VIDEO: 2011 Volkswagen Polo GTI Snow-Sliding

Hoping to repeat the success of its Golf GTI series, Volkswagen applied the same spicy recipe to its smaller Polo hatchback with the launch of a GTI version that was unwrapped at last week's Geneva Motor Show. And this here is the first official video of VW's hot supermini on the move.

The second and smallest member of Volkswagen's GTI family gets a punchy 1.4-liter twin-charged petrol engine pumping out 180 horsepower and a 250Nm or 184 lb-ft of torque.

Power is sent to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual clutch transmission with the German firm announcing 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 228 km/h (142 mph).

Volkswagen to Debut All-New CrossPolo at Geneva Motor Show

After the introduction of the standard three-and five door versions of the Polo in 2009, the uber fuel-efficient BlueMotion that's due to be launched onto the market this year, as well as the 180HP GTI model that will also have its premiere in Geneva, Volkswagen is completing the Polo series with the presentation of the new CrossPolo

Like its predecessors, the five-door only CrossPolo is a faux-offroader that tries to battle the wild jungle of city parking spaces with SUV-like elements such as rugged plastic guards that cover most of the lower body and wheel arches, a 15mm higher ride height and larger 17-inch alloy wheels in tires size 215/40.

Other specific styling cues include the uniquely trimmed front and rear bumpers, honeycomb grille, silver anodized roof rails and the high-gloss black paint finish for the cover trim of the B and C pillars and the window frames, and well, that's about it as the CrossPolo keeps the standard model's front-wheel drive configuration - no AWD option here.

Inside, Volkswagen focused on making the interior look more premium with two-tone fabrics sport seats, a leather steering wheel, gearbox knob and parking brake handle that all come with contrasting seams, pedal caps in aluminium look and chrome on various switches and components.

Buyers can choose from three petrol (1.2L 70HP, 1.4L 85HP and 1.2 TSI 105HP) and three common rail TDI engines (1.6L TDI with 75HP, 90HP and 105HP). Three of the six engines are offered optionally with a 7-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission.

The fastest version of the CrossPolo with the 1.2 TSI petrol engine accelerates to 100 km/h (62mph) in 9.9 seconds, reaches a top speed of 188 km/h or 117 mph and has a combined fuel consumption of 5.5 lt/100km or 42.7mpg US with 128 g/km of CO2. It is offered with a standard 6-speed gearbox or optionally, the 7-speed DSG.

All three diesel variants return a combined 4.3 litres of diesel per 100km (54.7 mpg US) and emit 113 grams CO2 per kilometer.

Volkswagen will begin accepting orders for the CrossPolo in March with first deliveries to take place in May.

New 85.6mpg VW Polo BlueMotion Available for Order in the UK

After yesterday's presentation of the fastest version of the new Polo, the 180HP GTI, Volkswagen today announced that it is accepting orders in the UK for the most economical variant of the supermini, the Polo BlueMotion. Prices start at £14,445 on the road for the three-door, and at £15,045 for the five-door model with the first cars expected to reach dealers in May.

The latest generation of the Polo BlueMotion adopts a new 1.2-litre TDI three-cylinder common rail diesel engine generating 75 horsepower and 133 lbs ft (180 Nm) of torque.

The new diesel unit is combined with longer gearing through the five-speed manual gearbox, regenerative braking and an automatic Start/Stop system, as well as low rolling resistance tires and several cosmetic changes such as bespoke bumpers, side skirts and an extended roof spoiler, all designed to maximize efficiency.

All these measure help the new Polo BlueMotion to emit just 87 g/km of CO2 while returning an overly impressive 85.6 mpg UK, equal to 3.3 lt /100km or 71.3mpg US, on the combined cycle.

This means that the new Polo BlueMotion has a theoretical range of over 800 miles (1,286 km) or enough to drive from New York City to Chicago on one tank of diesel.

New Volkswagen Polo GTI: Pocket Rocket with 180HP 1.4-liter TSI

[Updated] The Polo we've all been waiting for ever since Volkswagen lifted the veils off the latest generation model is a reality as the German firm has published the first official photos of the Golf GTI's smaller brother prior to its world premiere at the Geneva auto gathering next month.

The new 2010 Polo GTI packs the same 1.4-liter TSI gasoline engine with turbo- and supercharging as the Seat Ibiza Cupra with an estimated output of 180 horsepower and a hefty 250Nm or 184 lb-ft of torque, available from 2,000 to 4,500 rpm.

The hot Polo's TSI gasoline engine is linked to a compact seven-speed, twin-clutch DSG gearbox that channels drive through the front axle.

Aligned with a 1,184kg or 2,610 lbs kerbweight, the 1.4 TSI allows the Polo GTI to accelerate from rest to 100km/h or 62 mph in 6.9 seconds before reaching a top speed of 228 km/h or 142 mph.

The German automaker says that the GTI model is capable of delivering a low fuel consumption of 6.0lt/100km (equal to 39mpg US or 47 mpg UK) on the combined cycle while emitting just 139 g/km of CO2.

Along with the new engine, the Polo GTI also gets upgraded suspension components and VW's version of the Ibiza Cupra's XDS self locking electronic differential.

In a similar underrated fashion to the Golf GTI, the hottest Polo sports five-spoke polished 17-inch alloy wheels in low profile tires, red brake callipers, blacked out headlamps with LED daytime running lights and the typical GTI honeycomb grille with a red frame. At the back there's a new rear bumper featuring a small diffuser and a pair of chrome-tipped exhausts.

Inside we find that a similar flat-bottom steering wheel with red stitching and the tartan cloth sport seats plus a slightly revised instrument panel with red dials.

The new Polo GTI is expected to go on sale in Europe in both three- and five-door body styles shortly after its debut in Geneva.

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.