Volkswagen Polo VI

Known as the baby Golf in the lineup, the Polo is known to be the most accessible Volkswagen money can buy and being small, it does had some fair share among motorists elsewhere. With the arrival of the new, sixth-generation model, the new Polo tries to win the hearts of motorists in the midst of concerns Volkswagen's facing right now, with its new tech, new engine, and other features that makes it a class apart.

2018 Volkswagen Polo

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, because what you''re looking at here is the all-new Volkswagen Polo and for its sixth-generation, Volkswagen aims this new model to be the best Polo ever built having accumulated over 14 million units sold worldwide since the first one with its new design, new interior, new dynamics, and new packaging that makes it a class apart the rest.

Checking first on the exterior and at first glance, it borrows some styling cues from its big brother, the current-generation Golf, making it sharper looking than before, which is good, but on the back, they haven't bothered at all, which is similar to Suzuki's Baleno, having cars that are sharper up front but bland on the back. Also, it's available exclusively as a five-door only because three door hatchbacks are better off dead (except for some) and five doors are better looking than three doors.

2018 Volkswagen Polo interior

On the inside, it's not half bad to look at and in tune with today's trends, the new Polo is the first Volkswagen and the first Volkswagen Group model ever to offer this new generation of the Active Info Display, which is as vivid as the graphics from the video games donning the 4K era, and at the flick of the switch, the display changes course to suit your preference. Apart from the many gadgets you can toy around, especially the Beats Audio from the Beats variant of this car, the new Polo, being utilized by the Volkswagen Group's MQB-A0 platform, is surprisingly spacious for five people and amazingly, there's room at the back for some stuff you snagged from the estate sale from a neighborhood from far away.

2018 Volkswagen Polo

On a base Polo, you have a choice of efficient TSI (petrol), TGI (natural gas) and TDI (diesel) engines with the one with the most grunt is the one with the 1.5L TSi with 150PS of power output while the most efficient is the one with the 1.6 TDi with 3.7L/100km of fuel efficiency, although some people are better off without the diesel variant due to ongoing headlines surrounding Volkswagen right now. Either way, the new platform and the new chassis results to a much rewarding driving experience compared to the previous Polo. Not much exciting by hatchback standards but it's very accessible indeed to get the most out of it. Speaking of exciting...

2018 Volkswagen Polo GTi

If you think the normal Polo's not spicy enough to turn around, perhaps the new GTi might do the thing. Of course, the new Polo GTi gains electronic transverse differential lock for better handling with slightly less chances of understeer, which is good but what's under the hood might shock you. The old model had a twincharged 1.8L petrol engine but the new model dumped the supercharger, left it turbocharged and direct injected, and increase the size to 2.0L. Despite now being turbocharged only, the added size results to 200PS of power, which is slightly more than its predecessor and with the utterly dramatic 6-speed dual clutch gearbox, it does 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds and onwards 237kph. That sounds quick but if you want to keep it fun, there's a 6-speed MT but you have to wait until next year, which is a shame for speedo boys so they'll have to make do with the DSG.

No matter the Polo, you will be greeted by a wide array of safety tech offered because Volkswagen wants to make it the smartest Polo ever made that will stand out the rest such as Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Traffic Alert, Driver Alert System, Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, Adaptive Cruise Control, Front Assist area monitoring system, City Emergency Braking, Park Assist, and Tyre Pressure Loss Indicator. Some features are nice but some features, even for speedo boys going for the GTi variant, might drive them mad because it might control their driving experience, but that's the life of a high-tech compact car because you'll have plenty of reasons why you enjoy driving this car no matter the situation.

The all-new, sixth-generation Polo starts at 12,975 Euros plus on road costs, which sounds like fair value, and value aside, there are so many reasons to talk about the new Polo. While the design may not be somewhat a looker as well as the interior, the tech, performance, and packaging is what makes you interested to drive it and live it for everyday use and that is the bottomline.

Photo: Volkswagen 

The new Polo GTi - It's Explosive

Imagine if the guys from Top Gear Korea went
to Switzerland to drive the new Polo GTi...

Those hot hatches in Forza Motorsport 4 such as the Ford Focus RS, Volkswagen Scirocco R, Renaultsport Megane, and the SEAT Leon Cupra R are seem to be massive. Surely, I was very contended driving with turbocharged micro-minis, especially the Fiat 500 Abarth, but I found out that none of these hot hatches satisfying me for its performance. What I need now is a very "hot" hatch that satisfies my craving and this could be a contender. Representing the Forza Motorsport 4 February ALMS Pack, this is the all new Volkswagen Polo V GTi. The only hot hatch that comes with a supercharger and turbocharger all rolled into one. Those days of driving hot hatches in Forza Motorsport 4 are becoming one of my "Engineering Connections" and with this, this is Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections to the next level.

