The second round of the 2012 World Rally Championship (WRC) in Sweden will once again see Volkswagen Motorsport run a team of two Škoda Fabia S2000s in the SWRC class. The Rally Sweden which runs from today until 12 February will hold a new challenge for the factory VW team, as it gets to grip (quite literally) with the snow-covered woods of the Scandinavian country. Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia will be joined by Škoda driver and 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion Andreas Mikkelsen, who with co-driver Ola Fløene will be running the junior car. Volkswagen Motorsport’s WRC commitments serve as preparation for the 2013 season in which Volkswagen will compete with the Polo R WRC.

‘Sweden is a special rally. It’s the only WRC event on ice and snow and provides the best opportunity to gather valuable experiences in crisp cold. It’s an important run for us in preparation for our WRC entry with the Polo R WRC,’ said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. The drivers will battle it out in 24 special stages over 349 kilometres, using studded tyres. ‘I really like the Rally Sweden. Because of its unique character, it’s important to finish in order to give the team the opportunity to thoroughly get to know this rally,’ commented Ogier. In 2011, the pairing of Ogier and Ingrassia finished the Rally Sweden in fourth place.

The Polo continues to endear itself to new car buyers in 2012, according to the latest batch of sales figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). In January, it sold 2898 examples, a figure up on December’s tally, meaning it retains its sixth place in the UK bestsellers chart. Its larger stablemate, the Golf, was three places higher selling 3992 vehicles, while the reigning champion, the Ford Fiesta once again took the top slot, with 7824 units finding homes. Continuing the trend from 2011, the supermini segment once again took four of the top 10 positions, and showed the largest rise of volumes last month.

Overall, the SMMT states, UK new car registrations rose by 0.03% or 42 units in January 2012 to 128,853 units. The total was boosted by the private market, up 2.7% on January 2011 and further growth in the fleet sector. ‘The January new car market held firm with 128,853 registrations, up on January 2011, a welcome sign of stability in uncertain economic times,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. ‘2012 is set to be an exciting year with record numbers of new models coming to market filled with innovative technology that will save the motorist fuel, enhance comfort and further increase levels of safety and security.’ The UK’s top 10 best-selling cars for January 2012 (and therefore the year so far) are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 7824
2 Ford Focus: 5643
3 Volkswagen Golf: 3992
4 Vauxhall Corsa: 3624
5 Vauxhall Astra: 3340
6 Volkswagen Polo: 2898
7 Vauxhall Insignia: 2719
8 Nissan Qashqai: 2627
9 Audi A3: 2380
10 Peugeot 207: 2364

Two race-quailty boost hose kits for the Polo GTI 6R have recently been added to Forge Motorsport’s tuning parts catalogue. Based on the original specification items, Forge’s silicone woven fabric reinforcement hoses are easy and direct replacements over Volkswagen’s official parts, and can tolerate higher boost pressures and temperatures, as well as a longer life. They can be ordered black, blue, or red, and will also fit the 1.4 TSI Audi A1 TFSI, SEAT Ibiza Cupra/Cupra Bocanegra and Skoda Fabia vRS (twin-charged models only). Prices start at £111.30 excluding VAT for the four-hose kit, while the complete kit retails at £160.97 excluding VAT. For more information, visit the Forge Motorsport website.

Volkswagen Group South Africa has made a strong start to 2012, as the Polo Vivo and Polo took the country’s top two positions in the passenger car sales chart for January. From a total of 35,428 vehicles, the budget Polo Vivo sold 2964 units, while the fifth-generation Polo 6R swept up 2644 sales, an astonishing combined figure of 15.3% of the passenger car market. ‘Total vehicle sales of 9803 in January saw Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) top the total market in the first month of the year – with a 21.3% market share. Its market share in the passenger vehicle category was even more pleasing, at 25.5% with sales of 9003,’ said VWSA Sales and Marketing Director, Mike Glendinning.

The Polo Vivo was launched in March 2010 as an entry-level model for the South African market, replacing the Series 1 Golf-based CitiGolf, and is available as a three or five-door hatchback and four-door booted saloon with 74bhp/84bhp 1.4-litre and 104bhp 1.6-litre petrol engines. Costing from R104,065 for the base-model 1.4 hatchback to R156,220 for the top 1.6 Trendline Sedan, the 2011 Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo (9N3), built from 2005 to 2009. The fifth-generation Polo (6R) is available as both a three and five-door hatchback in addition to the traditional four-door Polo Sedan.

