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Showing posts with label volkswagen polo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label volkswagen polo. Show all posts

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Volkswagen crowned world rally champions* for third time & some stuff about the Volkswagen Polo R WRC

11:13 PM 0


I was a little bit busy travelling around Malaysia and Thailand to write over the past couple of weeks. Last week, Volkswagen made a successful title defence by wining the Manufacturers, Drivers and Co-drivers competitions in the FIA World Rally Championships with a one-two over at the Rally Australia.

The winner was Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) and the Volkswagen Polo R WRC were crowned world champions. This marks he third time in a row that Volkswagen have won all titles for the FIA WRC. The Drivers', Co-Drivers' and Manufacturers' competitions were settled in just three quarters of the way into the season – earlier than any manufacturer before them in the history of the World Rally Championship. Jari-Matti Latvala (the chap that drove me round a circuit in Setia Alam just a few weeks ago) /Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) finished runner-up and Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene fourth to complete a fantastic result for Volkswagen Down Under. They currently lie second and third overall with three rallies remaining.


I must say that whilst the WRC does not feature much on my scope these days but lets take a note at the Volkswagen Polo R WRC. 1.6liters 318bhp and a massive 430Nm (from a 1.6liter) makes it do 0-100kmh in 3.9seconds and a gearing limited 200kmh. Note the engine bay pic below, it shows you that the car still uses a production bodyshell and something that most of us can relate to. This is unlike LeMans, DTM, JTCC (or whatever its called today) and Formula 1. If you had a Polo GTI, you may aspire to put a WRC replica 

The only thing that would be hard to replicate is the wheel arches and doing that jump below with the stock suspension. Full Specs of the Polo R WRC are included below 



PRESS RELEASE
Volkswagen crowned world rally champions* for third time

Volkswagen wins Manufacturers', Drivers' and Co-Drivers' competitions in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)
One-two for the Polo R WRC at the Rally Australia secures titles with three races remaining.



15 September 2015 - Successful title defence: Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) and the Volkswagen Polo R WRC were crowned world champions* on the back of an extraordinary triumph at the Rally Australia. For the third time in a row, all the titles in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) go to Wolfsburg. And they do so after another record-breaking performance: a one-two at the Rally Australia, the tenth of 13 WRC rounds on four continents, saw the manufacturer crowned champion in the Drivers', Co-Drivers' and Manufacturers' competitions just three quarters of the way into the season – earlier than any manufacturer before them in the history of the World Rally Championship.

Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) finished runner-up and Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene fourth to complete a dream result for Volkswagen Down Under. They currently lie second and third overall with three rallies remaining.


Victory Down Under was the Polo R WRC's ninth win in ten rallies so far in 2015. As such, the World Rally Car from Wolfsburg remains the most successful model in WRC history: since Volkswagen returned to the pinnacle of rallying in January 2013, 31 of 36 victories have gone to the Polo R WRC, with the car claiming a total of 62 podium finishes. The 318-hp four-wheel drive powerhouse has contested 668 special stages so far, winning a remarkable 467. A win ration that is second to none.

The titles in the Drivers', Co-Drivers' and Manufacturers' Championships earn Volkswagen World Championship titles number seven, eight and nine within the space of just three years. The manufacturer remains unbeaten with the Polo R WRC at the pinnacle of rallying, which is the most famous motorsport world championship outside of Formula One. The World Rally Championship is regarded as the greatest challenge in motor racing, from both a driving and technical point of view: the 13 events that make up the season are held on four continents, on gravel, asphalt, ice and snow, and in temperatures ranging from minus 20 to plus 40 degrees Celsius.

The final quarter of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) kicks off with the Rally France (01.10.–04.10.2015), which is followed by the Rally Spain (22.10.–25.10.2015) and the Rally Great Britain (12.11.–15.11.2015).

* subject to confirmation from the FIA.



