Frankfurt Preview: Polo Three-Door diesel will get 71 mpg (U.S.)
Polo Three Door - Click above for high-res image gallery
Rumors of an all-electric Volkswagen concept making an appearance at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month have died down since May, but VW is starting to reveal more details on the vehicles that will be on hand am Main. Today, we learn about the Polo Three-Door, a sporty, vaguely coupe-like version of the bestselling Polo that will be available this fall with six different engine options. Three diesel and three petrol options will be offered, with outputs ranging from 60 to 105 PS.
The fuel-conscious VW driver can opt for a BlueMotion version of the Polo Three-Door. The most efficient Polo burns just 3.3 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers. In numbers that most readers will be familiar with, this is the same as 71 mpg (U.S.) and we want to drive one today. This frugal choice puts out 55 kW / 75 PS; not the most powerful engine out there, but when you barely ever need to stop for fuel, the speed of your daily get-up-and-go kind of falls by the wayside. The new Polo base version will start at €12,150 in Germany.
Gallery: Polo Three Door
[Source: VW]
PRESS RELEASE:
Polo Three-Door – Initial Facts
World Premiere of Bestseller at the IAA:
Volkswagen adds dynamic three-door to the Polo model range
New Polo base version can be bought in Germany starting at 12,150 Euros1
Three-door will also be available as BlueMotion model with 3.3 litre fuel economy
Wolfsburg, 26 August 2009 - Bestseller with new entry-level version: As a world premiere, Volkswagen is presenting the youngest offspring of the Polo family at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt (IAA, September 17 to 27): an agile three-door. Its longer doors compared to the five-door version, new styling of the row of side windows and the dynamic lines of the sporty C-pillars give the car a nearly coupe-like appearance in its side profile.
At its market launch this Fall, the extremely elegant and safe three-door will be available in six engine versions (from 44 kW / 60 PS to 77 kW / 105 PS) and three equipment variants (Trendline, Comfortline, Highline). The model's entry-level version will now be the three-door Polo 1.2 Trendline with ESP at a price of 12,150 Euros1. The new Polo BlueMotion will also be available as a three-door and five-door model; the production version is also debuting in Frankfurt. The world's most fuel-efficient car in its class (55 kW / 75 PS) has a fuel consumption of 3.3 litres diesel per 100 kilometres (equivalent to 87 g/km CO2). The Polo range is gaining tremendous momentum here. Our declared goal: successes in the Polo class on the same magnitude as those of the Golf.
Unmistakable proportions in styling
The three-door Polo marks the entry of another model into the Volkswagen range that follows a new "design DNA" 1:1. This "DNA" was developed by Group Design Chief Walter de Silva. The brand's characteristic new face is a key aspect of this styling that exhibits a strong horizontal orientation of basic surfaces and a clarity of forms that de Silva refers to as "La Semplicità". The overall design is characterized by sharp, precise lines.
In this process, high priority is given to the car's proportions. Walter de Silva: "A 'bella automobile' has perfect proportions. The Polo confirms this to be true." Striking in this context are the short body overhangs, the car's broad width in proportion to its height, its prominent wheel housings and powerful shoulder sections. Style defining is the side profile of the three-door Polo. As on every Volkswagen designed under the leadership of de Silva, there are just two key lines here: the upper character line and an additional, supportive lower line. Resting atop the dominant character line between the upper borders of the headlights and taillights is the roof. The strong shoulder section is also developed from the character line. Even more: The upper and lower lines generate an exciting interplay of light and shadow, and despite the design's simplicity they also create a very muscular modulation of surfaces.
Overall, the three-door Polo has an appearance that is lower to the ground and stretched. The reason: The practically invisible B-pillar and more slender C-pillar gives the row of windows a longer visual appearance. This effect is reinforced by the similarly longer upward curve of the row of side windows from the B-pillar back. This results in an even more dynamic overall feeling.
The body dimensions of the three and five-door versions are identical with a length of 3,970 millimetres, width of 1,682 millimetres and height of 1,485 millimetres. The same applies to the interior space and cargo capacities (280 to 952 litres).
Generous standard features
Even the base version – the Polo Trendline – is being launched with an extensive package of safety and convenience features. A standard feature in all large EU countries is the electronic stabilization program ESP. Other standard features include daytime running lights, power-assist steering, electric windows in front, central locking, cargo area lighting, warning buzzer for light left on, height adjustment on driver's seat, vanity mirrors and tinted windows.
Identifying features of the mid-line equipment version, the Comfortline (starting at 14,150 Euros1 and 51 kW / 70 PS), are car-coloured door mirrors and door handles, H7 dual headlights, chrome trim inserts in the radiator grille and 15-inch wheels. On the convenience side, it is supplemented by standard features such as an air conditioning system, electrically heated and adjustable door mirror, Easy-Entry System (three-door), height-adjustable front passenger's seat, storage drawers under the front seats, various accents in aluminium look, split folding rear bench seat/backrest, dual cargo floor, storage pockets on the backs of the front backrests and RF remote central locking.
The exclusive Polo Highline (starting at 15,900 Euros1 and 63 kW / 85 PS) is characterized by wide-ranging individualization. On the exterior, it is distinguished by additional chrome trim on the lower air intake, 15-inch alloy wheels and front fog lamps from the Comfortline equipment version. Inside, the Polo Highline is upgraded by details such as a three-spoke leather steering wheel, front centre armrest, multi-function display and tyre pressure indicator, height-adjustable sport seats and leather-trimmed handbrake grip and gear knob.