Leaking early, the new Volkswagen 2012 Super Bowl XLVI TV commercial has been released, and builds on the canine theme featured in ‘The Bark Side’ teaser spot, which we previewed earlier in the week. ‘The Dog Strikes Back’ features an overweight pooch called Bolt, who undertakes lots of doggy exercises to get fit so that he can chase the German company’s new Beetle. That’s all very cute, but where does the Star Wars link make itself known? Well, we won’t spoil it here, but there is a galaxy far far away-tinged ending, keeping the running theme from last year’s ‘The Force’ film. An edited 60-second version of this 76-second clip will air during the 2012 Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday 5 February. Will VW keep the same theme for 2013?

It was a mixed start to the 2012 WRC season for the Volkswagen Motorsport team at the 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo from 18-22 January. After a storming start, new factory drivers Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassa suffered a spectacular accident on the 10th special stage, the biggest of Ogier’s career. The pairing’s Škoda S2000 left the rally course at 160kph, and miraculously neither were badly injured. Luckier with the younger team of driver Kevin Abbring and Lara Vanneste, Volkswagen Motorsport claimed a 12th place finish overall and top-of the-S2000 class title. Abbring isn’t registered in the Super 2000 World Rally Championship, though, so the points went to Irishman Craig Breen. The full Volkswagen Motorsport press release follows.

Ogier impresses the fans despite accident on the ‘Monte’
Wolfsburg, 22 January 2012

Sébastien Ogier (28) and co-driver Julien Ingrassia (32) made a storming start to their first rally event for Volkswagen, the 80th Rally Monte Carlo, before they retired on the tenth special stage following a spectacular accident. After a precautionary check at the ‘Centre Hospitalier de Valence’ the two were able to leave the hospital on Thursday evening. After the final stage on Friday afternoon the rally armada will move from Valence to Monaco where it will be stationed up to the finish on Sunday.

The Škoda S2000 left the track at a speed of 160kph on the 21.66 kilometre special stage from Lamastre via Gilhoc to Alboussière. For Ogier and Ingrassia the accident rather unluckily meant an early end to the legendary rally classic. Beforehand the two had put in an impressive display in their less powerful S2000 Škoda against the WRC cars. Together with his co-driver the new Volkswagen factory driver even held fourth position on occasion in the overall standings.

‘That was the biggest accident of my career. We were lucky that it wasn’t worse,’ explained Ogier after the accident. ‘I really felt at home in the car. Our speed was very good. The difficult conditions were perfect for us, as we could almost keep pace with the WRC category.’ Co-driver Ingrassia added: ‘We tried to cut the corner slightly at the point, the car was launched upwards as a result and at such a high speed we had no chance of keeping the car under control. I bruised my arm slightly on the impact, but luckily nothing appears to be broken.’

‘To begin with, we are extremely happy that Sébastien and Julien are in good health,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. ‘Obviously it’s a great shame that the two will be unable to celebrate reaching the finish in Monaco, especially as Sébastien had driven incredibly well up to that point. His speed was amazing on the opening stages. This proves that we have signed in Ogier a driver with great potential. We look forward to the other rallies with these two.’

2012 Rallye Monte Carlo: Ogier/Ingrassia

2012 Rallye Monte Carlo: Ogier/Ingrassia

2012 Rallye Monte Carlo: Ogier/ingrassia

2012 Rallye Monte Carlo: Sébastien Ogier

2012 Rallye Monte Carlo: Abbring/Vanneste

2012 Rallye Monte Carlo: Kevin Abbring

Volkswagen celebrates class victory in the Rally Monte Carlo
Wolfsburg, 22 January 2012

Volkswagen Junior Kevin Abbring (23) and his co-driver Lara Vanneste (21) produced a fantastic performance on their way to taking victory in the S2000 class for Volkswagen in the 80th Rally Monte Carlo. The rally classic in the principality on the Cote d’Azur is part of the FIA World Championship for the first time since 2008.

Kevin Abbring and Lara Vanneste were awarded the winner’s trophy in the square overshadowed by the Royal Palace in Monaco after a total of 1772 kilometres and 18 demanding special stages, which included the infamous run to Col de Turini. For the young Dutchman and his Belgian co-driver it is the second S2000 class victory after taking the spoils at the Rally Great Britain in November 2011.

At the same time, Abbring, who celebrated his 23rd birthday in the cockpit on Friday, gave himself his favourite present. ‘I’m delighted. To win the “Monte” is simply an indescribable feeling. Lara and I are very proud,’ beamed Abbring during the victory ceremony at the Royal Palace. ‘We improved from stage to stage and implemented the team’s instructions. My heartfelt thanks to the entire Volkswagen team for the support, we worked perfectly together.’

