Geneva 2009: 2010 Volkswagen Polo
by Sam Abuelsamid on Mar 3rd 2009 at 3:17AM 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2010 Volkwagen Polo BlueMotion Concept
Volkswagen used the first press conference of the 2009 Geneva Motor Show to reveal its all new B-segment 2010 Polo in a variety of flavors. The Polo is expected to hit US shores in the next two years, but European dealers will begin taking orders this week. In a pleasant change of pace, VW managed to chop the body weight of the Polo by 7.5% compared to the old model and European buyers get a choice of seven different engines including three new common rail TDIs. The engines span the range from 59 to 103 hp and include an updated BlueMotion model that gets 61.9 mpg (US).
US drivers will likely start off with the new 1.2L TSI gas engine. Direct injection and turbocharging bring this little beastie to 103 hp while getting 42.8 mpg (US) combined. That's a 19% jump over the equivalently powered previous-gen. model. The gearboxes for the Polo include a new seven-speed DSG which could make this handsome little hatch a very serious competitor to the Honda Fit in the fun to drive arena. The new Polos will be available in June of this year.
Gallery: Geneva 2009: 2010 Volkswagen Polo
Gallery: 2010 Volkswagen Polo
To the point: The new Polo
The new Polo is one of the safest cars worldwide;
Polo's TDI and TSI engines noticeably reduce fuel costs
Wolfsburg / Geneva, 02 March 2009 - 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 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 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 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 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.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
christogreeff 3:25AM (3/03/2009)
I want one!
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Yikes 9:04AM (3/03/2009)
Me too.
I'll take a bluemotion please.
kal326 8:27PM (3/04/2009)
I wouldn't just because this would get old really quick...
MARCO!?!.....
why not the LS2LS7? 3:58AM (3/03/2009)
I would love to see VW offer this with the 1.2L turbo in the US. I don't see that happening in the current economic climate. Maybe if gas prices go back up.
Also, under EPA ratings, this vehicle is likely to rate at 36 or so mpg combined. Less if there are really a lot of standard options like other VWs here (weight goes up 10% on the current model Polo when you go from the E to the SE model, and that still isn't specced as highly as typical US VWs). Even if it drops to 33 or something it will still top the Fit.
Pricing is still possibly an issue, I await VW's announcement of the US model.
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Hugo Reis 4:53AM (3/03/2009)
I think it's dated before it goes out on sale. Too grown up is my opinion.
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naggs 10:08PM (3/03/2009)
i makes the old one look new and exciting, but these cars sell on their mechanicals and how well they drive02
Mobius_1 6:54AM (3/03/2009)
"VW managed to chop the body weight of the Polo by 7.5% compared to the old model"
Now, VW, that wasn't so hard, was it? Well done!
That car can't get my heart beating like Italians and sports cars etc but as a car to live with everyday, it's hard to argue.
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Kitko 7:27AM (3/03/2009)
Bravo, VW, you have the most sterile car on the market. Will blandly blend in in the line up, challenged only by Audis....
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Pinionist 8:06AM (3/03/2009)
Compare this to Alfa MiTo, Fiat 500, Mazda 3, etc.
Bubba 8:22AM (3/03/2009)
Does this compare to the Mazda3? ... I don't think so. I think the Golf/Rabbit squares off there. I think the Polo lines up with the Fits and Versas of the world.
G-Meister 8:07AM (3/03/2009)
A conventional (non-hybrid) gasser that can top 40mpg on the freeway (where most of my time is spent) sounds good to me, especially if the ergonomics are >= Fit for 6ft tall people. a turbo 1.2 sounds like it could be fun, too. Reminds me of the old Sprint turbo- saw one in good condition parked in front of Meijer last summer.
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Artemiy Pavlov 8:16AM (3/03/2009)
I really dig what VW does in the recent couple years. Brilliant engineering efforts! Their cars grow a bit but loose up to 5-10% of their weight. And around 40% of the materials they use are from recycled materials.
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Curtis 8:44AM (3/03/2009)
Looks a lot more like the VW's of the 80's and 90's, which is a good thing. For what it is, I like it.
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asurroca 11:50AM (3/03/2009)
Exactly! That's why I love it. Looks like the spiritual successor to the MkIII Golf. Love to see VW eschewing the flashy styling of the previous generation for the staid, utilitarian design of their older generations. Funny thing is, as the rest of the market goes for flashy lines and creases in an effort to stand out, simple design will actually stand out.
Sam Salemi 8:45AM (3/03/2009)
Clean diesel technology, 61.9 mpg, and no mention of that engine coming to North America? Who's responsible for this??
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Chase 12:52PM (3/03/2009)
Didn't you catch the news? Diesel lost the economy war in the US. Americans don't get it, and diesel is expensive here. VW is now working on hybrids to sell to America.
montoym 2:59PM (3/03/2009)
I have no doubt that the Polo will offer some form of a TDI in the US. VW has a habit of offering virtually every model with a TDI and I fully expect that trend to continue. They now have the Jetta and Touareg, Rabbit was announced which means the New Beetle will likely follow. Passat won't be too far behind then the Polo.
That said, don't plan on it being a 61.9mpg version either. We'll probably get the TDI, but not all the other Bluemotion stuff. It will probably be closer to a 100hp TDI and be a 4cyl as well, as opposed to the 74hp 3cyl in the Bluemotion.
Plus, if they were to offer the Bluemotion here and it were able to achieve close to 61mpg US, the EPA would find it fit to rate it at 45mpg :-P
joserrod 8:08PM (5/01/2009)
that's right. If I change my versa (32mpg) it better be for the 60 plus and close to $12k or I will wait for the fiesta (50 plus) that they have in europe.
Jason G. 9:00AM (3/03/2009)
Leave it to VW to create an entry level car that looks mature, dignified, contemporary, classy, and balanced...avoiding the wave of wacky-trendy hatchback shapes like Honda Fit, Chevy Spark, et al. Good job on the Polo...one of the very few small cars I'd ever consider.
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Yikes 9:07AM (3/03/2009)
Agree, especially compared to that Chevy Spark. That car is just too goofy.