Volkswagen has fleshed out its latest generation Polo lineup with the introduction of a new GTI variant. This latest GTI has the same output as the last hot Pol,o but now produces it on one-quarter less petrol. Each and every one of its 177 horsepower now comes from VW’s twin-charged 1.4-liter TSI inline-four with direct injection, a turbocharger and a mechanical supercharger. The combined fuel efficiency goes from 29.8 miles per gallon to 39.9 mpg on the EU test cycle.

The Polo GTI gets a similar rounded five spoke wheel design to its big brother, the Golf GTI, along with the obligatory red brake calipers and trim on the grille. Note, too, that this is the first Polo to get LED eyeliner running lamps and corner markers along with bi-xenon headlamps. In proper GTI fashion, the seats are covered in a plaid fabric just like the originals of three decades ago. In fact, with the growth of the Golf over six generations, this Polo is actually almost the same size as the original Golf.

Interestingly, the Polo GTI only comes with the quick shifting seven-speed DSG gearbox and sprints to 62 miles per hour in just 6.9 seconds, and handling will be aided by VW’s electronic differential lock, which is said to reduce oversteer.

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

It’s not sold here, but globally, the subcompact Volkswagen Polo is one of the most important models for the German brand. Here at the 2009 Geneva auto show, VW is unveiling an entirely new generation. It’s the fifth new Polo since 1975, when the car was first launched as a stripped version of the radically modern Audi 50, whose sales it completely cannibalized within a few years.

Mature, Handsome Styling

Styled with crisp, bold lines, the new Polo offers a fresh and very welcome interpretation of a subcompact car. Its styling is deliberately not of the cutesy, happy-face school that dominates the segment, an aesthetic that can be acutely embarrassing to some who move down-market from more “grown-up” vehicles. Instead, the Polo resembles the acclaimed, one-size-up sixth-gen Golf. Since the new Polo didn’t use a carryover platform, the design team had even more freedom to express Volkswagen’s new styling direction.

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