‘A big complement to our driver teams and the entire team because in rallying a win is always a win for the complete team,’ emphasised a satisfied Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen (51). ‘Kevin put in a fantastic performance, we are proud of him and his co-driver Lara. He impressively demonstrated what a huge talent he is and why we support him as Volkswagen Junior.’

New Volkswagen factory driver Sébastien Ogier (28) and co-driver Julien Ingrassia (32) had already attracted a great deal of attention beforehand. The two Frenchmen held fourth place overall on occasion in the less powerful S2000 car – before an accident meant an early end for the two. Nissen: ‘Sébastiens Speed was incredible on the opening stages. This proves that we have signed a driver with great potential. I’m convinced that he’ll be good for one or the other big surprise during the World Championship rallies this year.’

The Frenchman also looks forward optimistically to his next outing during the Rally Sweden (9 to 12 February). ‘I feel very comfortable on the car and team. We were extremely competitive before the accident,’ said Ogier, who was third in the WRC in 2011. ‘The difficult conditions at the start of the rally were an advantage for us because the difference in power between the Fabia S2000 and the WRC class didn’t have such a big effect. We aim to maintain our pace in Sweden and I’m confident that we will also be fast there.’

In 2012 Volkswagen contests rounds of the World Rally Championship with two Fabia S2000 cars from the group brand Škoda. The rallies act as preparation for the 2013 season in which Volkswagen will compete with the Polo R WRC in rallying’s top-flight.

Buoyed by the 2011 success of its Star Wars-themed ‘The Force’ advert (Adweek’s ‘Commercial of the Year 2011’, 44 million YouTube views, 6.8 billion impressions), Volkswagen is again going intergalactic for its 2012 Super Bowl XLVI TV commercial. Called the ‘Bark Side’, this 64-second teaser previews the full advert which will air on 5 February. Featuring a collective of canines (some ‘dressed’ as notable characters from the series’ titles) barking the ‘Imperial March’ from the film’s soundtrack, it’s looking like it will cause as much of a sensation as last year’s US Darth Vader-themed clip.

Volkswagen Australia is bringing yet more refinements to the Polo range, with the introduction of a revised range on 1 February 2012. Prices for the revised Polo range will be announced on this date. With such awards as Drive’s Car of the Year ‘Best City Car’ and Australia’s Best Cars ‘Best Light Car over $20,000’, the fifth-generation Polo has proved to be a hit for the second consecutive year, outstanding quality quality and class-leading engine technologies being its key strengths. The range revisions just make Volkswagen’s small car offering stronger.

The entry-level Polo Trendline will come in five-door form only, replacing the three-door model, and following the trend for the Australian small-car market in general. Elsewhere, equipment levels for all models have been enhanced. Bluetooth connectivity (an option sorely lacking on UK models) has been added, as has a Media Device Interface (MDI) and daytime driving lights. The top-flight GTI meanwhile, gets an RCD510 touchscreen audio system, automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers and an automatically-dipping rear view mirror, all as standard.

[Source: vwwatercooled.org.au]

In the latest issue of Volkswagen’s digital magazine ‘Das.’ the Polo GTI is captured on camera by German photographer Uwe Breitkopf. The seven stunning images feature a Shadow Blue three-door out on the streets, and the dynamic angles really catch the spirit of the small tearaway Volkswagen. With CGI used to complement the car, Breitkopf sates that, ‘Instead of revealing every detail, high contrast and a reduced colour code gives the images a strong and powerful graphic composition, inspiring the imagination.’ See the set of fantastic images for yourself at www.volkswagen-das.co.uk/#/spectacularview where you can also subscribe for future issues of the interactive magazine.

2012 Volkswagen Polo GTI by Uwe Breitkopf

2012 Volkswagen Polo GTI by Uwe Breitkopf

2012 Volkswagen Polo GTI by Uwe Breitkopf

2012 Volkswagen Polo GTI by Uwe Breitkopf

2012 Volkswagen Polo GTI by Uwe Breitkopf

2012 Volkswagen Polo GTI by Uwe Breitkopf

2012 Volkswagen Polo GTI by Uwe Breitkopf

Hot on the heels of its victory at the What Car? Car of the Year 2012 awards, the diminutive Volkswagen Up is once again in the news, as the new family-friendly five-door variant is unveiled. The 2.42-metre wheelbase stays the same, as does the efficient three-cylinder engine. The main noticeable difference when compared to the three-door (with the exception of two rather obvious additional doors), is the rear profile styling. The Up’s unique upward rear window kink has given way to a downward styling line, reminiscent of that on the three-door Škoda Citigo and SEAT Mii. Prices for the five-door Up will be announced nearer the on-sale date of summer 2012. The full Volkswagen UK press release follows.

