Volkswagen Polo Archives

New Volkswagen Polo moves autonomous driving another step forward

Fully autonomous cars are still many years away but the industry is slowly equipping some of the new models with the capability to operate autonomously, both to reduce driving fatigue as well as to improve motoring safety in general.

The upcoming Volkswagen Polo is one of the world’s first small cars that will be capable of partly automated driving. With the optional IQ.DRIVE Travel Assist, the hatchback will be able to steer, brake and accelerate automatically on request. This is made possible by. Volkswagen is consolidating its systems on the road to automated driving under the IQ.DRIVE umbrella brand.

These technologies have up to now only been available in larger models such as the Golf, Tiguan, Passat, Arteon and Touareg. As a first in its class, the Polo now also permits partly automated driving across the entire speed range.

What is IQ.Drive Travel Assist?
IQ.DRIVE Travel Assist is an extremely easy-to-use system, with operation not much different from current cars where activation can be done using buttons and switches on the steering wheel. In the case of the new Polo, the multifunction steering wheel has a separate button for the smart assist system.

When activated, the car assumes partly automated lateral and longitudinal guidance. The system is based on the fusion of Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and adaptive lane guidance, combining for lateral and longitudinal guidance.

ACC is already common in many cars, maintaining a safe gap with any vehicle ahead even when a cruising speed has been set. The speed will be adjusted accordingly and the set speed will be resumed once there is no vehicle ahead, as monitored by a radar.

Additional autonomy
In the Polo, there is also a predictive – forward-looking – ACC system in combination with the navigation system and dual-clutch gearbox (DSG). Among other things, this will allow the vehicle to react to bends or town boundaries and reduce speed. Additionally, a camera-based Dynamic Road Sign Display helps the Polo computer to ‘know’ how fast it can travel legally.

The lane keeping system known as Lane Assist scans the area in front of the Polo using the same camera in the windscreen as the Dynamic Road Sign Display system. The camera detects the lane markings and steers correctively as soon as any unintentional movement out of the lane is detected.

If IQ.DRIVE Travel Assist is active, the predictive ACC and adaptive lane guidance work together as described. In other words, the Polo brakes, accelerates and steers automatically within the system limits. However, the driver must keep their hands on the steering wheel, as they are always responsible for judging the traffic situation and controlling vehicle behaviour. The driver signals this preparedness via the capacitive surfaces of the steering wheel rim, which respond to touch.

With the manual 5-speed and 6-speed gearboxes, IQ.DRIVE Travel Assist can be used from a speed of 30 km/h to the maximum speed of 210 km/h. If the Polo is fitted with a 7-gear dual clutch gearbox (DSG), the assist system is available from the moment the car starts moving.

With IQ.DRIVE Travel Assist and DSG, it is therefore possible to drive with assistance and thus more comfortably in stop-and-go traffic jam situations. Those who prefer to be more involved in their motoring can keep IQ.DRIVE Travel Assist switched off. However, partly automated assist systems relieve the strain on drivers, especially on long journeys.

The autonomous road ahead
Based on the industry-accepted classifications that have 6 levels (from 0 to 5), IQ.DRIVE Travel Assist meets the requirements of Level 2 partly automated driving by taking over both lateral and longitudinal guidance at the same time. Taking into account the legal situation and with respect to safety, Level 2 is considered the most suitable at this time.

For safety reasons, the driver must still continuously monitor the system. Only when this is no longer necessary does the more highly automated Level 3 start and that will be a major leap forward. Still, in Level 3, the driver must be potentially prepared to take control when necessary. Over time, the higher levels will become available, reducing driver involvement to the point where only the destination just needs to be set and the car will operate by itself from start to finish.

Autonomous vehicles will not be suitable globally for some time as it will depend on local regulations as well as the ability of the road network to allow such vehicles to operate safely. Even now, autonomous vehicles are allowed to operate only on specific sections of highways in most countries.

Volkswagen Polo gets updates for 2021, on sale in Europe at the end of this year

*Visit www.bhpetrol.com.my for more information.*

The current generation of the Volkswagen Polo still has a few more years to go but with the pace of technology nowadays, the model has been given a comprehensive update in design, technologies and specification matrix. The styling changes are evolutionary, and bring the model’s appearance in line with the latest look as seen in the Golf 8.

