VW Polo GTI

VolksWagen has an all-new Polo on the way in 2009, and is readying the wildest, fastest and sportiest version ever to top the range.Following in the footsteps of the MkV Golf GTI – which showed VW could still produce amazing performance cars when it launched in 2004 – the Polo GTI looks set to be a sales smash hit.As you can see, the flagship won’t be short of visual aggression. All the classic GTI design cues are there, from the piano black grille highlighted in red to the GTI badging and deep air intakes.

Neat touches include muscular flared arches, filled by gorgeous alloys. The look is finished off by a subtle roof spoiler and bodykit – and the result is by far the most
distinctive Polo ever made.

Inside, the cabin will see some dramatic leaps in quality, with similar soft-touch plastics to those in the latest MkVI Golf (tested on Page 40). But what will really make the newcomer stand out will be its detailing – which includes figure-hugging sports seats, red piping and racy aluminium pedals.

The next Polo will be similar in size to the outgoing machine. But as it shares the PQ25 small car platform that underpins the latest SEAT Ibiza, more space has been freed up inside. Using this chassis as a base, company engineers will also add stiffer springs and thicker anti-roll bars, plus sophisticated traction and stability control systems.


When it was launched, the MkV Golf GTI set the standard for modern performance VWs, and the Polo GTI aims to have a similar impact. It will combine accurate steering and limited body roll with a compliant ride. Completing the package is a set of upgraded brakes.

However, the Polo’s hottest asset will be its engine: a 1.4-litre supercharged and
turbocharged four-cylinder TSI, which will grace the Ibiza Cupra early in 2009.
This produces 178bhp and 250Nm of torque in the GTI, and gives a 0-60mph time of around seven seconds and a 140mph top speed.

What will make the car fun to drive will be the way its power is delivered. The combination of turbo and supercharging means there will be a broad spread of torque at low revs, with muscular urge continuing all the way to the red line. The engine’s small capacity will also translate into strong economy and CO2 emissions. Figures of 40mpg and less than 150g/km are expected.
As with the Cupra, the GTI gets a six-speed manual box as standard, with a fast-shifting seven-ratio DSG box an option.

While the new Polo is set to make its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the GTI won’t be seen until early 2010. A price of around £15,500 is likely.

Volkswagen Fox - Review

Styling/Image
The Fox is a VW launched in the South American market back in 2003. It's been reworked for European showrooms, with a four-car line-up; 54bhp 1.2-litre and 74bhp 1.4-litre engines are offered in standard or better-equipped Urban trim. There is just a single three-door bodystyle, but even this appears dated. The Fox is bland and plain compared to the cute Lupo it replaces.

Interior/Practicality
Don’t expect to find a miniature Golf cabin inside. Both the design and quality are from Volkswagens of old. Fit and finish is fine, yet it’s hard not to feel a bit short changed by the aging design. We’ve got no complaints with the practicality, though. Fold the rear seats and the Fox’s luggage area is huge.

Engine/Performance
Both 1.2 and 1.4-litre petrol engines are available to Fox buyers. The 1.4-litre engine, which is manufactured in Brazil, is a version of the unit seen in the Polo, so refinement is reasonable. And with a decent slug of torque, the Fox is quick in-gear. However, to make the most of the VW’s bargain prices, opt for the cheaper 1.2.


Driving experience
The Fox is a comfortable city car. With a ride that’s soft rather than sporty, it’s more than capable of tackling speed bumps. The four-cylinder engines are relatively quiet, helping to make the Fox a good long-distance cruiser. Head down a more challenging road and the soggy handling won’t inspire handling, but the steering is reasonably well weighted. Decent brakes and a slick gearbox make the VW easy to drive.

Costs
Getting a VW badge on your bonnet doesn’t get any cheaper than this. Rival city cars offer more kit for the money, but few can match the Fox’s carrying capacity in the sub £7,500 category. Avoid costly options to make the most of the Volkswagen’s value.

Environment/Safety
The Fox’s size means it carries more weight than your average city car and needs larger engines as a result. Fuel economy is relatively poor, resulting in high CO2 emissions.

• Rating:
• On the road price: £7,168 - £7,981
• For : Desirable badge, chunky shape, practical cabin, big boot
• Against : Lacklustre dynamics, dated interior design, cheap cabin plastics, poor standard equipment levels

Volkswagen Golf GT

It's one of the hottest new cars of 2009.Now in its sixth generation, the latest Volkswagen Golf is shorter and lower than its predecessor, but still instantly recognisable. It's stylish body looks modern and overall the design is less fussy than before. But with an unchanged wheelbase, cabin space is similar. The extra width helps rear passenger room but boot capacity is the same.

The dash design is similar to the current model's, but the central console is now angled more towards the driver, while the instrument binnacle features white backlit dials. Quality has taken a step forward too, as a result the Golf’s cabin is once again class leading but it’s the new levels of refinement that’s the most impressive.