Practicality goes Up with baby Volkswagen’s five door version

Getting into Volkswagen’s award-winning Up city car is now easier than ever, with the introduction of the new five-door model. Pictured here for the first time, the five-door Up has many of the same virtues as its three-door sibling: a 2.42m long wheelbase that makes for impressive interior space, a capacious 251-litre boot, an efficient three-cylinder engine, new-to-the-class safety features and an innovative infotainment system.

Rear passengers in the five-door Up benefit from exactly the same cabin space as those in the recently-launched three-door, with 947mm of headroom (versus 993mm in the front) and 789mm of legroom. The rear seat base is set slightly higher than that in the front, at 378mm (versus 306mm) giving rear passengers a clearer view of the road ahead.

As well as front and side airbags, ABS with Hydraulic Brake Assist, Isofix child seat preparation in the rear and standard ESP (on all but the entry level Take Up model), the Up can be ordered with an optional City Emergency Braking system. This uses sensors to scan the space ahead of the vehicle, applying the brakes automatically if it detects that the car is about to hit an object in front, and costs from just £225. The Up has received a five-star rating and the Advanced Award from Euro NCAP, the European New Car Assessment Programme. It is the first vehicle in this class to receive these awards.

2012 Volkswagen Up five-door

2012 Volkswagen Up five-door

2012 Volkswagen Up five-door

2012 Volkswagen Up five-door

The Up has already received top honours at the prestigious What Car? awards, where it was named Car of the Year for 2012, and has also been named Top Gear magazine’s Small Car of the Year. First UK deliveries of the five-door Up are expected to start in the second half of the year; prices are yet to be confirmed. The three-door Up is available to order now, with prices starting at £7,995 (RRP ‘on the road’). The first models of the city car will arrive in showrooms in March 2012.

In the same way that Volkswagen ‘Match’ models in the UK have traditionally meant more kit for less money, the German company has adopted the same principle – and name – for a range of special editions. Versions of the Polo, Golf, Golf Plus, Golf Variant, Jetta, Scirocco, Sharan and Touran can be ordered in Match configuration, with many enjoying extra kit which saves buyers over €3330 when the options are added individually. Distinguishing features for the German-market Polo Match model includes special 15-inch ‘Stratford’ alloy wheels, unique ‘Victory’ striped interior upholstery, leather-trimmed steering wheel, handbrake cover and gearshift gaiter, aluminium dashboard inserts, rain sensor, ParkPilot parking system, gloss black door mirrors, chrome-trimmed front grilles, and special ‘Match’ badging.

All Match models come in Reflex Silver Metallic, and the Polo can be ordered with 16-inch ‘Syenit’ alloy wheels with black highlights, and fitted with 215/45 R 16 tyres. The Polo Match comes with 1.2-litre 59 and 69bhp, 1.4 84bhp, 1.2 TSI 89 and 104bhp petrol engines, and 1.2-litre 74bhp, 1.6 89 and 104bhp TDI units. An 81bhp BiFuel version is also available. The ‘Match Plus’ optional extra package includes 16-inch ‘Mistral’ alloy wheels, reading lights, make-up light in the sun visors, panoramic glass sunroof, locking alloy wheel bolts, and space saver spare wheel. The Polo Match is available to order now and starts from €14,450 for the 59bhp 1.2 version, rising to €19,400 for the 89bhp 1.2 TSI with seven-speed DSG gearbox. For more information go to Volkswagen’s Match models microsite.

Volkswagen Motorsport is to contest the 2012 World Rally Championship with a pair of two Škoda Fabia S2000s, running in the SWRC class. The first outing will be the Rallye Monte Carlo on 18-22 January, which will also be Sébastien Ogier’s championship debut for the Volkswagen team, alongside co-driver Julien Ingrassia. Also competing at Monte Carlo are Dutchman Kevin Abbring with his co-driver Lara Vanneste. Sharing the second car will be Škoda UK racer and 2011 Andreas Mikkelsen IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge) champion as part of the Volkswagen Junior Programme. The 2012 World Rally Championship runs serve as preparation for the 2013 season, in which Volkswagen will compete in the top class of rally racing with the 300bhp, four-wheel drive Polo R WRC.

