The Volkswagen Polo is one of the world’s best-selling supermini cars with nearly 14 million units produced. Supermini car? At least that is the official name of the Polo class in Germany – in the international jargon of the automotive industry it is the B segment. Whatever the segment name, and regardless of its compact dimensions, attractive prices and good fuel economy values, there is nothing small about the Polo. All the more so now, because a generation of the bestseller is now making its debut which has been significantly updated technically. The new EU-6 engines and the infotainment and assistance systems of the VW Polo, in particular, have now taken enormous strides forward. Consider the engines: the entire engine range was reconfigured. Volkswagen has realised fuel economy improvements of as much as 21 per cent. The Polo TSI BlueMotion, available starting autumn 2014, also marks the first time that a Volkswagen with a petrol engine is being marketed as an independent BlueMotion model. In this car, 4.1 l/100 km and 94 g/km CO2 set top values.
Convenience and safety overcome class boundaries
The Volkswagen Polo of 2014 also increases its lead over the competition with an impressive range of new convenience and safety functions that is unique in its class. The Polo comes with distinctive LED headlights – also starting autumn 2014. Furthermore, the base model, the Polo Trendline, is equipped with K7 headlights as standard. Another redesigned feature available immediately at market launch are dual round headlights with H7 technology (standard from Polo Comfortline).
A new electro-mechanical servo steering system improves steering properties
Volkswagen has a new optional Sport Select suspension – which uses electronically controlled dampers – so that drivers can choose between two tuning characteristics at the press of a button. Many other assistance systems including the standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System (automatically initiates braking after a collision), Driver Alert System, Front Assist ambient traffic monitoring system with City Emergency Braking and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). The view towards the rear can now be sharpened by the optional Rear Assist rear view camera as well.
Progressive infotainment world
The radio and radio-navigation systems were re-conceptualised; as second generation systems they reflect state-of-the-art technology in what is known as the modular infotainment system (MIB). That is, the software and hardware of these systems follow the infotainment world of the larger Golf, and – depending on the version they may offer functions such as Bluetooth audio streaming (with a smart phone, including cover display and touchscreen control), a proximity sensor, two-finger map zooming in navigation mode (like on a smart phone) and interfacing of the mobile phone to the vehicle’s exterior antenna by inductive coupling. All four systems can be equipped with digital radio reception (DAB+). In addition, special smart phone apps can be accessed on the touchscreen via MirrorLink™.
Sport Select suspension
Volkswagen is offering electronically adjustable dampers in the Polo for the first time. They are the core technology of the new, optional Sport Select suspension. The basic tuning of this suspension is already sporty, but more comfortable than a conventional sport suspension. When the driver presses the “Sport” button this activates an electro-mechanical switching valve in the dampers which switches their tuning from this sporty yet comfort-oriented basic tuning to the stiffer characteristic of a sport suspension.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
The system utilises a radar sensor integrated at the front end. The desired vehicle speed can be specified over a range from 30 to 160 km/h. ACC works with either a manual gearbox or with DSG (dual-clutch gearbox). In all Polo cars with DSG, when the vehicle ahead comes to a stop the ACC system comfortably brakes the Polo to a full stop as well. As an alternative, a module that includes Front Assist and City Emergency Braking may be ordered separately, i.e. without ACC.
Front Assist ambient traffic monitoring system. Front Assist utilises a radar sensor integrated at the front end to continually monitor the distance traffic moving ahead. Front Assist assists the driver in critical situations by preconditioning the braking system and outputting visual and acoustic warnings to inform the driver. In a second stage, it emphasises the need to react by a short warning jolt of the brake. If the driver brakes with insufficient pressure, the system can generate a braking pressure that is necessary to avoid a collision, which may be significantly higher. The system also assists the driver by warning if there is insufficient distance to the vehicle ahead. One component of Front Assist is City Emergency Braking.