Thanks to new sound insulation and a laminated windscreen the Golf’s ability to isolate road and wind noise is excellent, it’s noticeably more refined than its rivals in this segment, while the new common rail 2.0-litre TDI is impressively civilised too. The chassis is very capable as well; high grip levels, a revised stability control system and nicely weighted controls mean its great to drive. The GT model gets 15mm lower sports suspension, which adds a firm edge to the ride but this aside the damping is supple and composed.

And for the first time Volkswagen’s Adaptive Chassis Control active damper system is an option on the Golf, as is the automatic parking ParkAssist technology. With BlueMotion, GTI and more powerful diesel models coming next year, Golf should be big in 2009.

Volkswagen Golf

The latest Volkswagen Golf GTI has plenty of grip – and that’s just from its seats! As this picture shows, the upholstery of the new Pirelli model features a rubber tread pattern to hold you firmly in place.However, there’s more to the newcomer than some snazzy seats and yellow stitching. Power from the GTI’s 2.0-litre turbocharged FSI engine is boosted from 197bhp to 227bhp – and as a result, the 0-62mph sprint time is slashed by four-tenths-of-a-second, to 6.8 seconds.There’s also a colour-coded body-kit, as well as smoked rear light clusters and tinted windows. Unique tail-gate badges complete the changes.

This isn’t the first time the brands have joined forces to produce a special edition. They teamed up to offer a Pirelli version of the original Golf GTI in 1983. It was identified by its unique alloy wheels, which featured the tyre maker’s P motif.The latest car has 18-inch alloys shod with Pirelli P-Zero rubber, and is available to order now. It’s scheduled to arrive in showrooms here in June, and buyers will be offered a choice of three colours: silver, black or blue. Prices start from £22,555.Source

Vauxhall Agila 1.2 club

Small cars with economical engines and low emissions are big news right now – and that’s just perfect for Vauxhall’s all-new Agila.The fresh model is completely different to its boxy predecessor, and looks set to be a genuine contender in the city car class. We’ve already been impressed with it on European roads (Issue 1,000), so we couldn’t wait to try it on congested British streets.The outgoing Agila was essentially a rebadged Suzuki Wagon R+, and the new model is following on in that trend, because it’s almost identical to Suzuki’s recently launched Splash.It still boasts five doors, but within a shell that’s easier on the eye, with a more aerodynamic profile. Inside, there are sharp, two-tone colour schemes and neat touches such as a MINI-style rev counter sprouting from the dashboard on all but entry-level Expression models. However, the hard plastic trim takes the gloss off the overall effect.The cabin is designed to appeal not only to traditional Agila buyers, but also a new, younger and – according to the marketing types – mainly female audience. However, the attention to details falls down in one area, as activating the indicator stalk produces an irritatingly loud audio tone.

Longer

The new Agila is 20cm longer than its predecessor at slightly more than 3.7 metres. Yet it offers a surprising amount of room inside, particularly in the back, where two adults can travel in comfort. The rear is likely to be used by younger passengers, though, so three seats and belts are provided.The boot is comparable with its competitors’, and Club and Design models include a useful false floor. They also get a 60/40 split fold rear seat, which extends carrying capacity when flat to a handy 1,050 litres.There are three engines to choose from. The 64bhp 1.0-litre petrol and the 74bhp 1.3-litre diesel sit right on the 120g/km limit for reduced road tax. However, Vauxhall expects the 85bhp 1.2-litre petrol to account for most sales, and in manual form it returns CO2 emissions of 31g/km.It’s not hard to see why the bigger engine will be the most popular choice, because the 1.0-litre unit is merely adequate, and the diesel (a first in the Agila range) is simply too expensive. The 1.3-litre CDTI is borrowed from the Corsa supermini, and the 74bhp unit is sluggish when compared with the lively 1.2 petrol powerplant.It’s out on the road where the new Agila has made most progress. While the old car was basic transport, it’s now very easy – and fun – to drive, whether on city streets or twisting country routes. The four-cylinder petrol engine is eager, if a bit loud on the motorway, and the gearshift on manual cars is slick and assured.The cheapest Agila is the 1.0-litre Expression at £7,595, but you need to pay £8,895 for a 1.2-litre Club to get extra kit including six airbags, instead of four, MP3 capability on the stereo and electric windows.Vauxhall expects this will prove to be the most popular trim level in the line-up, and it also includes steering wheel audio controls and heated electric door mirrors.However, if you’re going to add all the toys, it’s worth looking instead at the Suzuki Splash. It works out cheaper than the Vauxhall, particularly when you factor in the Electronic Stability Program, which is standard on the Japanese car, yet a £400 option on the Agila. But the Vauxhall is still an excellent choice with plenty of appeal for small car buyers.