INSANELY BONKERS!!!

About the Polo V GTi, this is the high-performance version of the fifth-generation Volkswagen Polo, the Golf's little brother. What it lives it up to its name was its superior handling and uncompromising engine dynamics. This is the only Volkswagen hot hatch that comes with the direct-injected 1.4L TSi Twincharger engine, an engine that combines two of the most powerful attributes of the performance world; a supercharger and a turbocharger. This is just like the Japanese hatchback with the words "Super Turbo" from the past. The 1.4L Twincharger engine produces 177HP of power and 184 lb-ft of torque. This allows the car to go from naught to 60 in 6 and a half seconds and it can flat out in 147mph. Those figures really made the Polo V GTi go neck-and-neck with its big brother, the Volkswagen Golf VI GTi.

It's explosive...(Sorry VW Scirocco)

This Polo V GTi made me found the answer I was looking for when it comes to observing the "Engineering Connections" of a hot hatch but it always made me completely bonkers because of its 1.4L Twincharger engine and a 7-speed DSG that makes shifting smooth and silky as my polo I'm wearing for my night classes. This car is not a hot hatch, much like the others, but it is a hyper hatch that is purely demonic and explosive. Some say, it will get you into trouble easily, it will get you out with a smile on your face, and it will soothe your brow, all the way home. As a matter of fact, (sigh) I love it! (Mwah)

CR-Z is 2010-2011 Japan Car of the Year Winner!

A few moments earlier, I watched a live stream of the 2010-2011 Japan Car of the Year. There were ten nominees on this award, which motoring journalists from Japan vote which JDM/Import car is deserved to be Japan Car of the Year. The nominees were:

1) Toyota Mark X

2) Nissan March

3) Honda CR-Z

4) Mazda Premacy

5) Suzuki Swift

6) Volkswagen Polo

7) Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan

8) BMW 5-Series

9) Peugeot RCZ

10) Jaguar XJ

Upon witnessing the counting tally, it seems the Volkswagen Polo and the Honda CR-Z come neck and neck. The VW Polo got straight (especially when most Japanese motoring journalists gave it a 10 points), then the CR-Z strike back. I always thought that might won, but the CR-Z gained the crown as 2010-2011 Japan Car of the Year, with the VW Polo gained the title of 2010-2011 Import Car of the Year!

The world's first sport hybrid car gained the most respectful title and most Japanese are going to bow down! Congratulations CR-Z for being 2010-2011 Japan Car of the Year!

Full Scoop (Japanese Only):

http://www.carview.co.jp/news/1/136892/

VW Polo V GTi

2011 Volkswagen Polo V GTi

If the Golf GTi was too expensive for a Geman hot hatch aficionado like you, this hot hatch could be a cheaper alternative to the almost 30,000 Euro sports hatch.

Since the cost of this highly modified Polo is 4775 Euros less than the Golf GTi, the Polo GTi is a great hot hatch to begin tearing down every track day meets at the cost of your adrenaline pleasure. Available in 3-door and 5-door variants, choosing which Polo GTi style suits from your pleasure of trying on the cheaper alternative to the Golf GTi. No matter which body style you choose, you might be able to take a plunge on the Polo GTi's 1.4 TSI engine that comes with the standard 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox. Despite the raw power of the turbocharged engine, the DSG on the Polo GTi makes it dull to drive if you are an avid fan of manual transmissions, because this GTi does not offer a manual transmission, making it a decent machine suited for the amateurs. If you want to go professional, try choosing the Golf GTi because it offers the manual transmission.

On the design story, the Polo GTi truly shows its hot hatch side, wearing a trademark GTi red grille, GTi badges, and trademark GTi rims. With these looks, I am assuring that the Polo GTi looks at its best as if does to its big brother, the Golf GTi. On the interior, the dark interior color and the seats seems to be bland but OK for the hot hatch addict. What needs on the Polo GTi's interior is to put some bucket seats so it can show off its sporty side and the enjoyment while driving the Polo GTi on any track it desires, especially the Nurburgring.

My thoughts about the Polo GTi:
If I crossed my fingers that Volkswagen will return on the Philippines soon (I hope that PGA Cars, the distributor of Audi and Porsche, got the memo), my thoughts that the Polo GTi is too blurry to sell it because of its decent looks. Aside from that, the DSG is not much of a game changing experience because what professional V-Dub enthusiasts want is the Golf GTi because it offers the manual transmission. If the Golf GTi does not suit to your income, maybe the Polo GTi should be the best compact for the job. Since this hot hatch has a reasonable price and features, only the amateurs are welcome to try on this premium sports compact car.