Some of the technologies for the new Polo are trickled down from models further up in the Volkswagen range. IQ.DRIVE (an optional feature) will be available for the first time in the Polo class and, together with the new predictive Travel Assist Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Assist (first seen in the Passat), will give the driver partial automated driving.

IQ Drive with Travel Assist
IQ Drive is Volkswagen’s name for its collection of advanced driver assistance systems and the ID.4 EV is the first model with it. The systems support the driver in everyday situations such as parking, leaving a parking space (Park Assist) or lane changing (Lane Assist) and help prevent accidents (Front Assist with City Emergency Brake function). It includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance.

Another area of advancement in the Polo is the lighting system which will be upgraded to new IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights. These use an interactive lighting system which was first offered in the Touareg. LEDs are also used for the tail light units, providing quicker illumination and longer service life as well as low electricity consumption.

Wider range of standard equipment
There will be various versions available and in Europe, these will consist of the standard, Life, Style and R-Line. Even the entry-level version will have a significantly wider range of standard equipment. In addition, Volkswagen has now incorporated the Digital Cockpit (digital instruments with an 8.0-inch display) into the basic equipment.

Premium features available will include a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro (including image of caller, Coverflow, map view and Slide Show), background lighting and the 8-inch Infotainment system Ready2Discover, which includes App-Connect Wireless. With Ready2Discover, customers have the option of retrofitting the navigation system as a feature on demand.

Polo R-Line
The sporty Polo R-Line will have a highly individual exterior with exclusive bumpers. The front bumper has high-gloss black cross and longitudinal bars of the air intakes and their surround. A diffuser – also in high-gloss black – with chrome-look integrated exhaust panels is fitted to the lower part of the car’s rear.

In the safety area, a new addition is the centre airbag. Located on the driver’s side on the side of the rear seat backrest, this airbag opens toward the centre in the event of an accident. The purpose is to provide cushioning to protect the driver and front passenger during side impacts when the forces may cause them to collide.

No mention is made of powertrains so it can be assumed that Volkswagen will maintain the current choices which have displacement of 1 litre (3-cylinder), 1.4 litres, 1.5 litres, 1.6 litres (petrol and diesel) and, in certain markets, a 2-litre unit. Depending on the market, there should be manual and DSG automatic transmissions.

Visit www.volkswagen.com.my to know more about the models available in Malaysia.

Buy a Volkswagen Passat and enjoy a free stay at Pangkor Laut Resort

Super limited Volkswagen Polo Black & White launched for Lazada 11.11 Shopping Festival!

The folks from Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) have officially unveiled a very special and super limited Volkswagen Polo Black & White in conjunction with the Lazada’s annual 11.11 Shopping Festival happening midnight tonight! Only 11 units will be sold online via Lazada and it is quite a bargain. (more…)

Volkswagen Polo Black & White edisi khas dilancarkan! RM68,488

Sempena sambutan Festival Membeli-belah tahunan 11.11 Lazada, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) telah melancarkan Volkswagen Polo Black & White edisi khas dan hanya 11 unit sahaja akan dijual secara ‘online’ melalui Lazada sahaja pada 11 November 2018! (more…)

VW announces Polo rally contender

Volkswagen has introduced its newest entrant for the world of competitive rallying called the Polo R5 GTI. Based on the sixth generation road car of its namesake, the Polo R5 GTI will be made available as a complete rally version for professional teams and aspiring drivers to enable them to compete in championships across the globe.

“With the Polo GTI R5 we are hoping to transfer our expertise from four WRC titles to customer racing successfully, and offer a first-class racing machine for countless rally championships from national series to the WRC,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Sven Smeets.

“Before the first race outing next year, we will subject the Polo GTI R5 to rigorous testing to make sure it is prepared for the extremely varied track conditions around the world,” he later added.

VW has released a simplified sketch of the car, which isn’t much to go on, but does provide us with a glimpse of what the car might look like. That said, it should resemble the standard Polo with the exception of aerodynamic and safety upgrades as per performance requirements.