Premiere for Ogier as Volkswagen factory driver at ‘Monte’
Wolfsburg (12 January 2012)

The starting signal will be given at the iconic event: Sébastien Ogier (28) and co-driver Julien Ingrassia (32) are contesting their first rally run for Volkswagen from 18–22 January – and right at the legendary Rallye Monte Carlo. The rally that has been held since 1911 is part of the FIA WRC calendar for the first time in three years, marking the opening event for this year’s season consisting of a total of 13 rounds. Alongside the Frenchman Ogier, the Volkswagen factory team is competing with the Dutch junior driver Kevin Abbring (22) and his co-driver Lara Vanneste (21). In 2012 Volkswagen is contesting the entire WRC in the smaller SWRC class with two Fabia S2000 cars of the Group’s Škoda brand. The runs serve as preparation for the 2013 season in which Volkswagen will compete in the top class of rally racing with the Polo R WRC.

‘After Sébastien’s impressive victory in December as a Volkswagen factory driver at the Race Of Champions we are very much looking forward to finally contesting our first joint rally,’ says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. ‘The “Monte” is the mother of all rallies in general, which makes it a great place for this premiere. With its changeable conditions of asphalt, ice and snow, it’s one of the most challenging events on the calendar. And even though we’re not competing for championship points this season we’ll naturally be giving our best at each run.’

Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia

2012 Škoda Fabia S2000

Volkswagen Polo R WRC

Kevin Abbring

Alongside Ogier the Volkswagen factory team will compete at Monte with Kevin Abbring. Together with his Belgian co-driver, Lara Vanneste, the Dutchman already contested the Rally of Great Britain in 2011, securing victory in the SWRC class. Abbring is looking forward to working with Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen’s new rally factory driver: ‘Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia are fantastic driver colleagues. Sébastien is currently one of the world’s best three rally racers. It’s a great honour for me to be in the same team with him and to compete in the same car.’

For the Rally of Sweden (09–12 February) the second racer alongside regular driver Ogier has been confirmed, too: the Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen (22), who already showed his skills for Volkswagen at the Finland Rally last year, will be competing in Scandinavia together with co-driver Ola Floene (42). Last year’s IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge) champion and Škoda UK racer Mikkelsen will be sharing the second rally car with Abbring this season as part of the Volkswagen Junior Programme.

[Source: Volkswagen Motorsport]

Even before it has hit UK roads, the small new Volkswagen Up has claimed top honours at the prestigious What Car? awards, being named both Car of the Year for 2012 as well as best City Car. Taking the Car of the Year title for a record sixth time makes Volkswagen the most successful manufacturer at the UK magazine’s awards since their inception 34 years ago in 1978.

It was a highly successful night for the manufacturer overall at the motor industry’s annual ‘Oscars’ held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, with the Golf returning as winner of the Small Family Car category for the sixth time overall and fourth consecutive year, and Volkswagen also taking the coveted Safety Award for the Up’s City Emergency Braking System, which applies the brakes if it detects objects ahead of the car.

Commenting on the awards, What Car? editor-in-chief Chas Hallett said: ‘The Volkswagen Up sets new standards for a car at £10,000. It’s a city car that can seat four adults, while offering new class levels of refinement, quality and maturity at this price; none of its rivals feels quite so grown-up. Buyers will be looking for even more for their money than ever in 2012, so the Up is a very worthy winner of this year’s What Car? Car of the Year.’

Once again, the What Car? editorial team found the evergreen Golf hard to fault, and summed up by saying: ‘The Golf now has four wins in a row in our Small Family Car category – proof that Volkswagen got the package just right. This is a particularly demanding category, but the Golf has all the right ingredients: it’s practical, comfortable and good to drive, holds its value well and is economical. It’s really all the car most people will ever need.’

Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Brand with responsibility for Development collected the award and commented: ‘We are very grateful for this award which recognises the achievements and qualities of our new small car, the Up. We set out to design a car which would combine Volkswagen values and maximum space in a distilled and compact package; a car which embodies the pure essence of the brand. From its modern, clean and efficient engines, through its class-leading safety features to its innovative infotainment system, it is a design which encapsulates modern urban mobility.’

The Up is available to order now, with prices starting from £7,995 (RRP ‘On The Road’) with the first raft of models arriving in UK showrooms in March 2012. For more details on Volkswagen’s multi-award-winning range of cars, visit www.volkswagen.co.uk.

