Volkswagen Polo Bluemotion - 70mpg
July 19, 2008 by admin
VW’s Polo Bluemotion offers great fuel economy but it’s a little expensive. It might be worth trying the TDi version instead.
The rising cost of running a car, plus fears over CO2 emissions, means car makers are thinking harder than ever about the kind of vehicles they are building and so they are producing ever more efficient cars.
The changes to the Polo body are subtle. A faired-in grille, smaller mirrors and a rear window spoiler help lower the drag. Its special 14-inch alloy wheels are fitted with skinny, high-profile tyres which reduce rolling resistance.
Buyers are demanding leaner and cleaner models which reduce bills and increase economy. So, VW is responding with a new eco-minded range, badged Bluemotion. The German firm claims any motor bearing the nameplate will be the most efficient and environmentally friendly in the range – and it is out to prove this by applying the title to a new Polo.
The Polo is the first VW to get the Bluemotion treatment, and comes ahead of the equivalent Jetta, Golf and Passat. Modifications to engine, bodywork and transmission mean 70mpg is possible, while a CO2 figure of 102g/km beats even a Toyota Prius.
The cabin seems to be standard small Volkswagen at first glance. Look more closely, though, and you will notice some equipment is missing. The air-conditioning has been removed, as has electric operation for the door mirrors. Even the remote central locking is deleted. All this has been done to save weight and energy.
The 78bhp 1.4-litre diesel engine is based on the unit you can get in any Polo. However, a variable-geometry turbocharger and improved exhaust and catalytic converter make it cleaner than ever. It is hooked up to a five-speed manual transmission which boasts extra-long ratios – fifth gives 35mph for every 1,000rpm – to give economical running.
On the road, the tiny three-cylinder powerplant can be a little noisy under acceleration. But it has plenty of power and, with the 195Nm of torque available from 1,800rpm, it copes well with the tall ratios.
In fact, the combination of low wind noise, a long top gear and an absorbent ride makes the Polo an excellent motorway car. But on twisty roads, the skinny tyres and lifeless steering make for poor handling.
The Bluemotion is around £12,000 which is about the same as the much better equipped Polo 1.4 TDI SE – a model which returns 63mpg. So, you’ll have to be sure that slightly lower fuel consumption and emissions are worth a little less luxury.
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