The new tiny, European 2010 VW Polo poked out its little head yesterday at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show and we've got to say, we're impressed with the little city car.
Photo Credit: Automobile Magazine
The 2010 VW Polo has been improved in many ways, but has managed to keep the weight down, significantly improving fuel efficiency. It will feature two new engines, a new TDI and a TSI, as well as a 7-speed DSG transmission. The new 1.2 liter (TSI) turbocharged four-cylinder direct injection gasoline engine produces 105 horsepower and manages to travel 100 kilometers on only 5.5 liters of fuel; 19 percent less than the previous generation car.
Production ramps up for the little guy in June 2009 and we can only hope that Volkswagen will give us a 2010 VW Polo of our own. Here's to wishing!
VW Press Release:
No other car in this class has such a mature and high-end image as the new Volkswagen Polo. Comfort, quality and safety have all taken a considerable leap forward. One example: the Volkswagen Polo was specifically designed to attain the recently established, stricter and more comprehensive, 5-star EuroNCAP rating. The higher structural rigidity of the Volkswagen 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 Volkswagen 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 Volkswagen 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 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (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 Volkswagen 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 Volkswagen 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 Volkswagen Polo, these engines are both efficient and refined. The potential in the new TDI engines is clearly evident in the example of the Volkswagen Polo 1.6 TDI with 66 kW / 90 PS: when combined with a "BlueMotion package", its average fuel consumption of 3.8 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 package" may be combined with any of the three equipment lines developed for the Volkswagen 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 Volkswagen 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 2009
Start of production of the five-door Volkswagen Polo is scheduled for the end of March 2009. 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 Volkswagen Polo engines will be revving up across all continents.
[via VW]