Cologne This little Volkswagen was exactly the right car for a time when nuclear armament and environmental destruction created fear of the future, while on the other hand new TV blockbusters like “Traumschiff” and “Dallas” reflected the fun of luxury and lifestyle. With the second generation of the Polo ( Type “86C”) VW presented a city runabout in the late summer of 1981, which, thanks to a sophisticated mix of familiar and new, was at times the most successful vehicle in its class with around 2.7 million units sold caused as much discussion material as the boxy forms of the legendary Renault 4 20 years earlier. Those who preferred it more conservatively were also taken care of by VW Notchback counterpart to the Polo, experienced a new edition.
With massive proportions, he should counter the fresh Japanese small car competition, as the VW management explained to the trade press. In fact, there were around 50 city runabouts on the German market from Austin Metro to Vauxhall Chevette in the early 1980s, including almost 20 Nippon models.
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However, it was bargain hunters like the Polo Fox or pop stars in the style of the Polo Genesis, athletes á la Polo G40 and eco-polo with 2.0-liter consumption that made the Benjamin in the VW program big and all of them “no-future” “Slogans of the punks rejected: 13 years of construction proved the future-oriented sustainability of the Polo II.
Today, the classic car love for the now 40-year-old Polo II has yet to blossom, as the low prices for mostly used cars on the relevant marketplaces show. As a new car, however, the Polo once sparked great emotions, provided that the brochures that VW distributed to its customers are believed: “You will walk around it in admiration … and maybe you will gently stroke the perfect paintwork with your fingertips. And deep within you, a small voice will say: Well chosen. That one and no other. ”
Functionally designed
The interior is ergonomically designed.
(Photo: vw)
Three-door
Three doors had to be enough for the coupe.
(Photo: vw)
A modest little car with 29 kW / 40 PS up to a maximum of 44 kW / 60 PS at first, which guaranteed great pride in ownership, something like that actually existed back then. After all, with prices starting at 11,185 marks, the Polo cost significantly more than all its competitors, but the VW remained an almost unbeatable winner in comparative tests in the specialist press until old age.
The VW also caused a sensation as a tailor-made special model for the fashion streets of the metropolises. Whether in the “Boulevard”, “Betty Barclay”, “Shopping”, “Laura Ashley” or “Peppermint” edition, the ladies were just as well dressed with the polo as they were with the latest creations from Paris by Peugeot, Renault or Citroen, such as a look at the approval rankings showed.
Even the cheeky price breaker Polo Fox lured with the fresh, trendy colors turquoise blue and saima green from 1984 onwards. In addition, there was 34 kW / 45 PS and there was an automotive favorite for novice drivers, which at the time sold better than the cult oldies Mini, R4 and 2 CV as well as Japanese bonsai plants from Daihatsu Charade to Nissan Micra to Toyota Starlet.
With a load volume of up to 1,000 liters (for comparison: the Ford Fiesta offered a maximum of 625 liters), the original hatchback Polo also played the role of a multifunctional mini station wagon. Even more sensational was the transport capacity of the Polo with a backpack (called Derby until 1985), which VW initially put at 540 liters, which means that the 3.98-meter limousine even provided more space in the trunk than the 5.14-meter-long luxury liner Mercedes 500 SEL .
Still, the Germans preferred to discuss the Derby’s controversial design than buy this spacious pannier rack. Which is why this Polo body quietly disappeared from the home market in 1990 and was reserved for other markets. The three magical letters GTI were only allowed to wear the third Polo, but as a Coupé GT, the Polo II already showed how much adrenaline the Wolfsburg-based basic series could release.
Controversial offshoot
The Germans preferred to discuss the Derby’s controversial design than buy this roomy pannier rack.
(Photo: vw)
More power
In the Polo G40, a G-charger provided extra horsepower.
(Photo: vw)
In the one-make cup Volkswagen Polo Cup, young racing drivers trained their talent with 65 kW / 88 PS strong coupés, on the other hand, the Fastback had to suffice with 55 kW / 75 PS and fine accents such as double headlights plus a red frame for the radiator grille to get a Fiat 127 Sport or Chasing Ford Fiesta XR2.
In 1987, however, the Polo was transformed into a legendary wolf in sheep’s clothing with a G40 nameplate. The new magic word for high performance in the 800-kilogram lightweight was not turbo as with the competition, but G-Lader. Behind it was a spiral scroll compressor, which, although it had the reputation of not being completely uncapricious, elicited up to 95 kW / 129 hp from the 1.3-liter four-cylinder. First in a world record vehicle that achieved an average of 208 km / h over a distance of 5,000 kilometers in 1985.
In the standard Polo G40 two years later it was still 85 kW / 115 PS with which the loaded poison dwarf chased some BMW 3 Series out of the fast lane. Provided that the sports fans were quick enough, because the G40 was only available 1,500 times. Drifts, spins and donuts like with a Formula 1 racing car: The Polo II was also able to do that, at least the Sprint study, which thanks to the 116 kW / 158 hp 1.9 liter water boxer from the Bulli T3 was a show program at the annual press conference Delivered in 1984.
