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Seems like no one notices this... Fast Lane: Volkswagen Polo big on featureshttps://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/motoring/fast-lane-volkswagen-polo-big-on-features Volkswagen's sixth-generation Polo is here. The first Polo built on the carmaker's new MQB platform, the car is powered by a 115hp/200Nm 1-litre turbocharged engine mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. For a small car, it has big features, including keyless entry, smartphone connectivity and six airbags. Two versions are available - Comfortline and Beats. The Polo accelerates from zero to 100kmh in 9.5 seconds. Prices start at $89,900.

2013 marks the debut of Volkswagen in the World Rally Championship. The automaker fielded a couple of their Polo R WRC rally cars and one of them has managed to finish in second place at the Rally Monte Carlo. After months of preparation and testing, the team's efforts have certainly paid off. Behind the wheel of the second placed car was Sebastien Ogier and his co-driver, Julien Ingrassia. Volkswagen motorsport director, Jost Capito, spoke after the rally event and he mentioned that finishing second place in the first ever rally was something more that the team could have expected. He also added that the Rally Monte Carlo was the most complex event in the season calendar and the team has shown that they are ready for the WRC. Finishing in first place was Sebastien Loeb in his Citroen and Loeb's team mate Dani Sordo came in third. Volkswagen's other car, piloted by Jari-Matti Latvala retired from the race after crashing in some snow covered sections at the Col de Turini stage. The Polo R WRC rally car is based on the humble Polo hatchback. But it received an aerodynamic bodykit and a WRC-spec 1.6-litre turbocharged engine which delivers around 300bhp, even with an air restrictor fitted. The next stage, which is the Rally Sweden, will kick off on February 7th.

Earlier this year, Volkswagen unveiled a Polo concept known as the Polo R WRC Street Concept at the annual GTI meeting in Worthersee, Austria. The production version is now ready and as initially confirmed; the car will go on display at the upcoming 2013 Geneva Motor Show. Volkswagen has released images of the car which is now known as the Polo R WRC and the car will be produced in limited numbers and it is considered to be the road version of the Polo R that will participate in the World Rally championships. The final product was heavily inspired by the concept shown at the GTI meeting. The Polo R WRC looks more aggressive and beefier than the Polo GTI, all thanks to the reshaped bumpers and wider stance. 18 inch rally inspired wheels are fitted on all four corners of the car. At the rear, the car receives a trunk mounted spoilers and dual chrome exhausts tips. The Polo R WRC is available only in white with grey and blue stickers placed on the front hood and at the side of the car. In the interior department, the front seats are fitted with bucket seats and the seats are wrapped in a mix of leather and alcantara. A three spoke steering wheel and aluminium pedals complete the racing look. The Polo R WRC is the most powerful street legal Polo that the company has ever built. The car is fitted with a 2.0 litre turbocharged engine and it is the same unit from the Golf GTI. The engine makes around 220bhp and with a torque of 350Nm. The car completes the century sprint in 6.4 seconds and has a top speed of 240km/h. As mentioned above, the Polo R WRC will be built in limited numbers and Volkswagen will built only 2,500 units of it.

There have been rumours going around saying that Volkswagen is preparing a high performance version of the Polo. The German automaker has been rather tight lipped over it initially and later on denied that there would be such a model. But at the 31st GTI Meeting held in Worthersee, Austria, held earlier this year; Volkswagen unveiled a Polo concept which is known as the Volkswagen Polo R WRC Street Concept (top most image). The concept is a road version of the Volkswagen Polo R WRC that will be competing in the World Rally Championships in 2013. And now, there are reports of a production version of the Polo R that is said to be unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show and will be offered to the public shortly after that. Ulrich Hackenberg, Volkswagen's head of R&D, has confirmed that the company will debut the Volkswagen Polo R at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show and the launch will coincide with the automaker's entry into the World Rally Championships. Hackneberg also mentioned that the Polo R's announcement was in fact to draw attention to Volkswagen's WRC efforts and the company originally had no intentions to release such a model. The production Polo R is said to get a tuned version of the same engine used in the Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk VI. The 2.0 litre turbocharged four cylinder unit is tuned to deliver 225bhp. This will give the Polo R a higher performance level over the Polo GTI (second image from top). With a lighter kerb weight compared to the Golf GTI, this means that the Polo R will be slightly faster than the Golf GTI's 0-100km/h timing of 6.9 seconds. The Polo R will remain a front wheel drive unlike its Golf R sibling and it will benefit from a mechanical limited slip differential. Exterior wise, the Polo R will surely be kitted with a host of body modifications and bigger sized wheels in order to differentiate it with the base and GTI models. Expect it to feature a lowered, and probably adjustable, suspension kit and bigger brakes. Photo credit: Net Car Show