The Volkswagen Polo R WRC Specification
Engine 
TypeStraight-four engine with turbocharger and intercooling, transversally mounted in front of the front axle
Displacement1,600 cc
Power output234 kW (318 hp) at 6,250 rpm
Torque430 Nm at 5,000 rpm
Bore / stroke83,0 mm / 73,8 mm
Air restrictor33 mm (FIA regulation)
Power transmission 
GearboxSequential, six-speed racing gear box, transversally mounted, hydraulicallyactivated, paddle on the steering
Gearbox Final drivePermanent four-wheel drive with equal torque split between the front andrear axles, multi-plate limited-slip differentials, front and rear
ClutchHydraulically actuated double-disk sintered metal clutch from ZF
Chassis/suspension 
Front/rearMcPherson struts, dampers from ZF
Suspension travelapprox. 180 mm on tarmac, approx. 275 mm on gravel
SteeringServo-assisted rack and pinion steering
Braking systemVentilated disc brakes (front Ø 355 mm and rear Ø 350 mm on asphalt,front and rear Ø 300 mm on gravel),aluminium brake callipers (four callipers, front and rear)
Dimensions and weight 
Length / width / height3,998 / 1,820 / 1,356 mm
Track width1,610 mm
Wheelbase2,480 mm
Minimum weight1,200 kg
Performance 
Acceleration0–100 km/h in approx. 3.9 seconds
Top speed200kmh
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Friday, September 4, 2015

Volkswagen WRC team Jari-Matti Latvala & Miikka Anttila launch limited edition Volkswagen Polo Trophy Edition

8:23 AM 0


Volkswagen World Rally Championship (WRC) driver Jari-Matti Latvala together with his co-driver Miikka Anttila made a visit to Malaysia courtesy of Volkswagen Group Malaysia before heading off to compete in the Australian rally leg of the WRC. The two very sporting men were fresh from an amazing one-two-three win on Volkswagen’s home turf, the Rallye Deutschland. 

Messrs Latvala and Anttila graced the grounds of Setia City Convention Centre in Shah Alam to meet specially invited Volkswagen owners, fans and members of the media as well as launch the limited edition Volkswagen Polo Trophy released in conjunction with Volkswagen’s success in the World Rally Championship (WRC) arena. The event today, marked the start of the Polo Rally Weekend scheduled for the 5th and 6th of September 2015. Visitors could go for a ride with two of Malaysia’s top female drifters – Leona Chin and Azrina Jane Abdullah. They could also take a closer look at the newly launched Polo Trophy (some trim and stickers differentiate it from the normal version) where only 100 units are available. It is priced at RM89,888 while stocks last. 



Anyway, back to the day itself. Jari- Matti Latvala gave 60 lucky individuals comprising media, consumers and Volkswagen Facebook contest winners a memorable ride of their lives. So obviously Yours Truly managed to sit right beside him. A WRC driver taking you round a circuit with a jump in the middle even in a normal Polo 1.6 Hatchback is still an experience to remember. Whilst sitting shotgun in the slightly mundane Polo 1.6 Hatchback Jari-Matti demonstrated great skill. He would obviously leave most drivers for dead on a windy road even in the Polo. The best thing for me was that he had basically confirmed that even the base Volkswagen Polo is a tidy handling car that can be fun to drive (and it is one of the cars that  I would recommend if you're interested in a small car that comes in just under RM90K). But dammit, wish it was at least a Golf R he was piloting. But is was the launch of the Polo Trophy. So a Polo 1.6 it was.


And after he finished with going round and round with us lucky people, Jari-Matti had a face off with our local drift queen, Leona Chin (pictured above on the left, with Jari-Matti). Jari-Matti is currently ranked 2nd in the WRC arena – got behind the wheel as promised, to take on the challenge issued by her majesty queen Leona Chin on her Facebook page a week prior to his arrival. The time attack challenge saw them going head-to-head in a gymkhana course in the Polo.

Unsurprisingly the WRC driver was victorious (easily a good 4 seconds faster if not for a clipped cone which he gained a 3 second penalty), anyway, Leona walked away with the experience of a race of a lifetime against a 14-times rally champ who then let her ride shotgun and give her pointers. I was watching the 'race' from the comfort of the hospitality tent via the cameras. I have to say that the rally driver was super precise in cutting close to the apex of the corners. And he did so carrying a heck of a lot of speed. Even in a normal Polo. 

So anyway, do head over to Setia City in Shah Alam so that you can experience some high speed taxi rides and other stuff over the weekend.

