VW Introduces Fifth Generation Polo; Weight Down, Fuel Consumption Down
03 March 2009
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| The 5th generation Polo. Click to enlarge. |
Volkswagen unveiled the fifth generation of the supermini Polo at the Geneva Motor Show. Despite improvements in all aspects of the car, Volkswagen was able to reduce the Polo’s body weight by 7.5%.
The introduction of new TDI and TSI engines, as well as the 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DSG), has resulted in reduced fuel consumption and emissions over a wide range of engine power outputs. As an example, the 1.2 TSI turbocharged four-cylinder direct injection gasoline engine produces 77 kW (103 hp), while consuming 5.5 L/100km (43 mpg US), with 129 g/km CO2. This is 19% less than on the equivalent model of the previous generation.
Volkswagen will offer seven engines on the new Polo during its first year of production—four gasoline and three diesels. Five of these engines are brand new or are being used for the first time in the Polo; three of them can be paired with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DSG) as an option instead of the manual 5-speed or 6-speed transmission. The gasoline engines, two three-cylinder and two four-cylinder engines, sport a power range extending from 44 kW (59 hp) to 77 kW (103 hp). New to the lineup are the two strongest gasoline engines, the 1.4 liter with 63 kW (84 hp) and the 1.2 TSI noted above, shifted by a standard 6-speed transmission.
Also new to the Polo are all three common rail turbo-diesels. These high-torque four-cylinder engines produce between 55 kW (74 hp) and 77 kW (103 hp). A Polo BlueMotion model will also join the range shortly after launch.
Powered by a 1.6-liter 66 kW (89 hp) TDI common rail diesel engine and linked to a five-speed gearbox with lengthened ratios in third, fourth and fifth, the new BlueMotion offers average fuel consumption of 3.8 L/100km (62 mpg US) and 96 g/km CO2—bettering the outgoing Polo BlueMotion model which is itself one of the most fuel efficient vehicles currently on sale.
In 2010, the second generation BlueMotion will follow. Shown as a concept car at Geneva, and equipped with an all-new 1.2-liter three-cylinder common rail diesel engine developing 75 PS, the BlueMotion II will be capable of fuel consumption of 3.3 L/100km (71 mpg US) on the combined cycle while generating 87 g/km of CO2. Making this possible is a package of modifications including the new engine, automatic Stop-Start and regenerative braking, a gearbox with revised ratios, optimized aerodynamics beneath the vehicle, suspension lowered by 15 mm and the fitment of low rolling resistance tires.
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. Two weeks later, Volkswagen will begin selling the car across mainland Europe, then to other international markets.
2008 Euro auto manufacturers (including VW):
"It will be physically and economically impossible to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of models to meet the new 120 g/km targets"
2009 Volkswagen:
"Here is a gasoline Polo with 19% reduced fuel consumption and another one emitting 87 g/km."
Posted by: clett | 03 March 2009 at 09:36 AM
As the price of gasoline/diesel comes back up (year or two), VW will sell all of these they can make. Please bring the Polo and specifically the new BlueMotion to the US...
Posted by: Sasparilla | 03 March 2009 at 09:57 AM
Why do all the small cars seem to have so much horsepower?
I bought a 1992 Saturn 4-door new that weighed about 2800 pounds and had 85 horsepower. It had adequate torque. Why don't manufacturers at least provide the option at the low end of their range for modest hp, and even better mileage?
Posted by: HealthyBreeze | 03 March 2009 at 10:49 AM
Good things keep arriving in smaller packages. Or at least in lighter packages.
Healthy: My guess is that manufacturers believe marketing a model with minimal horsepower wouldn't increase sales enough to cover the costs.
And with many gears - this one has seven - the mileage to be gained from a smaller engine is probably not great.
Keep in mind that they are selling cars not mileage. Better mileage means nothing to them unless it will increase profits or keep them legal.
Even so, some EU carmakers tend to offer many engine choices. VW and BMW come to mind. Here VW has announced seven engines.
And the last time I shopped there seemed to be about a dozen variations of engine for the BMW 3 series.
Posted by: Ken | 03 March 2009 at 11:58 AM
wow seven engines to choose from, them lucky europeans! curses to our emission standards!
Posted by: philmcneal | 03 March 2009 at 08:25 PM
You wrote:
Why do all the small cars seem to have so much horsepower?
I bought a 1992 Saturn 4-door new that weighed about 2800 pounds and had 85 horsepower. It had adequate torque. Why don't manufacturers at least provide the option at the low end of their range for modest hp, and even better mileage?
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The article mentions a 59hp engine. That seems low enough. Being a 3cyl I am sure it does not have much torque and while not slow its about the smallest thing the general public is going to buy.
Posted by: paul in hampden | 04 March 2009 at 06:49 PM
I've read that VW has confirmed the new Polo is coming to the USA market, probably assembled at VW's Puebla, Mexico assembly line (if there is spare capacity available) or at VW's Brazilian assembly lines.
Given that VW successfully certified their 2.0-liter TDI engine for US sale, it won't take much to certify the smaller 1.6-liter TDI engine from the new Polo, too. We could see a "premium economy" version of the US-market Polo with the 1.6-liter TDI engine, one capable of around 50 miles per US gallon highway fuel economy using the EPA 2008 test! :-)
Posted by: RaymondC | 13 March 2009 at 07:15 PM