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Volkswagen Polo Mk4

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Volkswagen Polo Mk4
Overview
ManufacturerVolkswagen
Also calledVolkswagen Polo Vivo
Production2001–2009 (Germany)
2010–present (South Africa)
AssemblyWolfsburg, Germany
Navarra, Spain
Bratislava, Slovakia[1]
Curitiba, Brazil
Uitenhage, South Africa
Luanda, Angola (Ancar)
Anting, China (SVW)
Body and chassis
ClassSupermini
Body style3-door hatchback
5-door hatchback
4-door sedan
LayoutFront-engine, front-wheel-drive
PlatformVolkswagen Group A04 (PQ24)
RelatedSEAT Ibiza Mk3
SEAT Córdoba Mk2
Škoda Fabia Mk1
Škoda Fabia Mk2
Škoda Roomster
Volkswagen Fox
Powertrain
Engine1.2 L I3 (petrol)
1.4 L I4 (petrol)
1.6 L I4 (petrol)
2.0 L I4 (petrol)
1.4 L I3 (t/c diesel)
1.9 L I4 (diesel)
1.9 L I4 (t/c diesel)
Transmission5-speed manual
6-speed manual
4-speed automatic
6-speed automatic
Dimensions
WheelbaseSedan: 2,465 mm (97.0 in)
2002–07 3-door: 2,460 mm (96.9 in)
2008–09 5-door: 2,454 mm (96.6 in)
LengthSedan: 4,198 mm (165.3 in)
2002–04 5-door: 3,897 mm (153.4 in)
2005–07 5-door: 3,926 mm (154.6 in)
2008–09 5-door: 3,916 mm (154.2 in)
Width1,650 mm (65.0 in)
HeightSedan: 1,501 mm (59.1 in)
2002–07 Hatchbacks: 1,465 mm (57.7 in)
2008–09 5-door: 1,467 mm (57.8 in)
2008–09 3-door: 1,452 mm (57.2 in)
Chronology
PredecessorVolkswagen Polo Mk3
SuccessorVolkswagen Polo Mk5
Volkswagen Polo Mk4 (facelift)
Volkswagen CrossPolo
File:Volkswagen Polo Mk4 Sedan (Mexico).jpg
Volkswagen Polo Sedan
Volkswagen Polo GTI
Volkswagen Polo Blue Motion

The Volkswagen Polo Mk4 is the fourth generation of the Volkswagen Polo supermini car produced by the German manufacturer Volkswagen. It was marketed from early 2002 to 2009 in most countries except Brazil and the USA. It is still manufactured in South Africa, where it is sold as the Polo Vivo. The Mk4 replaced the Volkswagen Polo Mk3, while the Polo Vivo replaced the Citi Golf.

Overview

Launched in September 2001, the fourth generation Polo (internal designation Typ 9N) was made available in early 2002.[citation needed] In keeping with Volkswagen's aim of floor pan sharing it shares its platform with the SEAT Ibiza 6L, SEAT Córdoba 6L and Škoda Fabia Mk1. The car is all new, and bears more structural resemblance to the 6K than the 6N,[citation needed] outwardly the most recognizable change is the quad round headlights similar to the Volkswagen Lupo.

At a length of over 3,900 mm (153.5 in), the South African-built Polo Vivo is longer than the first generation of its larger sibling, the Volkswagen Golf Mk1, 3,820 mm (150.4 in) in length.

Release in North America

Volkswagen Polo clean diesel

In January 2009, Volkswagen Group of America CEO Stefan Jacoby announced that the Polo will finally reach North America to join the vehicle line-up as a true entry-level car below the Rabbit. However, the Polo Mk4 was never released in the North American market, leaving the speculation for its successor, the Polo Mk5. It is anticipated that it will be built at Volkswagen's plant in Puebla, Mexico.[2]

Models and specifications

The model range includes the norm for current Volkswagen models, from the Comfortline to the Trendline and Highline, whilst featuring an extense list of extras that had now become norm in mid-sized small cars. Items such as ABS, power steering, front and side airbags and front and rear head restraints were standard on all models and ESP, brake assistance, air conditioning, satellite navigation etc. were optional on higher spec models.