City Emergency Braking
City Emergency Braking is a system extension of Front Assist. It monitors the space in front of the Volkswagen by radar sensor. The system operates at speeds below 30 km/h. If the driver does not react in a situation with an impending collision with a vehicle ahead that is moving or stationary, then the brake system is preconditioned as in Front Assist. If necessary, City Emergency. In addition, the driver is assisted with maximum braking force if the pedal force by the driver is insufficient.
Automatic Post-Collision Braking System
A technological high-light of the new Polo is the standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System. After a collision, it automatically brakes the vehicle to avoid secondary collisions or reduce their severity. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System is triggered when a primary collision has been detected. It assures controlled handling of the car by the driver, even in case of automatic braking. The driver can “override” the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System at any time. The system is deactivated, for instance, if it recognises that the driver is accelerating. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System is also deactivated if the driver initiates hard braking with greater deceleration than the system deceleration.
Driver Alert System
The Driver Alert System detects waning concentration of the driver and outputs an acoustic warning for a duration of five seconds, and a message appears in the instrument cluster recommending a break from driving.
As much as 21 per cent more fuel efficient with new engines
Volkswagen has set up a new range of efficient petrol and diesel engines. This makes the latest generation of the two-door and four-door bestseller even more economical on the road. An example: fuel consumption of the 90-PS diesel version with DSG was reduced by 21 per cent. All engines fulfil the EU-6 emissions standard; in addition, all versions come with a stop-start system and a regenerative braking mode (standard from 66 kW / 90 PS).
New petrol engines
All petrol engines offered in Europe were converted to new three- and four-cylinder versions. The power levels at market launch are: 44 kW / 60 PS (indirect injection / MPI), 55 kW / 75 PS (MPI), 66 kW / 90 PS (direct injection / TSI) and 81 kW / 110 PS (TSI). Fuel consumption and emissions of the entry-level engine with 60 PS – in the version with a stop-start system and regenerative braking – were reduced from 5.5 l/100 km and 128 g/km CO2 to 4.6 l/100 km and 106 g/km CO2. Another prime example of efficiency, which will make its debut during the second half of the year, is the new 90-PS engine of the new Polo 1.0 TSI BlueMotion – the first one-litre three-cylinder turbocharged direct injection engine in this model series. It consumes just 4.1 l/100 km and emits 94 g/km CO2.
Technology implemented by Volkswagen to increase comfort include new engine bearings; the engines also have a balancer shaft and a dual-mass flywheel to also minimise vibration and noise. A newly designed engine cover and special oil pan facing shell contribute towards further reducing acoustic emissions.
The new generation of engines has improved TDI fuel economy significantly. Once again, the 75 PS Polo TDI BlueMotion is pioneering in its fuel economy; in this version, Volkswagen has further reduced fuel consumption from the extremely good 3.4 l/100 km to 3.2 l/100 km (from 88 g/km CO2 to 82 g/km). Especially noteworthy is the excellent progress made in the Polo TDI with DSG and 90 PS. This new model has a fuel consumption of 3.4 l/100 km (89 g/km CO2). Figures for the previous model were 4.3 l/100 km and 112 g/km CO2; this represents a 21 per cent improvement in fuel economy.
LED headlights
The latest generation Polo introduces a very innovative lighting design into the model series. Volkswagen has developed entirely new headlights in LED technology for the top version Polo – a first in the model series. These LED dual headlights, with their highly detailed avant-garde design, are unmistakable – even from a distance – and feature prominent reflectors. The light of the LED headlights is even whiter and more similar to daylight than that of xenon headlights, and it is less straining to the eyes of drivers while driving at dawn or dusk or at night. The LED headlights will be available for the Volkswagen Polo Trendline, Comfortline, Highline and GTI.
Rear section
In the rear bumper area, the car’s width is emphasised by further developed styling, a cleaner horizontal layout and a wider cut-out for the licence plate. The trapezoidal outer contour of this area extends into the rear wheels, which creates a more dynamic tension of surfaces. The rear reflectors embedded in the bumper also give the visual impression of greater width. The rear lights were redesigned as well.