Development of the car started earlier this year under the stewardship of Volkswagen Motorsport Technical Director, François-Xavier “FX” Demaison. He was also running the shop when the record winning Polo R WRC rally car was developed and built. As such, Demaison knows a thing or two about creating winning platforms.

Like the road going version, the Polo GTI R5 features a four cylinder turbo engine, which in this case has been tuned to develop 270bhp. It is mated to a 5-speed sequential racing transmission that sends power to all four corners via the AWD system. The car has also been fitted with a comprehensive safety package which is a requirement to compete in the R5 category.

This R5 category was created to give privateers, teams and importers the opportunity to contest national, regional and international championships with cost-effective, powerful rally cars. It allows for a more level playing field and one that isn’t reserved for only factory-backed teams.

New VW Polo is bigger and more grown-up than before

The sixth generation Polo has finally been revealed and its the largest ever made in the nameplate’s history. Measuring 4,053mm long, 1,751mm wide and 1,446mm high, its slightly longer and wider than the Mk5 car, which gives rise to a wheelbase that is 92mm wider. This means that cabin space has increased as well and the boot space is 25 per cent more at 351 litres.

Built on the MQB platform, the reason for the increase in size was to achieve a more grown up look, something that previous generation cars lacked. It’s design borrows heavily from that of the Golf. The headlights, front grille and the curvature of the front bonnet seem very much like that of the Mk7 Golf, which isn’t bad thing. From the rear however, not much has changed with the exception of the rear LED taillights being a bit larger and blends better with the curvature of the bodywork.

Speaking of this, Klaus Bischoff, Head of Design for the Volkswagen Brand, said, “The much better proportions create the framework for a grown-up, confident appearance of the sixth generation Polo – charismatic, progressive, contemporary and friendly. We have systematically capitalized on this realignment of dimensions to build a compelling compact car. A Polo with an expressive design which makes the compact – now as a four-door only – sportier, cleaner and unique within the brand range. This is a car that fits in perfectly with our times.”

The new Polo comes with a range of engines which include a two turbocharged and two non-turbocharged 1.0-litre engines, a turbocharged 1.5-litre and the range topping 2.0-litre TSI that will power the new Polo GTI. Some of them are able to run on natural gas, which is a first for the Polo. Transmission options range from a 5-speed gearbox to a 7-speed DSG one. There are also two turbo diesel engines that will be made available for the Polo, however, since it isn’t relevant for our market, we will leave it out.

Inside, the Polo features an all new interior including a new dashboard layout that feature modernized digital displays and controls as well as a whole host of connectivity options. The infotainment display comes with a 6.5-inch screen as standard, which should improve use. There’s also an Active Info Display feature that provides drivers with the relevant information as and when needed.

The car will be launched in a number of versions including Trendline, Comfortline, Highline, Beats special edition (featuring Beats sound system) and another that comes with the new Polo GTI. There are also a couple of Lifestyle packages available for the car. Most, depending on variant, will be feature packed with the latest safety tech that include Front Assist, Blind Spot Detection and Park Assist, apart from the usual ABS, EBD and the like.

Front Assist helps with emergency braking to avoid frontal collisions on highways, secondary roads and city streets. Coupled with the pedestrian monitoring system, the car is able to monitor the road ahead for obstacles and warn the driver and intervene brake assisting functions when it deems it necessary.

The blind spot detection system works in tandem with the Adaptive Cruise Control (radar guided) one to monitor the road ahead, keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, assist with rear traffic alert when reversing out of parking spaces (applies brakes when senses impending collision) and warns drivers of vehicles in their blind spot while changing lanes.

VW has made the Polo available worldwide with 14 different body colours and 13 dashpad colours to offer an array colour matching combinations. No word yet on when it will be made available in Malaysia, but it shouldn’t take very long.

Volkswagen gives us a sneak peak at the new Polo

Volkswagen has provided us with a sneak peak of what the new Polo will look like. It’s not much to go on but the picture does reveal some intricate details of the new car’s side profile. The rear lights are similar in shape to the current car but its innards are far more sophisticated and may feature LED type illumination system. The design appears somewhat familiar to those found on the current crop of Audi vehicles.

Dimensions wise, the changes are minimal at best, but based on what we can see with the side profile, the new car should feature a more angular silhouette and also incorporates more prominent contours than the vehicle it replaces.

