Autoblog

As reported previously, Volkswagen is about to undergo a design renaissance that puts a premium on simplicity, style and, apparently, more Scirocco design cues. According to AutoExpress, the first model to benefit from Walter Da'Silva's new dictum is the 5th generation Polo, which is expected to go on sale sometime next year sporting a new front end inspired by the recently released Scirocco.

The new model is based off the PQ25 small car platform that currently underpins the SEAT Ibiza. As such, the dimensions will remain, but the interior will be larger and will include upmarket materials, soft-touch surfaces, a Scirocco-inspired dash, MP3 inputs, Bluetooth connectivity and the possibility of a sat-nav docking station that allows portable units to be removed on the go.

A range of gasoline and diesel mills, including 1.4- and 1.6-liter FSI fours, a supercharged, 138 hp 1.4-liter and a 168 hp GTI version, will provide motivation and all models will have the option of being fitted with VW's new seven-speed DSG. Expect three- and five-door models to be released at launch and then joined by a coupe-cabrio version sometime in 2010.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Audi metroproject quattro Concept.

Buyers of the next generation of Volkswagen-developed small cars will have one more option box to tick when placing their order: all-wheel-drive. The new platform, dubbed PQ25, will find its way underneath a handful of new models, spanning the range from the low-end (SEAT), mid-grade (VW) and luxury (Audi). All-wheel-drive won't be an option for the new SEAT Ibiza, but consumers of the next VW Polo (specifically the CrossPolo) might be able to outfit their tiny runabout with AWD, while the Audi A1, due out in late 2009, will continue the automaker's love affair with quattro.


[Source: Automotive News – sub. req'd]

In what could be described as the most expensive game of polo ever played, Dubsport's Ian Birch built this mid-engine monster out of a relatively tame Volkswagen Polo Mk. III. Known for their twin-engined Golfs, among other things, Ian and the Dubsport gang are notorious for building these kinds of wild project VeeDubs. What started out as a 1.0 Genesis car now sports an Audi badged 1.8T that has had a bit of a makeover of its own. The result is approximately 325 hp, before the nitrous is uncorked. The car was also converted to rear drive to better handle the power.

The build of the vehicle was chronicled in a 2004 Performance VW magazine article and looks to be a top-notch job. Although street-legal, the car is really a drag racer at heart. The seller promises a 0-60 of less than 4 seconds and a lot of unwanted thrills in the rain. It also sports a line-lock front brake to allow massive smoky burnouts at will. And best of all, it could be yours, for the fraction-of-what-it-cost-to-build price of just £10,000.00. Well, that's the starting bid at any rate. Nobody has yet to offer that amount.

But for the lucky buyer, this would be one heck of a thrill-ride. The relatively stock exterior barely gives away its true power. Only popping the hood to fill up reveals a nitrous tank and fuel cell where the engine should be. A keen eye might also spot the open fuel filler area on each side, which are used as air intakes. A special ventilated rear hatch allows heat to escape. With three days left on the eBay auction, the car may go unsold, but the seller admits he is in no hurry to part with it and will wait until the right buyer comes along. Until then, you may see him catching unsuspecting VX220 turbo owners by surprise in a sudden round of stoplight grand prix.

[Sources: eBay, Dubsport]

In what's being touted as a first-in-class application of the technology, Volkswagen now offers a 6-speed automatic transmission in its Polo small car. Mated to the company's 1.6L 4-cylinder, VW states that the 6-speed Tiptronic's gearing is configured to maximize refinement and that the driving experience feels closer to that of one of their mid-level vehicles.

In addition to the usual P-R-N-D, the Tiptronic's gear selector also gets an "S" added. When this Sport mode is chosen, shifts occur at higher revolutions and 6th gear is not used at all, as the car hits its top end in 5th. Naturally, the driver can also choose to shift manually if that's his or her wish.

The Polo's fuel economy rating with the new drivetrain setup is 7.4L/100km - a little over 31 mpg.

More details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: VW via German Car Blog]

VW continues its new model push with a performance version of its Polo. The company borrowed heavily from the Golf GTI to come up with its new Polo supermini, which hits selected markets this spring, after having debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show in late 2005.

A significant step up from the last Polo GTI, which delivered 125 hp, the new GTI model pumps out 150 hp, good for 0-62 mph in 8.2 seconds.

The baby GTI is powered by a turbocharged and intercooled 1.8-liter, 5-valve per cylinder, four cylinder engine. Other performance upgrades include 16-inch alloys sporting 205/45 rubber, and a lowered suspension with standard ESP. Oh, yes, and red brake calipers, too! More pics after the jump.

[Source: Volkswagen]

The Geneva Motor Show will play host to Volkswagen's "most economical Polo ever," according to the automaker. The 1.4L diesel engine has its emissions cleaned up by a standard diesel particulate filter and is amazingly fuel-efficient: it uses less than 4 liters of fuel per 100 km.

It will go on sale this summer in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

(Danke for the tip, Christian)

[Source: GermanCarBlog.com]