It is the first Polo generation to use a semi-automatic air conditioning system, with automatic climate control, named Climatic, that adjusts the interior temperature automatically to the value set on the control panel, whereas the air distribution and air blower speed are adjusted manually. A fully automatic air conditioning system, named Climatronic, was also offered.[3]

It was available with a choice of a five-speed manual gearbox, a six-speed manual gearbox, only for the sporty 1.9-litre 130 PS (96 kW) diesel model, or with a four-speed automatic gearbox, used only in combination with the 1.4-litre 75 PS (55 kW) petrol engine.[3] A six-speed semi-automatic transmission (Tiptronic) was added from mid-2006, after the facelift, also available only with the 1.4-litre 80 PS (59 kW) or with the 1.6-litre 105 PS (77 kW) petrol engines.[4]

There was also a crossover version of the Polo, with off-road styling, named Polo Fun (Polo Dune in the UK, Polo Soho in Spain), but despite its appearance the car was never available with four-wheel-drive. According to Volkswagen, the following generation of the Polo would receive the 4motion (four-wheel-drive) option.[5]

Engines

The car was available with several petrol and diesel engines: a 1.2 L three-cylinder petrol engine with 55 PS (40 kW; 54 hp) or 64 PS (47 kW; 63 hp) (depending on the number of valves per cylinder, two or four) and a 16-valve 1.4 L 4-cylinder with 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) or 100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) petrol engine, the last one on the 16V-badged model.

Both turbocharged and unturbocharged diesel engines were available such as the 4-cylinder 1.9 L SDI (Suction Diesel Injection) which also offered 64 PS (47 kW; 63 hp) but with 125 N⋅m (92 lb⋅ft) of torque, slightly more than some petrol powered units. As well as the unturbocharged SDI engine, newer TDI PD turbodiesel units were also available, these being a 1.9 L with 100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) and a three-cylinder 1.4 L model (the 1.9 with one cylinder less) with 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp). A sporty 1.9 TDI PD model, named Polo GT, was launched in 2004, with 130 PS (96 kW; 128 hp).

Sedan

A sedan version, called Polo Classic, is produced in Brazil, South Africa and China and exported to the rest of Latin America and Australia. With the introduction of the Polo Classic saloon in the Australian market in 2004, the Chinese version, has the distinction of being the first Chinese-built car to be produced in right-hand drive.

Compared to the hatchback model, the Polo Sedan (also "Saloon" or "Limousine") is completely re-styled from the B-pillar rearwards. The window line has a slight upward incline and the roof features Volkswagen’s trademark curves and the concise styling of the C-pillar provides aspects that are actually reminiscent of a coupe. At the rear, the large horizontally divided rear lights and sculptured panels complete a design that is classically Volkswagen.

Overall, the Polo Sedan is 28 centimetres longer than the hatchback version (4179 mm vs 3897 mm). Consequently with the rear seatback in place, the Polo Sedan offers 461 litres of boot capacity (211 litres more than the hatchback siblings and with the rear seats folded down, 1127 litres of storage capacity is available.

Under the bonnet is Volkswagen’s 1.6-litre multi-valve engine that delivers 101 hp (75 kW) of power at 5500 rpm and peak torque of 140 N⋅m (100 lb⋅ft) at 3250 rpm. Transmission is a five-speed manual.

Standard features including dual front and side airbags, semi-automatic air conditioning, CD player, ABS brakes and remote central locking with engine immobiliser.[6]

Facelift

In 2005, the Polo Mk4 was facelifted, creating the Mk4F (internal designation Typ 9N3) moniker, with new headlights, taillights and a different hatch, which resembled other recently launched models in the Volkswagen line-up of the time. The Typ 9N3 was designed by Walter de Silva and came in six different trims, ranging from the basic E model to the GTI. Like its predecessor, the standard models use the same engine range from the 1.2 L 55 PS (40 kW) 3-cylinder engine to the 1.9 L 100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) TDI engine.