[Source: Volkswagen UK]

The Polo Vivo was once again South Africa’s top-selling passenger car in December 2011, according to figures released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA). In three and five-door hatchback and four-door sedan (saloon) configurations, the Vivo claimed the sales top spot with a total of 3060 sales. Last month also saw the the fifth-generation Polo record impressive figures, too, once again in second place, with 2114 units. The Polo 6R was also the biggest export model for Volkswagen South Africa. The sole producer of right-hand drive current generation standard and CrossPolo-trimmed models, its state-of-the-art Uitenhage factory exported 2372 units overseas last month.

The Polo Vivo was launched in March 2010 as an entry-level model for the South African market, replacing the Series 1 Golf-based CitiGolf, and is available as a three or five-door hatchback and four-door booted saloon with 74bhp/84bhp 1.4-litre and 104bhp 1.6-litre petrol engines. Costing from R104,065 for the base-model 1.4 hatchback to R156,220 for the top 1.6 Trendline Sedan, the 2011 Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo (9N3), built from 2005 to 2009. The new fifth-generation Polo (6R) is also available as both a three and five-door hatchback in addition to the traditional four-door Polo Sedan.

The Polo’s popularity was unwavering during December 2011, as it sold 2742 units, making it once again the UK’s sixth best-selling car according to the last set of figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The UK industry body also released 2011’s overall sales figures this morning, and the Polo was nothing but consistent, ending the year in seventh place in the country’s top 10 best-selling cars chart, with 45,992 cars finding homes. It was a similar but more successful story for the Ford Fiesta; Uncle Henry’s now global supermini sold 5411 units in December, taking the top spot. It ended the year in similar style, selling 96,112 cars, and top of the UK sales chart.

The supermini segment remains the largest in the UK, with a market share almost unchanged on 2010 at 36.3%, while new car demand totalled 1,941,253 units in 2011, down 4.4% on 2010, but ahead of the 1.92 million forecast. Registrations in December 2011 fell by 3.7% to 119,188 units and the market was down 1.8% in quarter four, while diesel and alternatively-fuelled cars both took record market shares over the year. The SMMT also says that average new car CO2 emissions fell to a new low of 138.1g/km in 2011, down 4.2% on the 2010 level, and the Volkswagen Golf was the best-selling diesel model.

‘2011 proved to be a challenging year for the UK motor industry. Total new car registrations were slightly ahead of industry expectations at 1.94 million units, still down 4.4% on 2010,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. ‘Weak economic growth will make trading conditions tough in 2012, but record numbers of new and updated models, significantly improved fuel efficiency and exciting new technologies will help to encourage consumers into showrooms. Business and consumer confidence will be the key to a successful year, so it will be important that government delivers on its growth strategy and helps to resolve instability in the Euro Zone.’ The top 10 best-selling cars in the UK for December 2011 and for the year overall (sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 5411 (96,112, 1st)
2 Vauxhall Corsa: 5258 (77,751, 3rd)
3 Vauxhall Astra: 4856 (62,575, 5th)
4 Ford Focus: 4047 (81,832, 2nd)
5 Volkswagen Golf: 4031 (63,688, 4th)
6 Volkswagen Polo: 2742 (45,992, 7th)
7 Mini: 2706 (35,845, 10th)
8 Nissan Qashqai: 2580 (39,406, 9th)
9 Vauxhall Insignia: 2494 (46,264, 6th)
10 Hyundai i10: 2411

(The 2011 top 10 best-seller absent from December’s sales figures, is the BMW 3 Series selling 42,471 units in eighth place.)

Volkswagen recorded one of its strongest performances at the 2011 Australia’s Best Car Awards, taking five category wins. For the second consecutive year, the Polo 66TDI took the ‘Best Light Car over $20,000’. Other Volkswagen Group Australia winners included the Golf 90TSI (‘Best Small Car under $35,000’), Jetta 118TSI (‘Best Medium Car under $50,000’), Tiguan 103TDI (‘Best SUV under $40,000’), and Touareg V6 TDI (‘Best Luxury SUV over $60,000’).

Anke Koeckler, Volkswagen Group Australia’s Managing Director, was honoured to receive these accolades: ‘2011 has been huge for Volkswagen, with awards such as these, it is really the perfect conclusion to what has been an overwhelmingly positive year. The Polo continues to impress, being recognised for the second consecutive year. One of our strongest and most popular models, the Golf 90TSI, has been judged as one of Australia’s best vehicles marking it the sixth time a Golf has appeared amongst the winners at Australia’s Best Cars.’

