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The Volkswagen Polo is a supermini car (subcompact) manufactured by Volkswagen. It is sold in Europe and other markets worldwide in hatchback, saloon, coupé and estate variants.

Visually speaking, the Volkswagen Polo was developed 1:1 from the principles of the new Volkswagen “Design DNA”. The Scirocco, the first model with this pedigree, was sent to the races in 2008 to take pole position among the world’s best cars. Today, this coupé retains its value more consistently than any other car in Germany. The second wave of the new DNA also debuted in 2008 in the new Volkswagen Golf and its high-roofed counterpart, the Volkswagen Golf Plus. These models have since regained number 1 rankings in the eyes of buyers, a fact born out in car registration statistics. Arriving now is the third model based on the new Volkswagen Design DNA – the Polo.

Volkwagen’s Polo was officially chosen as the 2010 European Car of the Year beating Toyota’s new city car, the iQ. It won the tightly contested contest with the Toyota iQ by a mere ten points, 347 to 337 with the Opel/Vauxhall Astra taking a distant third place, with 221 points.

All the 59 Jury members from 23 European countries gave points to the winner, and 25 of them chose it as their favourite. The iQ received points from 58 jurors, with 20 top marks. The competition was tough,with the Polo’s win confirmed only as the last vote was counted.

Front end

The Volkswagen family face that has been specially adapted to the VW Polo with its flat grille and band of headlights that has typified the brand ever since the Scirocco – emphasizes the car’s additional width. Moreover, it conveys an image of the car’s very low center of gravity. Harmoniously integrated in this face are the Volkswagen Polo’s body-colored bumpers beneath the black grille.

In a third horizontal line below this, there is another large air inlet that supplies the engine and brakes with ample air. At its sides, this black band incorporates the daytime running lights and fog lights with integrated turn indicators. The daytime running lights save up to 0.15 liter of fuel per 100 kilometers compared to conventional continuous running lights. Just a few centimeters above the road, the narrow body-colored front spoiler catches the eye. This spoiler has been moved forward, and it makes a decisive contribution towards the car’s exemplary pedestrian protection credentials.

Volkswagen offers the Polo with two different headlights, depending on selected options: the “Trendline” base version is fitted with H4 headlights. H7 dual headlights are installed starting with the “Comfortline”. Also integrated in the headlights are the turn signal lights. In terms of styling, external and internal design features of the headlights with their different lighting elements combine with the lines of the radiator grille to form one unit.

Rear end

The rear of the car is characterized by geometric order and sportiness. The design cue from the headlights, with their line breaking off with an upward turn, is taken up again in the taillights. They also display a very distinctive night look and extend into the Volkswagen Polo’s broad shoulder. Supported on these shoulders – in the area of the car’s lateral “character line” that can be seen from every perspective – is the roof section. Meanwhile, the tailgate extends right down to the bumper. Just as on the Volkswagen Golf, the Polo’s tailgate is opened with the VW logo, which swivels up and functions as a handle. Standard equipment: a roof edge spoiler integrated in the tailgate.

The car’s image is also exceptionally powerful from the rear. From this angle, one can clearly see how designers exploited the increased track width (+29 millimeters in front and +30 in rear) and stretched the outer wheels along a vertical plane right up to the wheel wells as though carved out with a knife. That is also why the Volkswagen Polo can easily accommodate very large wheel-tire combinations. The range of optional tire sizes extends all the way to 215/40 R17.

Side profile

The lateral profile line is, among other things, dominated by the distinctively sporty front overhang and extremely short rear overhang, the clearly modeled “character line” and low roof that slopes towards the rear. The prominent shoulder line also gives the vehicle a new lateral structure and emphasizes its generally masculine appearance. Since the fourth generation, the five-door VW Polo has also sported what is known as a “three window look”. This refers to the third side window integrated in the C pillar. This design feature is especially prominent on the new Volkswagen Polo. In the area of the A and C pillars, the lower window line also takes an upward sweep, a reference to the styling of the headlights and taillights. Also striking are the pronounced side skirts, whose shape offers aerodynamic benefits. The VW Polo’s underbody is optimized for optimal airflow. Also enhancing aerodynamic performance are the redesigned outside mirror housings, whose air resistance has been reduced by 20 percent compared to the previous model.

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Suzuki unveiled the 2011 Kizashi Sport today at the 2010 New York Auto Show. The new version will go on sale in August and will be available exclusively in the GTS and SLS trim levels.

Based on the recently introduced 2010 Kizashi (pronounced “Kee-Zah-Shee”), already acclaimed for its near-luxury content and Euro-tuned platform, the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport moves the excitement meter upward with a host of external mods. These include a more muscular front fascia (with chrome accents) and lower grille, body side sill extensions, lower body side molding with chrome accents, a trunk mounted spoiler, custom light weight 18-inch alloy wheels and a 10mm lower ride height for a combination of better aerodynamics and a lower center of gravity for enhanced grip and sharper handling.

Inside, the new Kizashi gets a distinctive designed sport steering wheel with perforated leather grip and contrasting stitching on the leather seats, shifter boot and emergency brake boot (when equipped with black leather interior). Interior upgrades speak to the Suzuki Kizashi’s sporting intent, with form-fitting sport seats and driver-centric cockpit.

The interior gets a distinctively designed sport steering wheel with perforated leather grip and contrasting stitching on the leather seats, shifter boot, and emergency brake boot.

Although the 2011 Kizashi Sport has the enhanced exterior modifications and tweaked firmer suspension, there won’t be any performance changes to the engine. However it does benefit from some nice interior touches with a sports steering wheel and matching stitching throughout.

The Sport package will be available on Kizashi GTS and SLS trim levels and ia scheduled to go on sale in the States this August. We have a sneaking suspicion that this is the same Kizashi concept we saw several months ago out at Cars & Coffee, not that there’s anything wrong with that.

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