Not a Polo, but a Beetle Rally on display...very unique with the roof scoop and all
PRESS RELEASE (and more pics below)

Volkswagen WRC team unveils Polo Trophy in KL


(4 September 2015) Before tackling the Australian rally leg, Volkswagen World Rally Championship driver Jari-Matti Latvala together with his co-driver Miikka Anttila made a swift pit stop here.
Fresh off the exhilarating one-two-three win on Volkswagen’s home turf, Latvala and Anttila graced Kuala Lumpur to meet fans and launch the limited edition Polo Trophy released in conjunction with Volkswagen’s success in the World Rally Championship (WRC) arena.   
At the circuit, the duo – who finished second after team mates Sebastian Ogier and Julien Ingrassia at the German Rally – competes in the Polo R WRC, a vehicle technically enhanced and cosmetically upgraded from the roadworthy Polo.
The duo were received by Volkswagen Group Malaysia Managing Director Mr Armin Keller, who congratulated them on their spectacular achievement before launching the new Polo enhanced with side and bonnet stickers, contrast wing mirrors and rear spoiler inspired by the sport. The Polo Trophy also comes equipped with satellite navigation and tinted windows.
“Today’s Polo Rally Weekend is an important one for the team. What a great way to be able to share with you another side of the brand. Volkswagen has had a long history of engagement in different rally platforms through the years.
“The World Rally Championship is one of them and we have consistently made podium finishes in most of the rallies in recent years. And last month was a great day for Volkswagen at the Rallye Deutschland, where all three of our WRC teams had podium finishes.
“We are proud to have with us today Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila at the launch of this limited edition Polo Trophy designed especially for Malaysian and WRC fans,” Keller said at the launch event held at Setia City Convention Centre.

Latvala and Anttila, who finished second after team mates Sebastian Ogier and Julien Ingrassia at the German Rally, unveiled the cars in nothing short of magnificent fashion via an explosive, show-stopping ramp jump; a first for a regular production Polo here.
Latvala also gave 60 lucky fans comprising media, consumers and Volkswagen Facebook contest winners a memorable ride of their lives. Sitting shotgun, the 30-year-old piloted them through a thrilling, fast lap displaying precise driving action around the course in daily drive Polos.
And before departing, Latvala – currently ranked 2nd in the WRC arena – got behind the wheel as promised, to take on the challenge issued by viral drift princess Leona Chin on her Facebook page a week prior to his arrival.
The time attack challenge saw the duo going head-to-head in a gymkhana course where both demonstrated who can outrun the other better and faster in the Polo. While the amicable challenge crowned Latvala victorious, Chin walked away feeling like a winner having had the race of a lifetime against a 14-times rally champ.

The event will continue over the weekend for consumers. Visitors could go for a ride with two of Malaysia’s top female drifters – Chin and Azrina Jane Abdullah. They could also take a closer look at the newly launched Polo Trophy where only 100 units are available. It is priced at RM89,888 while stocks last. Fans of the Volkswagen performance range could also enjoy up to RM30,000 in savings for the Golf GTI, Golf R and Scirocco R till 30 September 2015.
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Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Volkswagen Malaysia celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Volkswagen Polo

7:24 AM 0

Mr Armin Keller with Vincent Paul Yong

Aside from launching the Volkswagen Polo Club edition last week Volkswagen Malaysia threw a photo exhibition, a fashion show and a dance party all at once. I attended the event last friday. Only for a short while before little ol' me decided to call it a night. I suddenly felt all forty three years of my life even though the party brought me back to my twenties.  The heart was willing, but the body was dead tired (after three launch/events from morning till after the sun had set). 



Anyway, Volkswagen Group Malaysia celebrated 40 years of Polo by collaborating with local photographer Vincent Paul Yong Photography, better known as VPYP. Vincent brings alive this classic car’s exciting personality through a Polo exhibit where he coated the car in chrome and showcased a photo series featuring DJ duo LapSap and illustrations by Cloakwork.

The exhibition launch at APW on 21 August included Pearly Wong’s SS16 fashion show and LapSap taking on the decks.