Speaking of the new car, Klaus Bischoff, Head of Design Volkswagen Brand, said “This Volkswagen can immediately be made out as the original of its class, but also as a completely new generation. A Polo with an expressive design which makes the compact sportier, cleaner and unique within the brand range. This is a car that fits in perfectly with our times – both visually and technologically.”

The brand new Volkswagen Polo will make its debut in Berlin this Friday, so stay tuned and we will bring you more as soon as we find out.

Volkswagen launch Polo P drivers’ training programme

Poor driver safety and etiquette has become a concern among big automakers, so much so that some have launched pilot programmes that aim to educate youngsters on proper driving habits. Today, Volkswagen too have jumped on the bandwagon by launching its inaugural “Polo P” project dedicated to “empowering new licensed drivers with the skills and knowledge” they need.

As the name suggest “Polo P”, the word Polo was chosen because the car of choice for this training programme is in fact a Volkswagen Polo 1.6L hatchback. It is powered by a naturally aspirated 1.6-litre engine which is mated to a 6-speed automatic (Tiptronic) transmission. And the letter P was probably used to emphasise that the programme’s main demographic here are new drivers.

VW says the project will take place at a number of college and university campuses with the first being in Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman or UTAR, in Sg. Long. Participants who take part in this driver safety focused course, will be taught the basics on car maintenance, visual checkpoints, proper sitting and steering positions as well as more serious defensive driving stuff such as the proper methods to execute emergency braking and to complete a slalom course.

If you are interested to go and check it out for yourself, the following is the latest list of venues that have been provided by Volkswagen:

Dates and Venues
25 & 26 March at UTAR Campus, Sungai Long
8 & 9 April at Nilai University, Seremban
8 & 9 July at Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus, Subang Jaya
19 & 20 July at Sunway College, Johor Bahru

To register and get updates on future locations of the Polo P project, visit www.volkswagen.com.my or send a private message on VW’s Facebook page.

VW Polo available now for just RM69,888

Same cheerful hatchback, but at a more afforable price

Volkswagen Cars Malaysia has seen it fit to drop the price of their stalwart hatchback to an acceptable RM69,888 for a limited time. Owners only need to pay RM737 as their monthly loan repayment, however, it’s best to visit your nearest VW dealer to know exactly how the repayment scheme actually works.

What you are getting for your money, is the same cheerful Polo we see zipping around our city streets. It’s powered by the same 1.6-litre 16-valve Multi Point Injection (MPI) engine that puts out 103bhp and 153Nm of torque. This powerplant is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic. VW say that when driven sensibly, the Polo should be able to to achieve a fuel consumption figure of just 6.3 litres per 100km.

Despite the reduced price, VW didn’t skimp on equipment, the Polo is fitted the the new RCD 330G head unit that offers a number of connectiviy options well as the multimedia ones which include a CD player (WMA/MP3), USB and iPod connectivity, AUX-IN support, SD card slot and Bluetooth with MirrorLink connectivity.

If you are interested to know more about the Polo, visit the VW Malaysia website at www.volkswagen.com.my or visit your nearest VW dealership.

Piston.my

Volkswagen Polo

New Volkswagen Polo moves autonomous driving another step forward

Volkswagen Polo gets updates for 2021, on sale in Europe at the end of this year

Super limited Volkswagen Polo Black & White launched for Lazada 11.11 Shopping Festival!

Volkswagen Polo Black & White edisi khas dilancarkan! RM68,488

VW announces Polo rally contender

New VW Polo is bigger and more grown-up than before

Volkswagen gives us a sneak peak at the new Polo

Volkswagen launch Polo P drivers’ training programme

VW Polo available now for just RM69,888

New Volkswagen Polo moves autonomous driving another step forward

Volkswagen Polo gets updates for 2021, on sale in Europe at the end of this year

Super limited Volkswagen Polo Black & White launched for Lazada 11.11 Shopping Festival!

Volkswagen Polo Black & White edisi khas dilancarkan! RM68,488

VW announces Polo rally contender

New VW Polo is bigger and more grown-up than before

Volkswagen gives us a sneak peak at the new Polo

Volkswagen launch Polo P drivers’ training programme

VW Polo available now for just RM69,888

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