Advanced engines are sustainable engines
At this time, six engines will be offered on the three-door and five-door Polo: three petrol and three diesel. The petrol engines are available at the power levels 44 kW / 60 PS, 51 KW / 70 PS and 63 kW / 85 PS. As an option, Volkswagen is also offering the Polo with an automatic 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DSG) for the first time. The 85-PS petrol engine may be paired with DSG as an option. Already in the starting blocks for the Polo is a fourth petrol engine, a new TSI, which is a fuel-efficient yet sporty turbo direct-injection engine with 77 kW / 105 PS. It too will be offered in a DSG version.
On the diesel side, Volkswagen is exclusively offering new common rail TDI engines with particulate filters on the Polo three-door and five-door cars. They output 55 kW / 75 PS, 66 kW / 90 PS and 77 kW / 105 PS. The 90-PS version may be ordered with DSG. The fourth TDI to be offered is the new 1.2-liter TDI of the Polo BlueMotion that will be introduced at the beginning of 2010 (advance sales already begin in 2009).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Steve 1:32PM (8/26/2009)
This car get too good fuel milage for the oil companies to stand....they will do everything to block this car from reaching the USA
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meme 2:02PM (8/26/2009)
In the US, this car would be rated for about 62mpg due to the difference in drivecycles, which is the CO2 emission equivalent of about 53mpg gasoline. And probably much worse air pollution than, say, a Prius. And this is all assuming that they don't up the power for the US market; 74hp isn't much. And it's a smaller car than the Prius as well, so it's not an apples to apples comparison.
Still, it's another efficient car on the market, so I certainly can't complain about the vehicle itself. Just about the notion that it's some sort of wunderkind efficiency superstar.
BillySharps 2:52PM (8/26/2009)
Calm down. Stop with the oil company conspiracy stuff. Please. It's going on sale in Europe. If VW decides to, it will sell this car in the US. Oil companies don't have anything to do with the decision.
FitFan 2:52PM (8/26/2009)
Which means it's about 25% more fuel efficient than the Prius and about 10% better on C02. It would also be less expensive than the Prius.
And I think it's a much better looking car.
Mattias 3:41PM (8/26/2009)
You can't directly compare Hybrids and Diesels. In typical stop and go city situations the Hybrid will score 10 to 20% better than a similar sized diesel in CO2 emissions. On typical European extra urban conditions (read "Autobahn", travelling 80 to 100mph) the Diesel will score 10 to 20% better than a similar sized Hybrid (again in CO2).
Speed limiting us Europeans works as well as abolishing your naturally aspirated V8s, but if it worked, the Hybrid would score just slightly less extra urban, and in total it would win. From the practical point of view Hybrids should be promoted for urban use: They are quiet, the NOx emission is very low and the recuperation works great in stop and go traffic. The diesel however has low CO2 on extra urban conditions, plus outside the cities the higher NOx is not a big problem since there the resulting ozone dissolves more easily.
FitFan 1:54PM (8/26/2009)
Bring it over and I'll buy it.
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Mark Kiernan 2:26PM (8/26/2009)
The front is as big as a Golf. If you like the Polo you would love the VW Fox it is a smaller version again.
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mike 2:45PM (8/26/2009)
As pointed out above... it is not necessarily a panacea.
But it is a damned nice looking little car.
I used to be quite fat and happy with my series 1 sirocco back in the day.
I think it had like 70hp or something, no?
I could live well enough with just 62mpg for a bit.
Come on VW.... look to the tdi vehicles flying off the lots in North America !
Give it here !
Give it !
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matt 3:09PM (8/26/2009)
they should definitely sell these in north america... they'd sell like hotcakes when fuel is expensive.
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jpmccormac 6:23PM (8/26/2009)
Certainly better looking than a Yaris or Fit and cheaper than the overweight Golf. I'll buy one.
Lucien 7:56PM (8/26/2009)
This is the ECE cycle which is on average roughly 25% higher than EPA. To compare Prius gets 3.7l / 100km on ECE highway cycle. Definitely not a competitor though.
By the way Europe has many more diesels in this category so it's not alone in this class there. But probably best FE.
I doubt they would bring it to the US. The currency exchange rate is about $1.43 so about $15K and probably they don't want to sell the base version as they also get hit with 5% import tax.
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Mr Brody 1:01AM (8/27/2009)
meme is right, 74 HP is very low by today's standards, plus the gas CO2 equivalent of 53 MPG is not that special when the over a decade old Honda Insight gets 70 MPG and can probably out accelerate the VW because there is no way that VW will make this thing as light as the 1800 lb Insight. Another thing is that their is nothing cheap about diesel fuel, emissions systems or engines.
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mike 6:57AM (8/27/2009)
People seem to be buying SMART cars and they're only rated around 70hp... So I don't know that the power would matter much to the consumers this would be directed toward...
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Matt Peckham 3:47PM (8/27/2009)
It's not Horsepower... it's TORQUE! Diesels don't need gobs of horsepower, they just need sufficient low end torque. Imagine if torque were called MUSCLE in the US. THEN we'd have to have lots of it.
With americans its HorsePower, HorsePower, HorsePower... With brits it's HP on some chips!
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Donan Iacovone 8:46PM (8/28/2009)
The 1.6 liter Polo is rated at 144 ft/lb of torque, while the 1.5 liter Toyota Prius is rated at 82 ft/lb of torque.
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