Autoblog

Flintstones-mobile banned from German roads

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 08:00:00 EST

Sebastian Trager of Germany is mad for the Flintstones. So he took a Volkswagen Polo, ripped off everything but the motor, chassis and wheels, and then covered the rolling bits with a replica that he built of Fred Flintstone's car. Other than the Polo underpinnings, about the only thing he changed is using wooden benches in place of the granite slabs from the show car.

According to Metro UK, Trager then wanted to get it approved for road use, and that's where his stone-age tribute clashed with modern regulations, because German authorities would have none of it. While there are exemptions in Germany for vintage cars and small-output carmakers, there aren't exemptions for cartoon replicas that don't have windshield wipers, or windshields, or seat belts, or lights. So even though Trager vows that "it's perfectly safe," he has settled for trailering it to shows, where "everyone seems to love it."

Flintstones-mobile banned from German roads originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Jul 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen gives its CrossPolo the Storm Trooper look with Urban White edition

Noah Joseph — Wed, 23 May 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Off-Road

We have to admit we're big fans of the Storm Trooper look. Combining white paint with blacked-out trim, the treatment is one you'd typically find performed in the aftermarket. But in this case Volkswagen is offering it direct from the factory. Or so it is to European customers, anyway.

The treatment is being applied to a special edition of the CrossPolo, the soft-road version of the popular Polo hatchback. The Urban White edition combines a unique shade of white paint with 17-inch alloys painted either white or black, with black roof rails and dark tinted glass aft of the B-pillar. The interior features black and light gray sports seats in cloth and Alcantara, with black headliner and trim and silver top-stitching on the controls.

Overseas buyers can choose between four gasoline and three common-rail diesel engines, with prices starting at €18,975.

Volkswagen gives its CrossPolo the Storm Trooper look with Urban White edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen previews 220-hp Polo WRC Street special ahead of Wörthersee debut

Noah Joseph — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Misc. Auto Shows

The annual GTI festival at Lake Wörthersee in Austria has exploded over the years into a celebration of all things hot-hatch in the Volkswagen Group - including concept cars and new debuts from Audi, Seat and Skoda - but the event has always been about VWs at heart. And the brand central to the empire isn't about to sit it out.

At the heart of VW's motorcade for this year's pocket-rocket fest is the Polo WRC Street, a preview of a special edition modeled on the actual rally car which Volkswagen Motorsport will be fielding in the top-level rally series next year. The street version features a 220-horsepower 2.0-liter TSI four-cylinder - significantly more than the existing 180-hp Polo GTI and a whole lot of muscle for such a little car - with an aggressive aero package and of course the requisite decals. In other words, it is, for all intents and purposes, a Polo R with some stripes.

VW will also be showcasing the competition-spec Polo R-WRC. And Wörthersee being centered around the Golf GTI, is also bringing the GTI Cabriolet that debuted in concept form at the same location last year and in production form at the Geneva Motor Show just a couple of months ago, plus a pair of black and white GTI concepts. Keep reading for the full press release and scope out the trio of images previewing the Polo WRC Street for a closer look at what Wolfsburg is driving eastwards.

Continue reading Volkswagen previews 220-hp Polo WRC Street special ahead of Wörthersee debut

Volkswagen previews 220-hp Polo WRC Street special ahead of Wörthersee debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 May 2012 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Polish team develops own Volkswagen Polo rally car

Noah Joseph — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Videos, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Racing

News doesn't travel fast in Poland. In fact, very few things travel all that fast in Poland. Sure, the emergence of Robert Kubica on the Formula One scene has shown well for the Eastern European country, but when he tried his hand at rallying, well... he almost lost it. (His hand, we mean.) So you can imagine our surprise when we caught wind of a Volkswagen Polo rally car being developed in Poland.

Apparently nobody told a guy named Paul Dytko that Volkswagen was already building a Polo-based rally car to challenge the World Rally Championship. Or that sister-company Skoda had turned its Fabia (which shares its underpinnings with the Polo) into an S2000 rally car, too. Not that we're complaining, mind you - there's always room for another fire-breathing, 400-horsepower hatchback in the world. We're just surprised, is all.

