Up to 20 percent better fuel economy points the way to the future with 3.6 liter fuel consumption and 96 g/km CO2 set new benchmark for five-seaters
At the 2009 Geneva Motor Show at the beginning of March, the 2010 VW Polo debuted with a completely new look and technology. After its celebrated world premiere, this latest Volkswagen is now entering the market. On the safety side the Polo has ESP plus Hill Hold Control standard combined with significantly improved crash properties.
2010 Volkswagen Polo: Polo
brings new dimension of quality to the supermini class with five new
engines; TSI and Common Rail TDI in the Polo for the first timeProf. Dr. Martin Winterkorn: "The new Polo fulfills the highest standards of the automotive present and goes a step further. Its extremely efficient drive technologies, best possible active and passive safety systems, a level of quality never before attained in this car class and impressive design all set new benchmarks in the fifth generation of this bestseller that has sold over 10.6 million units." The Chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Group continues: "The Polo is clearly the right car at the right time, and that is born out by the latest advance sales figures. Here we have created a Volkswagen that takes the unparalleled success of the Golf concept and effectively transfers it to an independent segment – the Polo class."
"It is already clear that the Polo will redefine the benchmarks in its class, especially when it comes to preserving natural resources," says Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Management, Volkswagen Brand, and responsible for technical development. Dr. Hackenberg continues: "As a 90-PS TDI with a BlueMotionTechnology package, the new Polo moves with 3.6 liter fuel consumption. Even our new 105-PS TSI only consumes 5.5 liters per 100 kilometers. We have succeeded in improving fuel economy between 8 and 20 percent over the entire gasoline engine lineup, and between 5 and 15 percent among the diesels. And that is really good."
Another key fact: No other car in its class has such a mature and high-end image as the new Polo. Comfort, quality and safety have all taken a considerable leap forward. One example: among other things, the Polo was specifically designed to attain the recently established, stricter and more comprehensive, 5-star EuroNCAP rating. The greater structural rigidity of the Polo’s bodyshell contributes to these results. In the footwell area alone, intrusion – related to the car body’s resistance to deformation in a frontal crash – was lowered by 50 percent! In the case of a side impact, the intrusion value was reduced by 20 percent.
2010 Volkswagen PoloStandard equipment for safety
In addition, the European version of the Polo now being presented is equipped with standard ESP electronic stabilization program with Hill Hold Control, and it has a highly effective network of airbags on board, including combined head-thorax airbags (integrated in the front seatbacks), belt tensioners and belt force limiters plus seatbelt warning indicator and head restraints that counteract the risk of whiplash injury (both front seats), three rear head restraints and Isofix preparation for child seats.
Volkswagen has rearranged the line structure of its equipment lines since the previous model: "Trendline" still represents the entry-level variant, and "Comfortline" still refers to the mid equipment level. New to the lineup – and bringing the Polo in line with the Golf here – is the top version called "Highline". Convenience features that are already standard features of the Polo Trendline include: electro-hydraulic power steering, power windows in front, central locking, cargo area lighting and tie-down points, warning buzzer if lights are left on, height adjustment for driver’s seat, illuminated make-up mirrors in the sun visors and green tinted windows. Meanwhile, "Titanium black" trim and "Metric" fabric give the interior a perceptibly high-end ambiance.
2010 Volkswagen PoloIndividually combinable high-tech features
Options that Polo drivers will be able to order on their new Volkswagen include static turning lights integrated in the front fog lights, daytime running lights (from "Comfortline" up), side curtain airbags (head airbag system for front and rear passengers), radio and radio-navigation systems and an integrated hands-free telephone system. A panorama sunroof and bi-xenon headlights will follow at a later time.
Weight down, fuel consumption down
Despite significant improvements in all aspects of the car, the Polo’s body weight has been reduced by 7.5 percent. Introduction of new TDI and TSI engines, and the 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DSG), has resulted – as described by Dr. Hackenberg – in considerable improvement in fuel economy and reduced emissions over a wide range of engine power outputs. An excellent example here is the new 1.2 TSI. This turbo-charged four-cylinder direct injection gasoline engine produces 77 kW / 105 PS, yet it consumes just 5.5 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (129 g/km CO2); this is 20 percent less than on the equivalent model of the previous generation!
Five new engines for the Polo
In total, seven different engines will be offered on the new Polo in its first year – four gasoline and three diesel – spanning a power range from 44 kW / 60 PS to 77 kW / 105 PS. Five of these engines are entirely new or are being used for the first time in the Polo.
The new engines include all three TDIs (turbo-diesel direct-injection); thanks to common rail technology implemented for the first time in the Polo, these engines are both efficient and refined. The potential in the TDI engines is clearly evident in the example of the Polo 1.6 TDI with 66 kW / 90 PS: when combined with a "BlueMotion Technology package", its average fuel consumption of 3.6 liters per 100 kilometers and 96 g/km CO2 makes it the most fuel efficient and lowest emitting five-seater diesel in the world. The "BlueMotion Technology package" and 90-PS TDI may be ordered on the "Comfortline" and "Highline" equipment versions.
Market launch starts at end of June
Production of the five-door Polo already started at the end of March. This will be followed, starting in the last week in June, by the market launch of the visually and technically advanced new edition of the million unit bestseller in Germany. Just two weeks later, thanks to an ambitious logistics plan, Volkswagen will begin selling the car across mainland Europe, and soon Polo engines will be revving up across all continents.
The Polo on the iPod and iPhone
Volkswagen is very much targeting the generation of "mobile gamers" with the new Polo: in parallel to the world premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show, a Polo racing game for iPhone and iPod touch was launched on March 3, 2009 in Apple App Stores. After just two weeks of this innovative type of marketing, Volkswagen rocketed to number 1 on download charts in 39 countries and even climbed into the top ten on US download charts. So, along with traditional print advertising and media spots, in parallel Volkswagen is counting on interactivity via iPhone and iPod touch for the new Polo. And with success: more than 1.4 million downloads in the Apple App Store within four weeks are proof of the enthusiastic wave that the new Polo racing game "Volkswagen Polo Challenge" has triggered around the globe.
The "Volkswagen Polo Challenge" is an interactive racing game that takes place in brilliant 3D quality on eight highly detailed and accurately reproduced race courses. In addition, the download contains key information on the new Polo. Those who would also like to try out the Polo in reality can look up the nearest Volkswagen dealer within the game and be navigated there.