[extract] Alright folks. More news on affordable cars for you esteemed readers to digest. Volkswagen has just launched the 140ps Polo BlueGT over at the Geneva Motor Show. The Volkswagen Polo BlueGT is the Polo that sits in between the Volkswagen Polo 1.2TSI (105ps) and the Polo GTI (180ps). It therefore is the middle child in terms of power but one that actually more economical than both its siblings. Volkswagen has basically combined its BlueMotion Technology (Stop/Start & battery regeneration systems) onto the 1.4liter TSI petrol engine found in the Polo GTI albeit with a slightly lower state of tune (140ps instead of 180ps) and the addition of cylinder deactivation system (Active Cylinder Management

Volkswagen held a press launch for the new Polo GTI hot hatch on Monday, and it was probably one of the more interesting ones I've experienced in my (relatively short) media career. What they did was lay out a small circuit at the Marina Bay Golf Course, and let us journalists loose in the spicy little car. And, knowing how competitive us motoring writers are, there were prizes awarded for the top three fastest times of the day. How did I fare? Well... The basic circuit layout was this: A long starting straight, before braking to a halt at the other end. Then turning around you get a slalom course, before braking to a stop at the end again. Turn around once more and off you go. Two rounds constitute one lap. Everyone gets a practice turn and two timed laps. We were actually the first to arrive, and so I was the first to give the car (and course) a go. I'm not sure if that helped in any way, but being among the first to check out the Polo GTI's capabilities, it gave me confidence that I could set a quick time on the day. After my first run, we took a short break for lunch (and let other journalists have their turn), and to find out more about the Polo GTI. Volkswagen are embarking on a novel approach in promoting this car, and I will talk about it more later in the article. After lunch, and some vivid dicsussion with the Volkswagen people about the car, I was filled with confidence and ready to go out for my second run. Unfortunately, the confidence from my first run must have gotten to me, for I probably overdid my second shot. I braked far too late for the braking points, and powered on too early during the turnarounds. As I felt the car going away from me, I over-corrected, and then I heard the clunking sounds of traffic cones falling over. Before long, it was over. I was still hopeful of getting a good time, until I was told that I would be penalised for my over-exuberance. Volkswagen wouldn't reveal the times to us (Hmph), but I figured that my antics would probably ranked me somewhere around...last place. Nevertheless, it was loads of fun. I remembered grinning endlessly after I stepped out of the car, not just because of my mad driving, but also because the Polo GTI was such a hoot to drive. Of course, these can only performed in a close, controlled environment, like the one Volkswagen set up for us, and NEVER on public roads. So it was a rare opportunity for us to release a little of our driving beast within. And naturally, I didn't win any prizes that day. But the experience of piloting such a fun car as the Polo GTI would stay with me forever. If you're interested in finding out more, Volkswagen has decided to market the Polo GTI through a series of new online media, with its innovative website (www.pologti.sg) featuring a very fun game, set along to the beatboxing sounds of top local beatboxer Dharni. Give the game a go, and you might even win a prize. In addition, Volkswagen are also releasing a couple of teaser videos on YouTube (the links of which are and ), and hopes to spread them through viral marketing. All in all, the Polo GTI is a very interesting car, aimed at people who seek to do things differently, just like it does. Check it out, and you might just emerge with a smile on your face.

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[extract] $65,900. That