2009 Volkswagen Polo

Motoring Channel Staff - 3/March/2009

Geneva, Switzerland – Coming to Australia early next year is the all-new Volkswagen Polo, which was officially launched at the 2009 Geneva Auto Salon.

Showing off a fresh new design that ties it in closely with the new VW Golf and Scirocco models, the new 2009 model Polo's contemporary style is expected to generate lots of discussion at the Geneva Motor Show.

The new car is lighter than it's forebear and will be a better handling vehicle thanks to revised suspension and steering.

Some of the features of the new Polo include turning lights integrated in the front fog lights, side curtain airbags (head airbag system for front and rear passengers), radio and radio-navigation systems and integrated hands-free telephone systems. 

A panorama sunroof and bi-xenon headlights will also be offered and a centre armrest for the driver is also available on the small car.

This model is the fifth generation Volkswagen Polo and apart from the new design, one of the car's biggest drawcards will be its efficient engine range.

Though no models have been inked in for the Australian market, there are seven to choose to from, including four petrol and three diesel units.

Ranging from 1.2-litres to 1.6-litres in capacity, various manual transmissions and the new 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DSG) will be offered.

Fuel consumption has been lowered to hybrid-car levels. The new 1.2-litre TSI petrol engine is a turbo-charged 4-cylinder unit with 77kW (105hp) and uses just 5.5 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres (129 g/km CO2).

When the Polo 1.6 TDI diesel engine is paired with the “BlueMotion package”, its average fuel consumption of 3.8L/100 kilometres and 96g/km of CO2 output officially makes it the most fuel efficient and lowest emitting 5-seater diesel in the world.

Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management at the Volkswagen Group said: "Through the combination of the car’s design and technology, aligned with forthcoming market requirements, we have repeated our achievements in the recently launched new Golf in the class below. 

"This takes us to an entirely new level of high customer value and efficiency among small cars and indeed at prices that are still affordable," says Dr. Winterkorn.

Along with 5-star safety ratings and new driver assistance programs, the new model will be begin making its way into European dealers throughout 2009 and will come to Australia and other international markets in 2010.

Here is the Volkswagen press release:

Volkswagen is introducing the fifth generation of the Polo at the Geneva International Motor Show (March 5 to 15) – the new edition of one of the most influential German cars of our times. 

Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management, Volkswagen Group: “Through the combination of the car’s design and technology, aligned with forthcoming market requirements, we have repeated our achievements in the recently launched new Golf in the class below. 

"This takes us to an entirely new level of high customer value and efficiency among small cars and indeed at prices that are still affordable," says Dr. Winterkorn.

No other car in this 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: the Polo was specifically designed to attain the recently established, stricter and more comprehensive, 5-star EuroNCAP rating. 

The higher structural rigidity of the Polo’s bodyshell contributes to these results. In the footwell area alone, intrusion – related to the car body’s deformation strength in a frontal crash – was lowered by 50 percent! In the case of a side impact, the intrusion value was reduced by 20 percent.

Standard 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 child seat preparation.

Weight down, fuel consumption down

Despite significant improvements in all aspects of the car, it was possible to reduce the Polo’s body weight by 7.5 percent. 

The introduction of new TDI and TSI engines, as well as the 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DSG), has resulted in considerably reduced fuel consumption and 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 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres (129 g/km CO2); this is 19 percent less than on the equivalent model of the previous generation!

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 the implementation for the first time of common rail technology in the Polo, these engines are both efficient and refined. 

The potential in the new TDI engines is clearly evident in the example of the Polo 1.6 TDI with 66 kW /90 PS: when combined with a “BlueMotion package”, its average fuel consumption of 3.8 litres per 100 kilometres and 96 g/km CO2 makes it the most fuel efficient and lowest emitting five-seater diesel in the world. 

The “BlueMotion package” may be combined with any of the three equipment lines developed for the Polo. Available for selection here are the base version “Trendline”, the mid-level “Comfortline” and the top of the line “Highline”.

Individually 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, (from “Comfortline” up), side curtain airbags (head airbag system for front and rear passengers), radio and radio-navigation systems and integrated hands-free telephone systems. A panorama sunroof and bi-xenon headlights will follow at a later time.

Market launch starts the end of June

Start of production of the five-door Polo is scheduled for 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. Further information regarding Australian vehicle specifications will follow closer to the planned market introduction in early 2010.

VW Polo Engines

Details of the engine derivatives available in the UK from launch follows:

Petrol Engines
1.2-litre 60hp (5-speed manual)
1.2-litre 70hp (5-speed manual)
1.4-litre 85hp (5-spd man or 7-spd DSG)
1.2-litre TSI 105hp (6-speed manual)

Diesel engines:
1.6-litre TDI 75hp (5-speed manual)
1.6-litre TDI 90hp (5-speed manual)

Related Links:
- Volkswagen Polo TDI (Road Test)
- Volkswagen Scirocco (2008)
- Volkswagen Golf (Road Test)
- Volkswagen Touareg R50 (Road Test)
- Volkswagen Golf GT - TSI (Road Test)
- Volkswagen Passat R36 (Road Test)
- Volkswagen Golf GTI - Mk VI (2010)
- Volkswagen Concept BlueSport (2009)
- Volkswagen Golf GTI Pirelli + Passat CC (2009)
- Volkswagen Golf GTI (Road Test)
- Volkswagen Golf R32 (Road Test)
- Volkswagen Eos (Road Test)
- Volkswagen Golf (2009)
- Volkswagen Tiguan (First Drive)
- Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Life (Road Test)
- Volkswagen Passat CC (Road Test)
- Volkswagen Touareg V6 TSI Hybrid (2010)