Photo: Carview

Volkswagen New CrossPolo

Last 2009, Volkswagen unveiled the new look of their compact hatchback, the Polo. With the new Polo wearing its new look, new features, and new performance, it is not surprising this car won the prestigious World Car of the Year, outranked the Toyota Prius in the list of WCOTY finalists which includes the MB E-Class, judges state that you do not need an electric motor and a battery pack for fuel efficiency.

To celebrate the Polo for being a world champion, Volkswagen decided to expand the Polo range from the original, BlueMotion, and now, the rugged CrossPolo and the sporty Polo GTi. In the meantime, we should explain first the crossover compact of the Polo range, the CrossPolo.






The CrossPolo from Volkswagen combines the style of the latest Volkswagen Polo and the ruggedness of a sport utility vehicle, resulting to a rugged crossover that puts the SEAT Altea FreeTrack to a major setback, despite both of them are not called a true sports utility vehicle. While the exterior is mostly rugged, the interior is rugged with colored upholstery that is based on the CrossPolo's exterior color. The CrossPolo has different colors to choose:

1) Flash-Rot
2) Magmaorange
3) Hot Orange Metallic
4) Reflexsilber Metallic
5) Terra Beige Metallic
6) Deep Black Perleffekt

Depending on which body color, the CrossPolo can pick which multi-tone seating colors to choose, perfecting the colorful mixture of this rugged compact crossover utility vehicle.

From its rugged personality, the CrossPolo comes with engine variations that find it suitable for those who are looking for fuel efficiency or power. Beginning with the entry-level 1.2L engine, this is the basics for those who want to start their CrossPolo life but when you are looking for challenges, choose from the 1.2L TSI, 1.4L, and the flagship 1.6L TDI turbodiesel engine. Available transmissions are the 6-speed manual transmission and the 7-speed DSG transmission.

My thoughts about the CrossPolo:
With the new Polo awarded as the World Car of the Year, its status of being a world champion (especially Volkswagen Group becoming the world's number one carmaker), the CrossPolo makes a perfect addition from its world champion. Combining the look of the compact car and the feel of the sports utility vehicle, this sports utility compact is surely the decent choice for V-dub fans. I think the Philippines should need to bring back the Volkswagen brand and promise more dealerships than Toyota because Volkswagen is now the world's number one automobile manufacturer. As for the CrossPolo, maybe we are not in to that because of the upcoming Polo GTi, but if we want more adventures, maybe we should go for this. Just to remind to those Pinoy V-dub fans that we should congratulate the Volkswagen Polo for being the world champion and this new addition to the Polo family truly picks it up.

New VW Polo

Meet the little brother of the legendary VW Golf, which is now better than the average compact cars in history, this is the all new fifth-generation Volkswagen Polo. Since its preview at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, most VW fans really know that the new Polo shares the platform used in the Seat Ibiza known as the VW Group A0 platform. Truth is that this platform also used in the next Audi compact car.

At the front side, you will notice that this grille has the same look as the Scirocco and the new Golf, then the side view is quite a hatchback feeling that carries on the VW hatchback tradition from the Scirocco and the Golf as well, and the rear side looks just like the late Volkswagen Lupo used to be. Without further ado, the new Polo contains two types; for sportiness, try the 3-door variant and for passenger care, try the 5-door variant.

Are you trying to pull the ropes yet? The new Polo has different engines available, like the 1,2L 3-cylinder engine that has a fuel efficiency of over 18.1km/L, 1.2-litre TSI turbo engine that has the power of over 105 PS, 1.4-litre engine that has the fuel economy of over 16.9km/L, and a 1.6 TDI turbo diesel engine with the optional common rail diesel.

A commanding presence meets commanding renaissance when you step inside the interior of the new Polo. What surprises you is the same VW interior look as found on the new Golf and the Scirocco. On the other hand, the legroom for the new Polo is not quite bad and the instrumental panel is not quite dull in the eyes of the driver. Best of all, there are many options made suitable for the new Golf, including a navigation system that allows you to find the places you want to go.

ARE YOU ALL SET TO GO?

In general, the word "polo" is an equestrian sport has done in European countries and it is known as the other side of rugby or soccer or football or whatever that is. In the Philippines, the word "polo" is the clothes we wear as a school uniform or as a casual wear to the public. Once you are in the new Polo, your boring life is about to wear off and so is your worries everywhere. Think about it, this hatch will be the bearing target of some rival hatchbacks including the Hyundai i30 and the Mazda3.