The Australia’s Best Cars judges were particularly impressed with the Volkswagen Polo: ‘The Volkswagen Polo has redefined the class with the German carmaker adding a touch of esteem and luxury to a sector of the market not traditionally known for above average levels of quality and refinement.’ Australia’s Best Car Awards are now in their eleventh year and are a co-operation between the seven State and Territory based car clubs of Australia. It is the nation’s most comprehensive and independent consumer vehicle testing and award program.

Australian motoring website Drive has named the Polo 77TSI as the Best City Car in its Car of the Year 2011 awards. The Volkswagen supermini took the overall title in 2010, and the car was an unanimous choice by the judges for 2011’s accolade, largely due to its ‘great engine, excellent road manners and classy cabin.’ Up against the Kia Rio Si and the Toyota Yaris (both newer rivals), the judges described the latest iteration of the Polo as ‘a little Volkswagen with big car credentials,’ stating that ‘the fifth-generation Polo’s 1.2-litre turbo engine delivers unrivalled performance and refinement for a car priced from $19,850.’

Another Australian website has also praised the Polo highly. Pitting the small VW against its 10 chief rivals in a Light Car mega-test, motoring.com.au stated that ‘There are ample reasons the Polo has won more trophies than the athletics champion at the school sports carnival. It’s earned almost straight As in a category dominated by B and C-grade students. You might argue it’s not fair that one of the richest kids in school gets all the kudos, but in this instance, the $22,350 Polo is worth every cent and has earned each of its accolades.’

The Polo 6R ended 2011 with as much success as it enjoyed in both 2009 and 2010. European sales were up by 1.2 per cent in October 2011 (compared to same month the year before) and it ended the year by being the second best-selling car in Europe, behind its bigger brother, the Golf. The figures – released by industry body Jato on 20 December – speak for themselves. The Golf’s 2011 European sales tally was 449,882, while 329,891 Polos found new homes. Volkswagen’s Passat finished seventh, making the German manufacturer Europe’s most popular in 2011, with 1,550,036 cars sold. Ford was second, its popular Fiesta and Focus models accounting for almost 600,000 new car sales alone. The Polo (including its Vento saloon variant) was a similar success story in India last year, with Volkswagen reporting sales of 74,305 units for the January–December 2011 period.

The most exciting Polo news of 2011 was the final unveiling of the Polo R WRC, with which Volkswagen Motorsport intends to complete in the 2013 World Rally Championship. Signing the first factory driver, Sébastien Ogier was the icing on the cake. Other motorsport series also continued around the world, with the Volkswagen Polo Cup India being renamed the Volkswagen Polo R Cup India, and the Polo Vivo made its track and rally debut. As far as the road car was concerned, it still continued to win awards and make a good impression, especially on us, as we took a Polo GTI on a 1000-mile road trip. Strong sales figures in the UK and further afield continued to add to the Polo’s success. (Bold entries are illustrated by the picture above that particular month.)

January

• Volkswagen UK kicks off the year with a £500 saving on selected Polo models and free servicing package
• Auto Express reports that previously denied 200bhp Polo R ‘is confirmed’
• Polo wins Wheels magazine’s Car of the Year 2010 award in Australia. Judges state that it’s ‘a very worthy winner.’
• Polo revealed as one of the best-selling cas in the UK in 2010, with 45,517 units sold, putting it in sixth place, and 8000 ahead of Volkswagen UK’s preliminary forecasts
• Polo Vivo revealed as the best-selling car in South Africa during 2010, shifting 23,297 examples
• Polo BlueMotion exempted from London Congestion Charge due to rule changes
• Polo sells 3010 units in UK
• Polo Vivo sells 2986 units in South Africa.

February

• A Vento (Polo saloon) is the 50,000th car produced at Volkswagen’s hi-tech factory in Pune, India
• Autocar quashes latest Polo R rumours
• Polo GTI 6R pitted against rivals in both Auto Express and evo magazines
• Polo sells 1570 units in UK
• Polo Vivo sells 2552 units in South Africa.

March

• Polo crowned ‘Best Small Car’ at 2011 Fleet News Awards
• £500 saving offer on selected Polo models extended
• New Polo Vivo S2000 rally car unveiled
• Cricket-themed Vento IPL Edition launched in India
• Polo 1.6 TDI declared 2011 Wesbank/SAGMJ Car of the Year in South Africa
• Polo sells 7634 units in UK
• Polo Vivo sells 2768 units in South Africa.

