GRABBING much of the attention on the Volkswagen stand at the Geneva Motor Show is the new Polo, unveiled for the first time. Volkswagen are claiming the new car is smarter, lighter and cleaner than the old Polo.
The exterior is all-new, although it clearly owes a lot to the recently-launced new Golf, but this reinforces its feeling of strength and class, something which has been a key feature of its success. Despite the increases in length and width, the new Polo is lower than before and also 7.5 per cent lighter than before.
This all contributes to impressive levels of efficiency and economy. With revised petrol and diesel engines there are improvements over the previous car, but the headlines will be grabbed by the forthcoming Bluemotion model, which will offer 74mpg and just 96g/km of C02 - one of the lowest figures for a current production car. Volkswagen also claim a Bluemotion II model appearing in 2010 will better that with 85mpg and only 87g/km.
Production of the new Polo begins in the summer with the first UK deliveries in Octobers.
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