Why Volkswagen, why? Why on God’s green Earth won’t you sell something like the Polo here in The States? Yeah, I know, market research says blah-blah-blah, but this car, specifically the Polo BlueMotion could fill a hell of a great niche (if you ask me). And it seems to be about as big as a Golf from a few gens ago, so why not?
VW just started taking order is Europe for this latest addition to their Polo line. The Polo, which some term a supermini, can be had in the German home market for €16,500, which is about US$24,200 at today’s exchange rates. Seems like a good price for a well screwed together car, if you ask me.
And it seems like it would a real good car, not only for first time or green oriented buyers, but as the sort of car that the commuter dad would use to get to work. The Polo BlueMotion is motivated by a three-cylinder diesel engine and will get you a combined fuel figures in the EU cycle of just 3.3 lt /100km, which works out to 71.3mpg US.
Impressive no? Just how impressive? Compare it to the current darling of the green car set, the Toyota Prius. The Prius gets a European 3.9 lt/100km (or 60.3mpg US) and rings the cash register in Germany from €25,450 or around US$37,300. No wonder VW is touting the Polo as the world’s most fuel efficient five-seater car.
The Polo gets such great mileage in ways beyond just dropping in a new plant under the hood. The Polo’s three-cylinder diesel engine was equipped the car with stop-start and energy recovery systems by Volkswagen’ engineers and produces 75 horsepower.
Also, the VW engineers went the Colin Chapman route (one of my fave ways to go) and made the Polo BlueMotion a real flyweight of a car. How does 1,150 kg or 2,535 lbs sound? Sounds pretty good to me. They also did a few aero tweaks here & there, like practically closing off the radiator grille, adding underbody panels, and slapping on some 15-inch “Greenland” type alloy wheels shod in low rolling resistance tires.
OK VW, how about this? How about if you take away, say eight miles to the gallon, and give me 20 more horsepower and better grip? Deal? I’d buy that for the mid-20s.
Source: CarScoop
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