April

• 1.2-litre TDI displacing 74bhp replaces 1.6 unit of same output in the UK
• Polo awarded maximum safety rating in Japanese NCAP crash testing programme
• Polo GTI 6R launched in South Africa, costing R259,000
• Polo sells 4524 units in UK
• Polo Vivo sells 2221 units in South Africa.

May

• Polo Sedan launched in South Africa, with 84 and 104bhp engines and a starting price of R159,900
• New promotional Polo Harlequin appears, film-wrapped courtesy of Drift Bridge VW Epsom and Creative FX
• Five-door 250bhp Polo Chinese Touring Car Championship racers appear for the first time
• Milltek announce performance exhaust system for Polo GTI 6R
• Automatic transmission and BlueLine models added to the Polo Vivo range
• 300bhp, four-wheel drive Polo R WRC unveiled – to contest the 2013 World Rally Championship
• Polo GTI 6R launched in Singapore
• Polo Vivo sells 1935 units in South Africa.

June

• Polo sells 19,467 units in UK year-to-date
• Polo Vivo sells 2933 units in South Africa
• PoloDriver.com drives the Polo GTI 6R for the first time and publishes a digital mini-magazine of its findings.

July

• Polo GTI 6R awarded Motor magazine’s ‘Bang For Your Bucks’ prize
• Volkswagen UK introduces value-packed Polo Match introduced to replace SE and Moda models
• Polo sells 22,897 units in UK year-to-date
• Polo sells 3684 units in UK
• Polo Vivo sells 3142 units in South Africa.

August

• Novo Polo and Polo Sedan: Volkswagen do Brazil reinvigorates Series 4 Polo
• Polo BlueMotion 1.2 TDI wins its class at the 2011 Total Economy Run in South Africa
• Volkswagen UK launches Polo Accessories app
• Polo sells 1467 units in UK
• Polo Vivo sells 3322 units in South Africa.

September

• Austrian special-edition Polo Sky featuring panoramic sunroof and LED daytime running lights launched
• Drivable Volkswagen Polo R WRC revealed at 2011 Frankfurt motor show
• Volkswagen launches Polo R-Line styling package at 2011 Frankfurt motor show
• Polo sells 8607 units in UK
• Polo Vivo sells 3679 units in South Africa.

October

• Auto Express pits the 84bhp 1.4-litre Polo Match five-door against the new Chrysler Ypsilon SE
• Polo Match squares up to 14 of its most notable rivals in a 14-page Autocar supermini mega-test
• Drift Bridge VW Epsom create Polo R WRC replica with Creative FX film wrap
• Polo and Vento Breeze special limited editions blow into India
• Volkswagen Group Malaysia introduces the Polo GTI 6R
• Volkswagen South Africa adds a new sporty flavour: Polo Vivo GT unveiled
• Polo sells 3289 units in UK.

November

• AutoMuseum Volkswagen starts search for the ‘Super-VW’ – 1977 Polo L in contention
• Sébastien Ogier becomes first factory Polo R WRC driver at Volkswagen
• Polo BlueMotion makes Honest John’s top 10 cheapest and fuel-efficient new car list
• 9N and 9N3 Polos recalled in Japan due to side airbag wiring system defect
• PoloDriver.com publishes its 2012 Volkswagen Polo GTI 1000-mile road test mini-magazine
• Volkswagen UK offers free insurance on Polo S, Match, and SEL models
• Volkswagen Polo R WRC testing programme starts
• Polo sells 3305 units in U
• Polo Vivo sells 2270 units in South Africa.

December

• Dytko Sport’s 400bhp, four-wheel drive hillclimb Polo 6R breaks cover
• Volkswagen Polo R Cup India holds its first night race in Sri Lanka
• Debut Polo R WRC / Sébastien Ogier gravel test appears online, as Frenchman wins 2011 Race of Champions.

With the global roll-out of the new fifth-generation Polo completed, it’s again been a busy year for Volkswagen and also for us here at PoloDriver. We would like to thank the loyal readers and followers who have helped make the year an enjoyable one (and those who continue to find the site a ‘forum’ to talk about the Polo GTI 6R), and hope that you’ll enjoy the developments and stories coming to the website in 2012. [Click on the ‘Polo 2009-’, 'Polo Vivo' and 'WRC' tags in the category drop-down list in the right-hand sidebar of the website to see all entries pertaining to the fifth-generation Polo, South African Polo Vivo, and Polo R WRC respectively.]