Dytko is reportedly trying to raise funds to continue development on the project, and potentially take it to Pikes Peak to prove what it can do. In the mean time, the Polish Polo will be taking on hill climb events across Europe in the coming season, now just weeks away. But if you can't wait that long, there's a good six minutes of rather artfully shot footage of the prototype drifting sideways around what looks like an abandoned airfield after the jump. Check it out.

Continue reading Polish team develops own Volkswagen Polo rally car

Polish team develops own Volkswagen Polo rally car originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen releases Polo R-Line and Passat Exclusive in Germany

Noah Joseph — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Luxury

We may have to wait a while for Volkswagen to release a Polo R - in fact it may never reach American showrooms at all - but as a stopgap measure VW has released a pair of R-Line packages for its diminutive hatchback that at least make it look the part.

The exterior R-Line trim package comes with wider wheels in either 16-inch diameter or 17, new bumpers front and rear, rear spoiler and diffuser, chrome exhaust tips, side skirts, fog lamps and gloss black grille. The interior package, meanwhile, gives the cabin Alcantara or leather trim, sport buckets, black headliner, a new steering wheel, piano-lacquer trim and aluminum pedals. Both kits can be fitted to either the Comfortline or Highline trim levels, and appear, for the time being, to be limited to the German market.

At the same time Volkswagen has rolled out a new Exclusive edition of the Passat, incorporating 18-inch wheels, a lowered suspension, chocolate brown Nappa leather trim with white top-stitching and wood and aluminum trim. Since this trim level is fitted on the sedan or wagon versions of the European-market Passat - an entirely different vehicle from the one we get here - we wouldn't hold our breath on this one making it to U.S. dealerships, either. But you can check 'em both out in the high-res image gallery for a closer look.

Volkswagen releases Polo R-Line and Passat Exclusive in Germany originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" performed entirely inside a VW Polo

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Volkswagen

Porkka Playboys play Queen in a VW Polo - Click above to watch video after the jump

A Volkswagen Polo is a small car. Queen's epic "Bohemian Rhapsody," by contrast, is a huge song. Finnish musicians the Porkka Playboys inexplicably and delightfully decided to combine the two. The Playboys crammed their bodies and instruments into the old hatchback and promptly proceeded to rock out (apparently a Wayne's World-spec AMC Pacer was unavailable).

Who knew that the German subcompact was such an acoustical delight? Apparently these Finnish lads did, because their music sounds pretty awesome coming out of the rusty heap. Click past the jump to watch them make Freddie Mercury proud.

Also, if you wander over to their YouTube page, you'll find an excellent rendition of Motörhead's "Ace of Spades." Sadly, that song was not performed inside of a automobile. Either way, Volkswagen needs to hire these guys for its next Polo commercial.

Continue reading Watch Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" performed entirely inside a VW Polo

Watch Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" performed entirely inside a VW Polo originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Jun 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen WRC program to lead to street-legal Polo R?

Noah Joseph — Tue, 17 May 2011 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Rumormill

Volkswagen Polo R WRC - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's been an on-again, off-again affair with rumors of a possible R version of the Volkswagen Polo. But according to the latest from the Old World, things are looking up for the prospective pocket rocket.

The change in fortunes come down, according to Autocar, to the launch of the Volkswagen Polo R WRC, the car with which the German automaker is preparing to mount its assault on the World Rally Championship. As you can see, the rally machine carries R branding, prompting the British publication to press VW board member Ulrich Hackenberg on the renewed possibility of a production Polo R hot hatch.

Hackenberg admitted such a vehicle is more likely with the launch of the WRC Polo, but that it wouldn't arrive before 2013. As for specs, that's all up to speculation. Autocar figures on a version of the Polo GTI's 1.4-liter twin-charger four with over 200 horsepower, with or without the all-wheel-drive system being developed by Audi for the A1 built on the same platform. One way or another, we'll be watching this development as it unfolds (or doesn't).