In stark contrast to the civil two-cylinder diesel in the Eco-Polo, which delivered 29 kW / 40 hp with a G-charger, but impressed with its consumption of 2.0 liters. However, the time was not yet ripe for such extreme savers, which is why VW in the end decided not to manufacture the Knauser Polo in large-scale production. Instead, it had to fix a four-cylinder diesel with 33 kW / 45 PS and a standard consumption of 4.4 liters / 100 kilometers (at 90 km / h), but above all the notorious “Formula E”.
successor
The hatchback was also available as a GT model.
(Photo: vw)
All things new
The Polo family after the lift in 1990
(Photo: vw)
Behind this was an efficiency program with a higher compression 1.1-liter petrol engine with an unchanged 37 kW / 50 hp output, but with a 3 + E transmission, in which the fourth gear was extremely long. The result: Instead of 6.1 liters at 90 km / h, the Formula E Polo was content with 4.9 liters, which was record-breaking little for a gasoline engine at the time.
Volkswagen designer Marco Pavone, who is jointly responsible for the current generation of Polo, recently explained that good design is like a cool suit in which you can still feel well dressed years later. This is exactly what VW styling boss Herbert Schäfer has achieved with the Polo II. The desire for the initially daring station wagon body and the pleasing coupé remained unbroken and so this double was offered until 1994.
After all, the late vintages can be recognized by the facelift, which donated rectangular headlights and more aerodynamic bumpers to the bestseller in 1990. There was also a present for sports fans: the G40 was now available without a limited number.
timeline
1974: In September, presentation of the Audi 50 small car, from which the first Volkswagen Polo is derived. The start of series production of the Audi 50 takes place at the VW plant in Wolfsburg. In fact, the first pre-series copies of the VW Polo will be produced this year
1975: Start of series production in March for the minimalistly equipped first Polo with 29 kW / 40 hp at prices from 7,500 marks. Nevertheless, the Audi 50 achieved its most successful year with over 84,000 units, while 74,180 units of the Polo were sold
1976: The Polo is now offered with multiple engines and annual production increases to 144,739 units
1977: In January series production of the Derby, the notchback version of the Polo, begins
1981: Production ended in the summer for the first generation of Polo and Derby after a total of 1.1 million units worldwide. The second generation of the Polo is making its debut at the Frankfurt IAA, with a completely redesigned hatchback body as a compact station wagon (3.66 meters in length) and with three engines and a power range from 40 to 60 hp. The new edition of the Polo notchback variant Derby is also presented
1982: The new Derby is launched in stores in February. A third body variant with a hatchback, the Polo Coupé, will follow in August. The Polo Coupé has a decidedly sporty appearance, which is why the Polo Coupé GT is initially given a newly developed 1.3-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with 55 kW / 75 PS
1983: Volkswagen starts the one-make motorsport series Polo Cup. From August, a new 1.3-liter engine with 54 hp will replace the previous units with 50 and 60 hp.
1984: For exactly ten years now, the Polo Fox version has been the entry-level model in fresh colors and with trendy equipment details for young buyers. From 1986 also as a coupé. The Polo Sprint study achieved 207 km / h with a 1.9-liter engine from the VW T3 and 156 hp generated by G-Lader. In March, production of the Polo will begin at Seat’s Pamplona plant in Spain. From August the Polo Coupé will also be available with the 40 hp engine. In the prototype Polo Sprint with hatchback body, on the other hand, a 1.9-liter water boxer from the T3 works, whose output climbs to 158 hp thanks to the G-charger and intercooler
1985: The VW Derby is renamed Polo Notchback in January and has new round headlights. World record on the test track in Ehra-Lessien for a Polo with a mechanically charged 1.3-liter engine and 129 hp, which achieved an average of 208 km / h over a distance of 5,000 kilometers. From August, the Polo hatchback will be available as a city delivery van with truck registration, without a rear seat and with unglazed rear side walls. The 40 hp engine will also be replaced by a 45 hp unit from August. First presentation of the Polo GT G40 with charging
1986: A 1.3-liter diesel with 45 hp is new for the Polo from July
1987: In May, the production of 1,500 units of the Polo GT G40 Coupé begins with a mechanical scroll charger and thus 115 hp. The G40 will later be included in the regular Polo program. The G40 was used in the brand cup from 1986 to 1989. The 75 hp four-cylinder, previously reserved for the Coupé, will also be available for the Polo hatchback from August
1988: First Polo versions with a regulated three-way catalytic converter. The Öko-Polo study with two-cylinder diesel and direct injection as well as a start-stop system is satisfied with consumption of 2.0 liters per 100 kilometers
1990: From May the Polo is also assembled in the GDR in Mosel. A new 1.4-liter diesel with 48 hp will be available from August. In October extensive facelift with rectangular headlights on the redesigned front, integrated front and rear bumpers and massive side impact protection in the doors. The Polo Notchback is also getting the facelift, but is only offered in a few countries and no longer in Germany
1992: With the Polo Coupé Genesis, VW launches a special model for the European tour of the British pop trio, this in the paint color Violet Touch, pearl effect
1994: After 2.7 million units, production of the second Polo comes to an end. Production of the third generation of the Polo with three- and five-door bodies starts in September
2011: The first Polo II become candidates for the official H license plate
2017: Production of the sixth Polo starts in Pamplona, Spain, and will make its trade fair debut at the Frankfurt IAA in September. A total of over 15 million Polos have already been delivered
2021: The club scene is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Volkswagen Polo II while the sixth generation of the Polo is being comprehensively revised