PRESS RELEASE
Volkswagen celebrates 40 years of the Polo
Ms Martina Berg, Mr Armin Keller, and Mr Robert McAllister
(21 August 2015) The Volkswagen Polo is German engineering at its best in a fun sized package and this year it’s celebrating its 40th birthday.  This hatchback made its first appearance in 1975 and has since gained a legion of fans.
Currently in its fifth generation, the Polo hatchback is one of the brand’s top-selling passenger cars around the world and in 2014, Malaysia introduced the locally assembled Polo making it more affordable and accessible. Mr Armin Keller, Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Malaysia commented “To date, the status of the Polo in Malaysia is unmatched. With over 13,000 units sold it is no wonder that this practical, yet fun car has captured the hearts of Malaysians. It’s agile but solid performance results in a drive best suited for KL’s busy roads as well as long highways. “
In Malaysia, the Volkswagen team decided to celebrate this milestone by collaborating with established fashion lifestyle photographer Vincent Paul Yong Photography (VPYP) to produce a photo series that showcases the driving fun with the car.  
Self-taught photographer Vincent has brought the Polo to live with a photo-story highlighting a day in the life of DJ duo LAPSAP and includes illustrations by graffiti artist Cloakwork. This exciting collaboration emphasizes the spirit of the colourful spirit of the Polo. The images were revealed at an launch event at APW titled WYSIWYG- What You See Is What You Get.
The VPYP photo exhibition featuring the Polo will be on showcase from 21 to 30 August 2015 for the public to view.


In conjunction with the Polo’s 40th anniversary, Volkswagen Malaysia is pleased to announce the introduction of the Polo Club that will feature a multimedia head unit with navigation and window tint. The Polo Club will be available at RM88,888 and the Polo Sedan Club at RM89,888 while stocks last.  
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Friday, August 21, 2015

Volkswagen Malaysia introduces the Volkswagen Polo Club Edition in conjunction with the Polo's 40th anniversary

10:24 AM 0

Volkswagen Malaysia seems to be doing a lot of innovative marketing these days. In conjunction with the Volkswagen celebrating 40 years of the Volkswagen Polo, Volkswagen Group Malaysia decided to celebtate this momentous milestone by collaborating with established fashion lifestyle photographer Vincent Paul Yong Photography (VPYP) to produce a photo series that showcases the driving fun with the car.


This hatchback made its first appearance in 1975 and the current Polo is its fifth generation. The Polo hatchback is one of the brand’s top-selling passenger cars around the world. Last year, Volkswagen Malaysia introduced the locally assembled Polo making it more affordable and accessible. To date, over 13,000 units sold. 
Having driven the locally assembled Polo 1.6 hatch I have to say that the basic 1.6liter engine and that torque convertor 6 speed transmission is one of the more reliable and refined offerings that Volkswagen has in its stables. It is actually fun to drive and the simplicity of this model makes it the one for people who want to experience the pleasure of owning a German engineered car without any extra cost.
And so, in conjunction with the Polo’s 40th anniversary, Volkswagen Malaysia has announced the introduction of the Volkswagen Polo Club (based on the recently facelifted model). It will feature a multimedia head unit with navigation and window tint. The Polo Club will be available at RM88,888 and the Polo Sedan Club at RM89,888 while stocks last. The prices are actually the same as the standard variant offered. 

PRESS RELEASE
Volkswagen celebrates 40 years of the Polo

(21 August 2015) The Volkswagen Polo is German engineering at its best in a fun sized package and this year it’s celebrating its 40thbirthday. This hatchback made its first appearance in 1975 and has since gained a legion of fans.
Currently in its fifth generation, the Polo hatchback is one of the brand’s top-selling passenger cars around the world and in 2014, Malaysia introduced the locally assembled Polo making it more affordable and accessible. Mr Armin Keller, Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Malaysia commented “To date, the status of the Polo in Malaysia is unmatched. With over 13,000 units sold it is no wonder that this practical, yet fun car has captured the hearts of Malaysians. It’s agile but solid performance results in a drive best suited for KL’s busy roads as well as long highways. “
In Malaysia, the Volkswagen team decided to celebrate this milestone by collaborating with established fashion lifestyle photographer Vincent Paul Yong Photography (VPYP) to produce a photo series that showcases the driving fun with the car.
Self-taught photographer Vincent has brought the Polo to live with a photo-story highlighting a day in the life of DJ duo LAPSAP and includes illustrations by graffiti artist Cloakwork. This exciting collaboration emphasizes the spirit of the colourful spirit of the Polo. The images were revealed at an launch event at APW titled WYSIWYG- What You See Is What You Get.
The VPYP photo exhibition featuring the Polo will be on showcase from 21to 30 August 2015 for the public to view.