Volkswagen WRC program to lead to street-legal Polo R? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 May 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen wants to bring three-row CUV, subcompact to U.S.

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 14:41:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Crossover, Volkswagen

Volkswagen is working hard to make sure it accomplishes its North American assimilation plan. In order to fully realize its ambitious 800,000-unit volume target, the automaker will be required to introduce an even greater variety of vehicles into its existing lineup. Jonathan Browning, CEO of Volkswagen North America, says that he and his team understand this, and a few new VW family members could wind up in U.S. dealer showrooms.

According to Car and Driver, Volkswagen believes that an additional crossover is needed to help round-out the lineup. This vehicle would need three-rows of passenger seating, and its crosshairs would target the likes of Ford's Explorer and the Honda Pilot. For whatever it's worth, the scuttlebutt we've heard is that VW is considering a stretched Tiguan to fill this duty, as a three-row Touareg would be too costly for the family-oriented segment.

Volkswagen could also be looking to go small. Though its current European-market Polo seems like an easy solution, VW believes that's not the case. The car is not ready for U.S. consumption, and it would require a bit of "Americanizing" before VW will sell you one.

We love the Polo and are looking forward to whatever form in which it arrives, but we'd love to see us some Scirocco and Amarok, too.

[Source: Car and Driver]

Volkswagen wants to bring three-row CUV, subcompact to U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Volkswagen to announce WRC entry in May

Noah Joseph — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 09:01:00 EST

Rumors surrounding a prospective motorsports expansion in the Volkswagen Group have been swirling around for years now. One of the largest automakers in the world, VW's factory-supported racing activities are largely limited to Audi and its considerable Le Mans program and Volkswagen's own Dakar efforts, with a handful of lower-level initiatives and non-works entries in other series. We're still expecting a big shake-up, but the first step, according to reports, will see the Volkswagen brand launch a challenge for the World Rally Championship.

The initiative was set to launch last month at the WRC Portugal Rally, but Germans being Germans, the launch was reportedly delayed because the papers had yet to be signed by the right people. With all the Johan Hanckonenshteins now apparently in place, the program is set to be announced next month at Italy's Sardegna rally.

Volkswagen's WRC entry is expected to revolve around the Polo (pictured above in South Africa in S2000 rally spec), which will challenge select rounds in 2012 before going flat-out for the full season in 2013 - similar to the path which Mini and Prodrive have taken with their new entry. Norwegian driver Petter Solberg - who won the championship for Subaru in 2003 - is rumored as a potential driver, as is Nasser Al-Attiyah, the Qatari driver (and competitive marksman) who won at Dakar in a Volkswagen Touareg this year as well as the WRC production class which he won in 2006 in a Subaru Impreza.

[Source: Autosport]

Report: Volkswagen to announce WRC entry in May originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Karl Lagerfeld gives Volkswagen hatchbacks some extra Style [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Videos, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Celebrities, Design/Style

Volkswagen Golf & Polo Style by Karl Lagerfeld - Click above for high-res image gallery

Karl Lagerfeld might not be the first name you associate with automobiles - fashion and photography, sure, but not automobiles. The German fashion icon recently shot the latest Pirelli calendar, but that's not as close as he's getting to cars, as Volkswagen has brought him in to design and promote a new trim line.

Thus far offered exclusively in Germany, the Style packages for the Polo, Golf and Golf Plus upgrade on the plebeian hatchbacks' appearance with such special touches as new alloys, tinted windows and lamp lenses and the requisite special badges. There's also a Style Plus package that changes the wheels yet again and throws in a sunroof in the process.

The packages actually save customers money over spec'ing out the same vehicles with the same options independently, but is this a question of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts? Check out the photos in the gallery below along with the television commercial and press release (both of which are available only in German) after the jump to see for yourself.