Volkswagen also launched the successor of the Polo Fun crossover, now called CrossPolo, available only with front-wheel-drive.

Polo GTI

With the introduction of the Polo Mk4, the Polo GTI Mk3 was discontinued and was given no direct replacement. It was not until late 2005 that the Polo GTI was reintroduced. It was unveiled on October 21, 2005 at the Australian International Motor Show. It featured a 20-valve turbocharged 1.8-litre 150 PS (110 kW; 148 hp) petrol engine which had been used in models such as the Golf GTI Mk4 and the Passat Mk5.

Its styling bears some resemblance to the Mk5 Golf GTI, with a blacked out central "scoop" in the bumper surrounding the honeycomb grille. In this new model the xenon headlights and fully digital climate control are options, unlike the Polo GTI Mk3 which featured them as standard. Although faster than the previous model, the Polo GTI Mk4 is less powerful than the top versions of the Opel/Vauxhall Corsa, BMW MINI and its stablemate SEAT Ibiza, most of which come with engines with a maximum output above 180 PS (132 kW; 178 hp). This led Volkswagen to quickly beef up the Polo further to create the Polo GTI Cup Edition, which was tuned to around 180 PS (132 kW; 178 hp) and featured more aggressive styling.

Other versions

In 2006, Volkswagen released the Polo BlueMotion which has a fuel consumption of 3.9 L/100 km (72 mpg‑imp; 60 mpg‑US) and the Polo GTI Cup Edition with 132 kW (179 PS; 177 hp), which sprinted to 0–100 km (0-62 mph) in 7.5 seconds.

On 11 March 2010, Volkswagen South Africa announced that the Polo Mk4 is being re-released as the Polo Vivo to replace the Citi Golf.[7] The Volkswagen plant in Uitenhage, near Port Elizabeth, is the largest in Africa.[8]

Reception

In the 2005 Top Gear Survey, the Polo was rated the third least satisfying supermini to own, only the Rover 25 and Fiat Punto were even worse to own.[citation needed]

Motorsport

Volkswagen Racing rallied a Polo Super 1600 in the 2003 Junior World Rally Championship, winning the Turkish round, with Kosti Katajamäki as the driver.[9] The 1.6-litre engine developed 165 kW (224 PS; 221 hp) to the front wheels.[citation needed]

Volkswagen Racing in South Africa rallied a Super 2000 Polo, that won the South African Rally Driver and Navigator Championship for four consecutive years since 2005.[10] Its 2.0-litre engine delivered a maximum output of 191 kW (260 PS; 256 hp).[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ "History - Volkswagen Slovakia, A.S". Volkswagen.sk. Archived from the original on 2010-04-06. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
  2. ^ Weernink, Wim Oude; Wortham, April (2009-01-16). "VW plans to sell Polo in U.S." Automotive News. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
  3. ^ a b "Self-Study Programme 263. Polo Model Year 2002" (PDF). VolksPage.Net. 2002-03-04. p. 28; 44. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
  4. ^ "Neue Sechsstufenautomatik für den VW Polo" (in German). Autosieger. 2006-08-23. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  5. ^ "Chunky Polo SUV heads for the hills". Auto Express. 2008-06-27. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
  6. ^ "Volkswagen Launches Polo Classic Sedan - AutoWeb News". Autoweb.com.au. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  7. ^ Irma Venter. "VWSA launches Polo Vivo as CitiGolf replacement". Engineeringnews.co.za. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  8. ^ "Volkswagen South Africa – Volkswagen of South Africa". Vw.co.za. Retrieved 2010-09-10.
  9. ^ "FIA Rally News. Rally Of Turkey" (PDF). Rally Of Turkey. 2003-12-15. p. 15. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
  10. ^ Haley Harvey (2008-11-24). "You'll think you can" (PDF). Volkswagen South Africa. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
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