VW Polo Mk1 Dragster Pushes out 1,047HP, Runs the 1/4 Mile in 9.15 Seconds [with Videos]

Being New Year's Eve, there's not a lot of news today (nevertheless, we do have something interesting coming up...), so we thought we'd share with you this insane VW Polo Mk1 dragster created by German tuning firm, AME Racing. The lightweight hatch is fitted with a heavily modified 1.9-liter inline four boasting a massive Garrett GT40R turbocharger and a custom water/air intercooler for an awe-inspiring output of 1,047 horsepower and 950Nm or 700 lb-ft of torque.

Equally impressive is the fact that all that power is transferred to the wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox that is connected to an all-wheel drive system from an Audi TT.

AME Racing states that the VW Polo dragster goes from 0-100km/h (62mph) in just 2.3 seconds, from 0-200km/h (124mph) in 6.3 seconds and from 0-250km/h (155mph) in only 9.0 seconds while it runs the quarter mile sprint in 9.15 seconds. According to the Germans, the Polo is capable of speeds of around 300km/h or 187mph.

Via: Rpmgo

VW Begins Taking Orders for 3.3lt/100km - 71.3mpg Polo BlueMotion, World's Most Fuel Efficient Five Seater

Adding to our tales about fuel efficient cars that you can't get here in the States, is the new Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion. The automaker announced today that it started accepting orders for the supermini that can be bought in Germany for €16,500, or at today's exchange rates, US$24,200.

Powered by a three-cylinder diesel engine, the Polo BlueMotion returns a combined fuel consumption in the EU cycle of just 3.3 lt /100km (71.3mpg US) making it the world's most fuel efficient five-seater car, according to VW, that is.

Just so you can get an idea, in comparison, the larger (and yes, roomier, faster etc, etc) Toyota Prius is rated in Europe at 3.9 lt/100km (60.3mpg US) with prices in Germany starting from €25,450 or about US$37,300.

To achieve this fuel economy, Volkswagen's engineers modified the Polo's three-cylinder diesel engine that produces an output of 75 horsepower and equipped the car with stop-start and energy recovery systems.

In addition, the Polo BlueMotion, weighing in at just 1,150 kg or 2,535 lbs, sports numerous other mods including a nearly closed-off radiator grille, underbody panels, and 15-inch "Greenland" type alloy wheels shod in low rolling resistance tires.

Volkswagen claims that the BlueMotion's fuel consumption was reduced by 22 percent (or 0.9 litre) compared to the conventional Polo with a 75HP TDI while its CO2 emissions were also reduced from 109 to 87 g/km.

New VW Polo is 'Car of the Year 2010'

Volkswagen's "mini-me Golf", the fifth-generation Polo, has won the coveted 'Car of the Year' award for 2010 with 347 points against 337 for the Toyota iQ mini which came in second. The new Opel / Vauxhall Astra, which was considered by many a favorite to snatch the award and continue General Motors' success with the Insignia that won the 2009 title, finished in third place receiving 221 points.

The other finalists for this year's competition, which brings together a total of 59 motoring journalists from 23 European countries, were the Skoda Yeti with 158 points, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class with 155 points, the Peugeot 3008 with 144 points and the Citroen Picasso with 113 points.

Car of the Year 2010

1. Volkswagen Polo - 347 points

2. Toyota iQ - 337 points

3. Vauxhall Astra - 221 points

4. Skoda Yeti - 158 points

5. Mercedes-Benz E-class - 155 points

6. Peugeot 3008 - 144 points

7. Citroen C3 Picasso - 113 points

New VW Polo 3-Door Available for Order in the UK, Priced from £9,435

About a week before the first five-door examples of the new Polo are delivered to UK customers, Volkswagen has announced pricing for the three-door model that is available for order now with first deliveries set to take place in early January 2010. Both body styles share the same engine and trim levels, with the entry-level version of the three-door model, the 60HP 1.2 S starting at £9,435. According to Volkswagen, the same five-door Polo costs £10,035.

Current petrol engine options include a 1.2-liter unit with 60HP and 70HP and a 1.4-liter that makes 85HP, while the diesel range comprises of a .16-liter TDI with 75HP and 90HP.

ABT Fine Tunes the New VW Polo, Gets Up to 130 Diesel or Gasoline Ponies

We don't know when (or if, for that matter) Volkswagen will drop a high-output version of its 1.4-TSI along with a GTI badge on the fifth-generation Polo, but until then, buyers can head over to ABT as the German firm launched a new tuning programme for the supermini. Under the hood, ABT's power kit boosts the output of the base version of the 1.6-liter TDI turbo diesel from 75HP to 90HP, the 90HP version to 110HP and the 105HP variant of the same unit, to 130HP. For the 1.2-liter TSI gasoline engine, ABT's programme lifts output from 105HP to 130HP.

ABT says that despite the power upgrades, fuel consumption and CO2 emission figures remain at the same level as the stock engines.

The tuning firm upgrades the chassis of the Polo with a new set of springs that drops ride height a few millimeters while buyers may also opt for a subtle aero kit that includes a carbon fiber roof spoiler and rear apron that houses twin tailpipes along with a set of 18-inch titanium colored alloy wheels and special decals.

For the interior, ABT's offerings are limited to an aluminum gearshift knob and specific floor mats. Pricing (and real-life photos...) are to be announced closer to the launch date later on in the year.

VW Unveils Polo 3-Door Ahead of Frankfurt Show, Bluemotion Model Returns 71.2mpg!

The three-door version of the new Volkswagen Polo supermini has been officially revealed ahead of its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. We've only got the photos to go by, but the German automaker says that the more pronounced kink in the rear window gives the 3-door model a more aggressive stance than the five-door version making the new member of the Polo family appear lower and wider than it really is.

Other than that, there are no differences between the two models as the body dimensions of the three and five-door versions are identical with a length of 3,970 mm, width of 1,682 mm and height of 1,485 mm. The same applies to the interior space and cargo capacities (280 to 952 liters).

At launch the 3-door Polo will be available in six engine versions and three equipment variants - Trendline, Comfortline, Highline.

The initial gasoline range comprises of three engines with outputs of 60HP, 70HP and 85HP. VW said that it is also readying a turbocharged direct-injection TSI unit with 105HP.

On the diesel side, the 3d Polo will be available with three TDI engines producing 75HP, 90HP and 105HP.

There will also be a fourth TDI, the new 75HP 1.2-liter TDI of the Polo BlueMotion that will be introduced in Frankfurt with sales set to begin at the beginning of 2010. According to VW, the Bluemotion model will be the world's most fuel-efficient car in its class with a fuel consumption of 3.3 lt / 100km or 71.3mpg US equivalent to 87 g/km CO2.

The new supermini that will compete against the Ford Fiesta and Renault Clio, is built at Volkswagen's Pamplona production facility in Spain. European sales are expected to begin in October (UK in early 2010).