Posts Tagged ‘VW Polo’

Volkswagen Polo is Car of The Year 2010

VW Polo

The new VW Polo has scored a narrow triumph in the 2010 Car of the Year Award, beating six other finalists. The result, announced today, show that the Polo scored 347 points against 337 for Toyota’s new city car, the iQ. The pair were well ahead of the next-best runner, the Opel/Vauxhall Astra with 221 points, while the other finalists were the Skoda Yeti (158), the Mercedes-Benz E-Class (155), the Peugeot 3008 (144) and the Citroen C3 Picasso (113).

Announcing the result, Autocar’s Steve Cropley, who is one of six UK based jurors, and one of 59 car experts from 23 European countries who decide the award, revealed that the Polo was chosen as the winning car by 25 jurors, while the iQ was chosen by 20 jurors. The competition was neck-and-neck throughout the counting, with the Polo’s win confirmed only as the last vote was counted.

“This year’s results show that the body of COTY jurors firmly believes that small, economical cars were the best of this year’s crop,” says Cropley. “The Polo is a very complete, very refined car which delivers all the consistent qualities VW has become so well known for. However, given its unusual layout, controversial looks and premium price, the iQ did amazingly well, and it was nice to see good support for the Astra, whose maker, GM Europe, was victorious this year with the Insignia executive car. The E-Class Mercedes, considered by many to be the maker’s best saloon model for years, was also well supported.”

The COTY jury is made up of 59 senior motoring journalists from 23 countries. Their objective is to choose the most outstanding new car to go on sale in the past 12 months. Jurors vote twice: first to select a short-list of seven from the new cars launched in Europe, then again to choose the winner.

Autocar is one of seven leading publications from around Europe which organise the COTY contest. Each publication takes it in turn to organise the vote, publicise and promote the contest and hold the prize-giving ceremony.

The jury is completely independent of the Organising Committee in matters connected with the award itself, the selection of eligible cars and the voting.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Diesel News

NEW POLO RANGE EXPANDS AS THREE-DOOR MODEL ORDERING BEGINS

VW Polo

Shortly before the first new Polo models are delivered to customers, the three-door version has become available to order. This not only provides more choice but also increases the possibility of Polo ownership to a wider audience as the entry-level price is now reduced to £9,435 (OTR RRP). The same five-door Polo costs £10,035. If an order is placed now for a three-door Polo, it will be scheduled to arrive in January.

Engine and trim level availability is the same for three-door and five-door models. This means the starting point for the range is the 1.2-litre 60 PS engine in S trim. An S A/C model is offered as an option adding Climatic air conditioning. Moving up the range takes buyers to SE and Moda, and then to SEL with the highest level of specification. Three petrol engines (1.2-litre 60 and 70 PS and 1.4-litre 85 PS) and two diesels (1.6-litre 75 and 90 PS) are currently available.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Diesel News, Diesel Owners Club

NEW THREE-DOOR POLO UNVEILED AHEAD OF FRANKFURT SHOW

VW Polo

VW Polo

The new three-door Polo has been unveiled ahead of its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Drawing on the same clean, sharp lines adopted by the five-door model the new Polo three-door features a more aggressive stance, with a pronounced kink in the window line just above a sharp crease running the length of the car.  The overall effect is a cohesive, clutter-free design that makes the new Polo appear lower and wider than it really is.

The three-door model shares the same platform and dimensions as the five-door model and benefits from the same gains in quality, space, safety and refinement made over the outgoing model.

Built at Volkswagen’s Pamplona production facility in Spain, the three-door model will start production in right-hand drive form in late October before the first deliveries start in early 2010.

As with the five-door variant there will be four trim levels – S, SE, Moda and SEL. Prices for the S are estimated to start at around £9,400 while the top-spec SEL model will cost £14,000.

Every Polo is fitted with four airbags, ABS, ESP and hydraulic brake assist as standard.  In addition, the Polo comes with a CD stereo, speed sensitive power steering and electric windows.

The SE trim level adds air-conditioning, 15-inch alloy wheels, a six-speaker stereo with iPod connectivity and body-coloured door handles and mirrors.

In top-spec SEL trim the Polo is fitted with 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, leather trim on the steering wheel, gearshift and handbrake, a multifunction computer and tyre pressure warning indicator.

At launch the new Polo three-door will be available with a choice of six engines, four petrol and two diesel.  These are a pair of naturally-aspirated 1.2-litre engines with 60 or 70 PS and a 1.4-litre 85 PS; plus two 1.6-litre common rail TDI units producing 75 or 90 PS. All engines comply with Euro V emissions legislation.  A new 1.2-litre 105 PS turbocharged TSI unit will also be offered.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Diesel News, Diesel Owners Club