Geneva 2009: The New Volkswagen Polo

02 March, 2009 03:34:00

Font size:

Volkswagen has introduced the fifth generation of the Polo at the 2009 Geneva International Motor Show.

The new Polo was specifically designed to attain the recently established, stricter and more comprehensive, 5-star EuroNCAP rating.

The higher structural rigidity of the Polo’s bodyshell contributes to these results. In the footwell area alone, intrusion – related to the car body’s deformation strength in a frontal crash – was lowered by 50 percent! In the case of a side impact, the intrusion value was reduced by 20 percent.

In addition, the European version of the Polo now being presented in Geneva is equipped with standard ESP electronic stabilization program with Hill Hold Control, and it has a highly effective network of airbags on board, including combined head-thorax airbags (integrated in the front seatbacks), belt tensioners and belt force limiters plus seatbelt warning indicator and head restraints that counteract the risk of whiplash injury (both front seats), three rear head restraints and Isofix child seat preparation.

Seven engines will be offered 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 the innovative 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 / 60 PS to 77 kW / 105 PS. New to the lineup are the two strongest gasoline engines, the 1.4 liter with 63 kW / 85 PS and the 1.2 TSI with the noted 105 PS that is 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 / 75 PS and 77 kW / 105 PS.

A BlueMotion version based on the mid-range power level of 66 kW / 90 PS will also debut in 2009; this Polo BlueMotion will consume just 3.8 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers and emit only 96 g/km CO2.

The "BlueMotion package" may be combined with any of the three equipment lines developed for the Polo. Available for selection here are the base version "Trendline", the mid-level "Comfortline" and the top of the line "Highline".

Options that Polo drivers will be able to order on their new Volkswagen include static turning lights integrated in the front fog lights, (from "Comfortline" up), side curtain airbags (head airbag system for front and rear passengers), radio and radio-navigation systems and integrated hands-free telephone systems. A panorama sunroof and bi-xenon headlights will follow at a later time.

Start of production of the five-door Polo is scheduled for the end of March.

Check out the rest of our Geneva Motor Show coverage.

Subscribe to the RSS feed for more information on green cars, green car news & green car technologies.