote central locking, boot-space lighting and tie-down eyes, driver seat height adjustment, make-up mirror in the sun visors and green-tinted insulating glass. The GTI will be the first Polo to be available with bi-xenon headlights with cornering lights, LED daytime running lights and corner marker lights. Naturally, GTI-specific features are always standard too, such as sports seats and 17-inch alloy wheels.

There's only one parking space left, you see. And it's got my name on it. At least it's got the name of my VW Polo on it. This is a great little car; "little" being the operative word. And the car park? It's a nightmare spot wedged in between a big cement pole and the up ramp. No way would I attempt it in any other car. It still takes a bit of manoeuvring – after all, I've only had the car a day – but in she goes. Fits like a glove. So close, in fact, that when I lift the hatch to get my bag out, there is a very close encounter with the roof. Needless to say, the Polo handles beautifully. Steering is easy, and she has a tiny turning circle and great visibility. As for her other qualities, this little GTI is the Sporty Spice of the Polo group. Bright red with black and red-trim interior, she's also fashion-conscious. Blue dash lights give her a distinctive look after dark and she comes armed with an impressive list of accessories: eight-speaker CD player, one-touch indicators (a slight tap will give three automatic blinks for quick lane changes), extra indicator lights on the side mirrors, a groovy honeycomb radiator grille, six airbags, self-lighting vanity mirrors, three cup holders (watch out for the flip-open version in the front), sunroof and the all-important butt warmers. "Pocket rocket", "slingshot", whatever you want to call her, the Polo GTI can move. Beware if your teenage son wants one. She looks harmless enough but behind the "cute" exterior is a 1.8-litre turbo engine that can reach 216km/h and can leap to 100km/h in just 8.2 seconds. That's a lot of power in a little package. But she doesn't cost much to run. On the open road, the Polo can hold her own. Again the power sees her climb hills with ease and, despite her diminutive size, she doesn't feel flighty on the highway. Like her body, everything inside the Polo comes in "mini" version. It's a tight fit – especially in the back seat where there are belts for three people but room, really, for just two (unless you're tiny). There is one big component on the Polo. Her booty, sorry, boot. It will take a week's worth of grocery shopping and at least an afternoon's worth of clothes bargains. In typical sports style, her seats hug passengers. But in a car so small, this can be a problem. The arm supports tend to get in the way of gear changes ... or is that just because I'm short and need the seat pulled so far forward? One last concern; when will they learn not to have the indicator and high-beam controls on the left of the steering wheel in manual cars? Trying to manage both and change gears has to be a safety issue, doesn't it? LOVE IT LEAVE IT Volkswagen Polo GTI Turbo Price: $30,320 (on road) LOVE IT Power and panache. Blue dash lights look great and are easy to read. LEAVE IT Still can't get used to high-beam control, indicator and gear stick being on the left side of the steering column. Has to be a safety issue in Australia doesn't it? It's quite a noisy ride – there's a drone in the back that drowns out even the cranked-up stereo.