Gallery: Volkswagen Style by Karl Lagerfeld

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Karl Lagerfeld gives Volkswagen hatchbacks some extra Style [w/video]

Karl Lagerfeld gives Volkswagen hatchbacks some extra Style [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Dec 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW considering adding all-wheel drive to Audi A1, Polo?

Noah Joseph — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Audi, Volkswagen, Rumormill

Audi A1 TFSI - Click above for high-res image gallery

Audi surprised us all when it took the wraps off its top-of-the-line A1 TFSI hatchback packing everything but the kitchen sink...and the S1 nameplate. The reason, according to reports, was that every S model in the company's history has featured Quattro all-wheel drive, but the PQ25 platform on which the A1 is based can't accommodate it. At least, not yet.

The UK's Autocar now suggests, however, that a business case is being made inside the Volkswagen Group to engineer the platform to accept the extra driveshaft. Doing so would allow for proper Quattro-driven S1, but that's not all. In order to justify the cost, the Volkswagen Polo could get a couple of models driven on all fours, including a Polo R hot hatch to slot in above the Polo GTI and a CrossPolo soft-roader with actual traction to back up its butch styling.

Gallery: Paris 2010: 2011 Audi A1 TFSI

Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen CrossPolo

Live photos copyright (C)2010 Damon Lavrinc / AOL

[Source: Autocar]

VW considering adding all-wheel drive to Audi A1, Polo? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen turns its latest Fox inside-out

Dan Roth — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Volkswagen, South America

An automobile's interior is just as important as its exterior when the time comes to close the sale. Keenly aware of this, Volkswagen has redone the Brazilian-market Fox and put a special emphasis on evolving the interior from low-rent to high-end. And a clever ad by agency AlmapBBDO puts it front and center.

Masterful advertising instantly grabs your attention, and seeing a Volkswagen Fox turned inside-out like a sock in the laundry basket is cause for a double-take. As the Fox shares plenty with the Euro-market Polo, there's been talk of the Fox heading to the U.S. market, but since the Polo has been all but canned for Stateside consumption, don't count on it.

Regardless of any migration north, Volkswagen has lavished some attention on the Fox by updating the exterior to keep the looks in line with the rest of the family. The interior, a source of previous criticism, has been changed, and is a point of pride for Volkswagen, hence its prominence in the advertising. The sharpened Fox is now wearing a more premium look as it continues to battle with the Chevrolet Agile and Ford Fiesta in the Latin American market.

[Source: I Believe in Advertising, auto-car-shop.com]

Volkswagen turns its latest Fox inside-out originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen goes soft-roading with new CrossPolo

Noah Joseph — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:26:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Hatchback, Volkswagen

2012 Volkswagen CrossPolo - Click above for high-res image gallery

Smaller cars may be taking over from larger SUVs around the world, but that hardly means that the go-anywhere, rough-and-tumble image of the sport-ute has disappeared from buyers' minds. That's where softroaders come in. Vehicles like the Volkswagen CrossPolo blend off-road styling with a small form factor.

VW gave us a sneak peek at the new CrossPolo back in Geneva, but is only officially revealing the full range now. Based on the new Polo hatchback, the CrossPolo gets a boost in ride height and some tasteful body cladding to give it that backcountry appeal. A new front end - treated in dark gray and blending into the wheel arches, quarter panels and rear bumper - plus 17-inch alloys and roof rails complete the package, which can be ordered by non-U.S. types with six engine options - three gasoline and three diesels - in any of six exterior shades, including two colors unique to the CrossPolo.

Intrigued? There's plenty more information where that came from in the press release after the jump, and a fresh batch of high-res photos in the gallery below.

Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen CrossPolo

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Volkswagen goes soft-roading with new CrossPolo

Volkswagen goes soft-roading with new CrossPolo originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: 2011 Volkswagen Polo sedan unveiled in Russia

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Volkswagen, Russia

2011 Volkswagen Polo Sedan - Click above for high-res image gallery

Volkswagen finally unveiled its new sub-compact Polo sedan in Moscow today, billing it as the first ever VW developed specifically for the Russian market. While Russia may be the first market for the trunked Polo, it isn't likely to have an exclusive on it for long. The Polo sedan is expected to make its way to North America within the next 12 months as part of VW's drive to expand its sales here to 800,000 units a year by 2018.

