The Polo: built in Pamplona, Spain and Uitenhage in South Africa, it will soon be on its way to countless markets across the world. With more than 18 million units built, the Polo is one of the world's most successful compact cars. The Polo may be small in size, but it is one of the greats of the Volkswagen brand: for years, it has been regularly claiming a place among the top three best-selling model series. Now the Volkswagen Polo has evolved once again. The design, technologies and specification matrix of the bestseller have had a comprehensive update, as is immediately obvious when you see the vehicle's new front and rear. The bumpers and boot lid have been given a new look, as have the headlights and tail light clusters, which now come with LED technology as standard. Thanks to the new lighting design, this Polo has a particularly charismatic daytime and nighttime signature. And for the first time, this striking signature includes an LED light strip along the radiator grille crossbar - this is in conjunction with the IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights (optional/dependent on specification package), which are also new for the Polo. In this regard, the new VW Polo takes its cue from the ID models as well as the new Golf and Arteon - these were the first Volkswagens to have an LED crossbar at the front. Moving to the interior, the Polo boasts the Digital Cockpit, now fitted as standard, a redesigned multifunction steering wheel which likewise comes as standard, and new-generation infotainment systems including the online control unit (eSIM) and App-Connect Wireless (both dependent on specification). Customers who opt for Climatronic in their Polo will now be able to operate the automatic air conditioner via touchscreen, as is also the case in larger models like the Tiguan, Passat and Arteon.
IQ.DRIVE Travel Assist is optional, Lane Assist comes as standard
From a technical perspective, too, this compact four-door model has strong similarities to Volkswagens in the higher segments. An example: the new Volkswagen Polo is the first vehicle in its class to be offered with the optional IQ.DRIVE Travel Assist feature. This brings together functions including the new predictive ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) and Lane Assist to create a new assist system enabling partly automated driving at speeds of up to 210 km/h. In vehicles equipped with Travel Assist, the new multifunction steering wheel (which comes as standard) is fitted with touch-sensitive surfaces. These register that the driver's hands are touching the steering wheel when IQ.DRIVE Travel Assist is activated, thus meeting the requirements for Level 2 on the scale of driving automation within the EU. What's more, every Polo comes equipped with various assist systems as standard, such as Autonomous Emergency Braking Front Assist, which includes the City Emergency Braking System and now also Lane Assist. The fact is: you'd struggle to find another car in the Polo's class that offers such an innovative spectrum of assist systems.
Polo, Life, Style, R-Line and GTI
The specification packages have been newly designed and reconfigured. Previously, the VW Polo was available in the Trendline (basic model), Comfortline (mid-level) and Highline (premium) versions. Volkswagen has done things differently this time, creating a more user-friendly range of versions and integrating the equipment that was most popular with customers into the standard model. The configurator now starts with the Polo version, and continues with Life, Style and R-Line. These versions are set to be launched this spring. And the Polo will be available as a GTI, too: its world premiere is set to take place this summer.
Polo is anything but basic
Kicking things off in terms of equipment is the Polo version. As mentioned above, it now boasts LED headlights, LED tail light clusters, the new multifunction steering wheel and Lane Assist. Another new addition is the centre airbag. Located on the driver side on the side of the rear seat backrest, this airbag opens toward the centre in the event of an accident; it prevents the driver and front passenger from knocking into one another during a crash and thus sustaining injuries. Another new safety feature: a lap belt tensioner that also tensions the seat belt around the pelvis. In addition, Volkswagen has now incorporated the Digital Cockpit (digital instruments with an 8.0-inch display) into the basic equipment. And there is a range of other features that are now fitted as standard: the air conditioning system, the Composition Media audio system with 6.5-inch monitor, a Bluetooth mobile phone interface and exterior mirrors that can be electrically adjusted and heated, electric windows throughout the vehicle, door handles and exterior mirror caps in the main vehicle colour and, last but not least, the highest quality version of the dash panel (with foam inserts). Fresh: the seat covers in Polo design Elegant: the dark interior décor Licorice Black. As you can see - anything but basic.
Park Assist
Park Assist automatically guides the Volkswagen Polo into perpendicular or parallel parking spaces and can reverse the car out of the latter as well. The system is activated by pressing a button on the centre console. Using the indicators, the driver selects the side on which the vehicle is to be parked. Once Park Assist finds a sufficiently large parking space using the ultrasound sensors (40 cm of manoeuvring room at front and rear will suffice), assisted parking can begin. The driver engages reverse gear and only needs to accelerate and brake (an automatic braking function assists in case of insufficient space). The car handles the steering.
Tyre Pressure Loss Indicator
The Tyre Pressure Loss Indicator utilises the wheel speed sensors of the anti-lock brake system (ABS). In case of tyre pressure loss, the rolling radius of the affected wheel decreases, and the wheel turns faster at the same vehicle speed. This allows the system to detect insufficient air pressure, and warns the driver. However, the Tyre Pressure Loss Indicator does not relieve the driver of the obligation to check tyre pressures.
0 Comments