In conjunction with the Polo’s 40thanniversary, Volkswagen Malaysia is pleased to announce the introduction of the Polo Club that will feature a multimedia head unit with navigation and window tint. The Polo Club will be available at RM88,888 and the Polo Sedan Club at RM89,888 while stocks last.  
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Saturday, April 5, 2014

TEST DRIVE: VOLKSWAGEN POLO 1.6 HATCHBACK

8:59 AM 0

Hello again folks, now's the time for one of those longer than usual reviews that hopefully would assist you in your quest to purchase the correct car for the time being. Of course this is only for the time being as people change and tastes change along the way. Especially if you suddenly get that promotion and start thinking of cars bigger than the one you're driving at the moment. It happens. And before I start going on and on and on, I've just got my hands on the Volkswagen Polo 1.6 Hatchback and this is what I think about it. Do read on.


The design
The Volkswagen Polo 1.6 Hatchback is a 5 door supermini sized hatchback that is assembled by Volkswagen in Malaysia, thereby keeping the price down. It is styled in the same way most Volkswagen cars are styled. You have that same clean lines as well as the familiar Volkswagen corporate grille on its nose. This variant of the Polo does not come with a TSI engine but a normally aspirated 16 valve 4 cylinder 1.6liter engine that makes 105PS at 5250rpm and 153Nm torque at 3800rpm. The power is then put through the front wheels via a conventional 6 speed torque convertor automatic gearbox.

Aside from this major drivetrain difference, the Polo 1.6 Hatchback has the same amount of creature comforts as the imported Polo 1.2TSI variants but without the technologically advanced turbocharged TSI engine and a Double Clutch type gearbox which can be slightly problematic for some unlucky owners sometimes. So it is because of this simple, albeit slightly down on power and torque drivetrain that the Polo 1.6 Hatchback is something one should keep in mind when looking at a slightly premium supermini to purchase. Read on and find out.

The interior

The interior is typically Volkswagen. This means that is has been thought out thoroughly. The switchgear are laid out logically and within reach of most fingers and hands. There is good tactile feel on all the knobs and buttons. The perceived quality at a glance is very good even if it looks a little plain in terms of stying and design. The instrumentation is very legible during all times of the day with clear and standardized fonts throughout the car.

When it comes to equipment, the Polo 1.6 Hatchback gets 'Climatronic' automatic air-conditioning – very impressive for a small car even though it isn't dual zone in its controls. The reason for this is that the car isn't that large to need a more complex system. This brings up the size of the Polo; it is actually well designed in terms of space utilization. It feels large and spacious up front due to the sloping dashboard. You have good headroom up front even though the seats can be adjusted high up and in the rear, legroom and head room is good even if a driver is about 177cm tall.

The seats as well as the steering wheel which telescopically adjusts for reach as well as the usual rake (or tilt). It makes searching for a driving position quite easy in this car. Aside from that the boot is pretty large too. It is slightly larger than a Perodua Myvi (which beats it for interior space) and it is also miles larger than the one in the Suzuki Swift too (the Swift's boot is akin to a drawer), as well as interior space.

Material quality is good where you touch. The steering wheel and the gear knob is leather wrapped and very nice to hold and fondle (especially the gearknob). The armrests on the doors are lined by cloth. The only issue is that Volkswagen has cut some cost by making the whole dashboard in hard plastic. This actually differs if you sat in the Polo GTI. That gets a proper soft touch material so that everything feels slightly more luxurious. Of course, this IS the entry level Volkswagen here in Malaysia. That being said, the plastics are thick and not flimsy. The glovebox is a nice piece to play with and opens and closes well. And there are tons of space to put water bottles, wallets, cards and so on.

The audio system looks good and sounds good. It may not have 'Arkamys' like in the Peugeot 208 but I think it sounds better. And it has all the usual Bluetooth and USB support. It isn't one of those GPS equipped systems but it looks premium.