Like Americans, Russians consumers have generally had a preference for notchbacks over hatchbacks despite the sacrifices in utility. In an effort to keep the Polo sedan affordable in Russia, Volkswagen is equipping it with a 103-horsepower 1.6-liter gasoline inline four-cylinder engine with a choice of five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions.

When the Polo arrives in the U.S., it will likely offer either this combination or the 1.2-liter turbocharged, direct injected TSI four- cylinder that we drove in Germany last fall.

Gallery: 2011 Volkswagen Polo Sedan

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Officially Official: 2011 Volkswagen Polo sedan unveiled in Russia

Officially Official: 2011 Volkswagen Polo sedan unveiled in Russia originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: Volkswagen Polo GTI, 177 hp, 40 mpg and plaid seats!

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 10 May 2010 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Volkswagen

2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI - Click above for high-res image gallery

Volkswagen has fleshed out its latest generation Polo lineup with the introduction of a new GTI variant. This latest GTI has the same output as the last hot Pol,o but now produces it on one-quarter less petrol. Each and every one of its 177 horsepower now comes from VW's twin-charged 1.4-liter TSI inline-four with direct injection, a turbocharger and a mechanical supercharger. The combined fuel efficiency goes from 29.8 miles per gallon to 39.9 mpg on the EU test cycle.

The Polo GTI gets a similar rounded five spoke wheel design to its big brother, the Golf GTI, along with the obligatory red brake calipers and trim on the grille. Note, too, that this is the first Polo to get LED eyeliner running lamps and corner markers along with bi-xenon headlamps. In proper GTI fashion, the seats are covered in a plaid fabric just like the originals of three decades ago. In fact, with the growth of the Golf over six generations, this Polo is actually almost the same size as the original Golf.

Interestingly, the Polo GTI only comes with the quick shifting seven-speed DSG gearbox and sprints to 62 miles per hour in just 6.9 seconds, and handling will be aided by VW's electronic differential lock, which is said to reduce oversteer.

Gallery: 2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Officially Official: Volkswagen Polo GTI, 177 hp, 40 mpg and plaid seats!

Officially Official: Volkswagen Polo GTI, 177 hp, 40 mpg and plaid seats! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 May 2010 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen R GmbH reportedly working on Polo R

Noah Joseph — Thu, 06 May 2010 16:28:00 EST

2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's barely been a couple of months since Volkswagen confirmed the formation of its own high-performance division, dubbed R GmbH. But with the Golf R and Scirocco R already released, what is the highly anticipated new performance studio up to next?

According to reports, a new Polo R is on the way. Picking up where the (above) Polo GTI - due for release this summer, complete with 178-horsepower, 1.4-liter Twincharger four - leaves off, the Polo R is tipped to benefit from a 1.6-liter turbo four. Because the Polo's platform reportedly can't accommodate the VW's 4Motion all-wheel drive system, the Polo R will likely drive around 210 horsepower through the front wheels only, slotting in nicely below 270-hp, all-wheel drive Golf R. Sources expect the Polo R's arrival in 2012.

Gallery: 2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI

[Source: Autocar]

Volkswagen R GmbH reportedly working on Polo R originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 May 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen announces new 1.2L three-cylinder diesel

Sam Abuelsamid — Sat, 01 May 2010 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Volkswagen, Diesel

Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion - Click above for high-res image gallery

Volkswagen has officially unveiled a new three-cylinder turbodiesel engine at the annual Vienna Motor Symposium. The new 1.2-liter engine features the same common-rail fuel injection systems and basic architecture as VW's 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter inline fours.

The new 3-cylinder produces 74 horsepower and 133 pound-feet of torque at just 2,000 rpm. When VW unveiled the new Polo at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show ,a concept version of the next-generation BlueMotion model was shown with this engine. The three cylinder Polo is expected to be rated at 71.3 miles per gallon (U.S.) and 87 grams / kilometer of CO2 emissions on the EU combined test cycle. The new 1.2-liter Polo BlueMotion should debut later this year.