• Rating:

RIVAL: VW Fox
The Fox lacks the visual appeal of the Agila, but it’s bigger and its four-seat layout makes for impressive interior room. It’s also solidly built with effective, economical engines and good road manners for a comparable price. Its residuals are also likely to be better than the Agila’s.Source

VW Touareg R50

Could this be the fastest SUV in the world? German firm VW has pulled the wraps of its new high performance Touareg, the R50.The new range-topper features a tweaked version of the company's 5.0-litre V10 diesel that now pushes out 345bhp - and increase of 37bhp over the standard car. Even more impressive is the peak torque figure, which rises from 750 to 850Nm. As a result performance is blistering with the Touareg sprinting from standstill to 62mph in 6.7 seconds and onto a top speed of 146mph. However, the fuel economy and CO2 emissions remain the same as before at 22.4mpg and 333g/km respectively.To cope with the extra performance, VW's engineers have fitted the R50 with springs that are stiffened and lowered by 20mm. This is in addition to the grippy 4MOTION all-wheel drive systems and smooth-shifting six-speed auto gearbox.Externally, the newcomer is distinguished by an 'R' design package that comprises a roof-mounted spoiler, wheel arch extensions and matt chrome front grille. There's also distinctive 21-inch alloy wheels, blue brake callipers and twin oval exhausts.Climb into the cabin and you'll find 'R' logos embossed on the heavily bolstered Nappa leather sports seats, kick plates and pedals. The luggage compartment gets a special ski sack and net partition.However, VW won't have it all its own way in the rapid off-roader sector. Later this year sister firm Audi will launch its Q7 V12 TDI, which is capable of covering the dash from 0-62mph in a staggering 5.5 seconds.Until then the R50 will remain undisputed performance heavyweight champion. If you want one then you'll have to be quick as only a limited number will be brought to the UK, each priced at £61,885.Source

VW Scirocco - star of the Geneva Motor Show 2008

The Scirocco has been revealed. Journalists were jostling for position to get a clear view of the stunning new VW coupé, and these are the first pictures taken from the show floor.At 4,256mm long, 1,404mm high and 1,810mm wide, the car has classic coupé proportions. That makes it longer and wider than the Golf GTI, while it sits lower to the ground, too.The wheelbase is virtually identical to the hatchback’s at 2,578mm, so the coupé is claimed to offer a similar amount of space. Its styling is the work of a team led by Klaus Bischoff, chief designer at VW, and has been heavily influenced by the Iroc Con­cept displayed at the Paris expo back in 2006. Deep front air dams and a slim radiator grille are framed by dramatic twin-lens headlight units.The look is completed by slim clus­ters for the high-intensity tail-lamps, as well as a wide, practical hatch tailgate and a subtle aerodynamic spoiler. But even though Volkswagen has focused heavily on style, the Scirocco remains relatively versatile. There’s a 292-litre boot, which can expand to 755 litres with the rear seats folded.In Sport mode, the wheel firms up to provide the driver with more feedback. But when the Comfort setting is activated, the steering’s power assistance is increased. This would help to make the coupé easier to manoeuvre at low speeds or around town. By early 2009, the line-up will have expanded to include a number of TSI petrol and TDI diesel units, again linked to six-speed manuals or the maker’s new seven-speed DSG transmission.Source

Audi A3 TDI e

A3 TDI e is very economical and doesn’t shout about the fact.

Driving
The economy-boosting A3 features a 1.9-litre oil-burner that’s been assembled with low-friction components. It’s tuned to return excellent fuel consumption rather than outright performance. Yet the A3 still has a 120mph top speed and can sprint from 0-62mph in 11.4 seconds, while in-gear performance is livelier than these figures suggest. Tall gear ratios take the edge off acceleration, and you find yourself changing more frequently than normal. But the light shift eases this. What’s more, there’s a flip side of impressive cruising refinement. Precise steering and a smooth ride complete the dynamic package, but there’s nothing to get excited about – and the 1.9 TDI is noisy when cold.

Marketplace
Going green is a serious business – and Audi has taken the plunge with the A3 TDI e. It emits just 119g/km of CO2 and qualifies for a road tax bill of just £35. However, despite the considerable efforts to improve the car’s economy, there’s not even a special badge to mark it out. For the record, the body has a few aerodynamic tweaks, while the tyres have a reduced rolling resistance. The TDI e offered in all A3 trims – standard, SE, Sport and S-line, in both three-door and five-door Sportback guise. Such ‘green’ variants are becoming big business in the family and premium hatchback sector – the BMW 118d is even more spectacularly efficient, while there are also eco editions of the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and even the Kia cee’d on the horizon.

Owning
The cabin is regular A3 fare, which means a smart design and solid build quality. However, the five-speed manual gearbox has specially selected extra-long ratios, and there’s a digital display between the dials that tells you which gear to choose to optimise efficiency. And it’s economy that is the big story with this Audi. From a conventional diesel engine, that doesn’t even have BMW-style stop-start technology, the Audi returns a genuinely appealing 62.8mpg. This bodes well for running costs too. And while the Audi isn’t cheap, strong retained values should help further control expenditure.Source

• Rating:
• On the road price: £16,660 - £19,240
• For : Economy, decent performance, classy styling and interior
• Against : Engine can be noisy, frequent gearshifts, not cheap