The four drawbacks to the interior. Firstly, the seats are a little too hard in its padding. I believe this is due to the fact that this being a small car Volkswagen designed the foam to be hard to compensate for the thinness and smallness that is required in a car of this size. It isn't uncomfortable, and actually makes travelling in the Polo bearable over longer trips. I suppose it is just the initial feel of the seats when you use the car on shorter trips. 

Secondy, some secondary switches like the cruise control and control for the information display on the meter cluster is a tad bit tiny. And since this is a base model, there are many, many, many empty slots for buttons in the middle of the dashboard underneath the air-vents. Of course, you still get tons of kit so I suppose those must be buttons for traction control 'off', sunroof controls, rocket launchers, ejector seat controls and so on. Not items you really need in your daily commute of course. 

Thirdly, the rear seats don't fold as flat as you would want them to. But unless you really need them really, really flat, it shouldn't be too much of an issue to those using it for regular commutes.


And finally, like some modern small cars (the Toyota Vios comes to mind), it does not have a water temperature gauge. This means, like the Vios you would only know you're in trouble when you're in trouble...i.e, when the red warning light comes on. For people like Yours Truly, this warning may be too late. But one must note that most small cars omit this gauge this days. Volkswagen isn't alone in this not so tiny detail.

The overall look and quality of the interior is up by at least half a notch against the Suzuki Swift if one were to compare. It however feels a little less luxurious compared to the Peugeot 208 though. Only slightly. The Myvi is nowhere close to this and looks like it came from the same factory that builds the pails you buy to store water in times of water crisis. The bottom-line is that you do feel quite good sitting inside of the Polo 1.6 Hatchback.

Driving the darn thing.

As stated above, it is easy to find a nice driving position in the Polo 1.6 Hatchback. The steering wheel adjusts nicely and is of a very nice shape to hold. It isn't overly chunky like in a BMW (especially those with the M Sport wheel) or too thin like the one on, say a Proton Suprima S. Once you are seated, you fire up the Polo with a traditional key. None of those start button nonsense here. You just twist and it starts.

Once on the move you would find that the car is very easy to drive. The car has more than enough power to keep up with normal traffic at the traffic lights and on highways it would easily cruise at the legal speed limits. The steering is a speed sensitive electronic power steering so parking is easy and light with rear parking sensors. At speed the steering gets weighted up a little. It is accurate and allows one to place the Polo where it should be in a corner. It isn't vague and does not feel over assisted like some electrically assisted helms.

The ABS and brake assist equipped brakes are good in their feel and easy to modulate if you're really hustling the car. They do not have an overly servoed feel like some Volkswagen/ Audis of yore. The 6 speed gearbox with its Tiptronic function is rather smooth in traffic and seems to be in the right gear most of the time. It can actually change down two gears when needed. Even when belting the car on some mountainside road the transmission copes with repeated and rapid gearchanges well.


The ride comfort of the Polo 1.6 is good. It actually smothers bumps and undulations quite well. It does not bounce over them like the Peugeot 208. It is better than the Suzuki Swift 1.4 which is sportier in its setup. It is slightly firmer than a Toyota Vios but overall NVH is better in that over speed bumps the car is more compliant. Wind noise is kept under control as is engine noise. According to long time VW fan and friend Ken, it has that typical VW'ish sound when on the move. The engine is less harsh than the Peugeot 208 at most speeds mainly due to having a 6 speed automatic over a 4 speeder in the Pug. In fact that 6 speed makes it quite fun to drive. Road noise is also quite well capped too. Overall the car is refined for a supermini or B segment car.

So how good is the Polo to drive? Quite high up there.

The car, which weighs 1020kg unladen is light and can handle direction changes quite well. The steering is effective in pointing the nose where you want it to be and when you do there is no unwanted movement within its limits. The 185/60/15 sized tyres may not be the last word in grip but is adequate for a car with 105ps. Although I would have to throw some caution to the wind as this tiny Polo came with Apollo tyres – which were made in India (where this base model Polo was designed for and where the CKD kits are imported from). A Polo with Apollo tyres. It rhymes! Now whilst they actually work well in the pouring rain (and flood) unknown tyre brands make me a little nervous in the wet. But throw it into a corner when things are dry and the Polo responds well. It may not be as adjustable as my benchmark favourite supermini in this price range, the Suzuki Swift 1.4 but it is predictable with a nose led neutral to understeer feel. The tail seldom comes into play even though you Good for most Malaysian drivers and acceptable for those willing to have more thrills. However, it is more thrilling to drive than the 4 speed automatic Pug 208 and obviously the local affordable favourite, the Perodua Myvi which is actually the shopping trolley for the masses.