Gallery: 2011 Volkswagen Polo Bluemotion

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Volkswagen announces new 1.2L three-cylinder diesel

Volkswagen announces new 1.2L three-cylinder diesel originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 01 May 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Volkswagen Polo sedan to be dubbed Vento in India, coming in July

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Budget, Sedan, Volkswagen

If a report from Autocar India is to be believed, the upcoming four-door version of the Volkswagen Polo may be badged as the Vento in India. Vento is not a new name for VW - the Mk III Jetta sedan used that badge in the European market throughout the mid-90s.

Volkswagen has reportedly increased the wheelbase of the three-box Polo by two inches to provide rear seat passengers a bit more space. The lengthened roof should also aid head room out back, although eliminating the hatch will surely cut down on cargo volume and accessibility.

The Indian Vento is powered by either a 1.6-liter inline-four or a 1.6-liter common rail turbodiesel. If and when this car makes it to America it will probably use the 105 horsepower turbocharged and direct injected 1.2 TSI four-pot available in Europe.

Although Volkswagen still hasn't officially committed to selling the Polo in the U.S., VW of America officials have said that they would probably wait until a four door sedan is available with a probable launch in 2011. The Vento is expected to launch in India this summer.

Gallery: 2010 Volkswagen Polo

[Source: Autocar India]

Report: Volkswagen Polo sedan to be dubbed Vento in India, coming in July originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2010: Volkswagen Polo wins 2010 World Car of the Year award

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 09:41:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Coupe, Budget, Hybrid, Performance, Etc., Hatchback, Audi, Chevrolet, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen, Ferrari, Citroën, Design/Style

2010 World Car of the Year winner Volkswagen Polo

Awards season is finally winding down with the 2010 World Car of the Year and World Performance Car of the Year being handed out this morning at the 2010 New York Auto Show. After whittling the fields down to three finalists in each category, the panel of 59 international journalists voted one last time to crown the World Car of the Year.

While the Toyota Prius, Volkswagen Polo and Mercedes-Benz E-Class were nominated, it was the Polo that took home the gold for 2010 World Car of the Year.

On the performance vehicle front, the nominees were the Audi R8 V10, Porsche 911 GT3 and Ferrari California, with the Audi winning top honors.

They also handed out a Design award for a group of finalists including the Citroen C3 Picasso, Kia Soul and Chevrolet Camaro. That honor went to the Camaro. (U-S-A! U-S-A!)

The Green category saw Volkswagen's line of diesel-powered BlueMotion vehicles beat out the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight hybrids. (Die-sel! Die-sel!)

Click below for a gallery of all the winners.

Gallery: 2010 World Car of the Year winners announced in NY

New York 2010: Volkswagen Polo wins 2010 World Car of the Year award originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 09:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final three World Car of the Year finalists announced

Chris Shunk — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:33:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Hybrid, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Chevrolet, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Toyota, Volkswagen, Ferrari, Diesel

The votes from 59 international journalists have been counted and the finalists for World Car of the Year have been named. The Detroit News is reporting that the Toyota Prius, Volkswagen Polo and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class have made the final cut, and the three vehicles will go toe-to-toe on April 1st (no foolin') at the start of the New York Auto Show, which is where the World COTY award is announced.

On the performance vehicle front, the Audi R8 V10, Porsche 911 GT3 and Ferrari California are jockeying for the big prize. We feel sorry for the judges who have to choose from among these three junkers, but we're sure they'll somehow make it fun for themselves.

Design finalists are the Citroen C3 Picasso, Kia Soul and Chevrolet Camaro, and from the green category we have the previously mentioned Prius, the Honda Insight and Volkswagen's BlueMotion diesel offerings. Check back on these pages to see the winners of the individual categories when they are announced in New York on April Fool's Day.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Final three World Car of the Year finalists announced originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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