As for performance figures, it is average. It has an 11second 0-100kmh time and a 184kmh top speed. It isn't a hot hatch of course but if you use it as what it is meant to be, a capable supermini for regular short commutes it performs more than adequately. In fact cruising at 130kmh is quite relaxing in this car with no stress to the driver whatsoever (I.e you don't need to concentrate too much to drive at these speeds allowing you to drive for a longer stretch without feeling tired). This makes it suitable for the occasional trips back to one's hometown or on roadtrips throughout Malaysia and more.

So did I find any other faults in the time I had with the Volkswagen Polo 1.6 Hatchback? Aside from the tiny switchgear, slightly hard padding on the seats, and the lack of a water temperature gauge, the car performed very well in traffic, on long commutes, on the morning school run, on shopping trips and even when belting through some tight hillside roads.

 It also performed well during the pouring rain except for one tiny leak on the driver's side window frame when stationary during the rain induced traffic jam when we were travelling on Jalan Duta. It did not leak when we were on the move and it did not leak again after I got home and started meddling with it, pushing and fiddling with the seals on the door as well as trying to replicate it with water from a garden hose. I suppose I must have fixed it. So this must have boiled down to some quality control issues at the factory and is easily sorted out.

Conclusion.

For RM87,888 (without insurance) the Volkswagen Polo 1.6 Hatchback is indeed a nice car to own. If anyone is looking for a car in this RM90,000 region this is one of the cars you should look at. Of course being Malaysia the tax structure is darn frustrating as you could buy a Proton Inspira which is a larger car and is actually a better buy. The Polo is very well designed and has a certain perceived quality in a car that is not from this price range. If you want this car as a capable second car, one that you could use for outstation trips, this Polo is it. If you are one that does not travel outstation and want a nippy city car. This car would do well too. More than you'd think too.

Aside from the usual fears of Volkswagen being an expensive owner experience I highly doubt that this could happen if you bought this Polo 1.6 Hatchback or even its sedan variant. These cars have very little technology to go wrong and I expect servicing costs to be affordable too. In the time I had the Polo nothing really big went wrong.

Even after taking the car up and down Genting Sempah and using it in 'manual' tiptronic mode, flicking it in 2nd and 3rdand revving it almost to the red line, the little VeeDub kept going and performing without a hiccup. This was after a trip to Shah Alam and back before heading up to the highlands. And it had about 12,200km on the clock too.

Again, this Polo 1.6 Hatchback and the Polo 1.6 sedan are the only Volkswagen cars I would seriously recommend my friends (I would recommend my enemies some other model though). As such, the Volkswagen Polo 1.6 Hatchback gets my seal of approval. IF it means anything these days that is.

Anyway, if you haven't caught this short video of Yours Truly driving the Polo 1.6 Hatchback, here it is again. 




2014 CKD VOLKSWAGEN POLO 1.6 HATCHBACK SPECIFICATIONS:
Base Price: RM87,888 (w/o insurance)
Body: 5-door Hatchback
Mechanical Orientation: Front Wheel Drive
Engine: 4 cylinder 16 valve fuel injected 1.6-litre normally aspirated
Power: 105PS
Torque: 153 NM
Transmission: 6 speed automatic with Tiptronic
Weight: 1020kg
0-100 km/h: 11 seconds (tested)
Top Speed: 184 km/h (manufacturer's figures)
Fuel Consumption: I got an average of around 8ltr/100km even with a very heavy right foot. It would easily make 7ltr/100km if someone with a lighter right foot drove it. Very, very economical.

For: Equipment, intelligent design and layout, quality, boot space, comfort, good ride and handling, class leading NVH, economical, basic engine and gearbox ensure lower maintenance costs than TSI and DSG models, decent performance

Against: tiny switchgear, slightly hard padding on the seats, and the lack of a water temperature gauge, some build quality issues on the test car, rear seats don't fold really flat
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