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.

Volkswagen today took the wraps off its second-generation Touareg SUV that is slightly longer yet more than 200kg or 440 pounds lighter than its predecessor and will be offered right from the beginning with a clean, or rather cleaner, hybrid gasoline-electric powertrain.

Set for a Geneva Motor Show debut on March 2 with European sales to follow in April, the new 2011 Touareg shares most of its underpinnings with the forthcoming 2011 Porsche Cayenne.

At a first glance, it appears that the designers kept the basic shape of the current model and added a new face that’s inspired from the firm’s latest production and concept models such as the Golf VI, Polo and the NCC study.

Look closer though and you’ll see that there’s new sheetmetal everywhere with the most important stylistic changes concerning the lower roofline and the curvier profile lines.

The new interior is also in line with Volkswagen’s latest design DNA featuring several novelties including a pushbutton parking brake, and according to the Germans, the largest panoramic sunroof of all SUVs.

The German firm said that the new Touareg is more spacious at the back adding that the rear bench now has 160mm in longitudinal adjustment and that the backrest angle can be adjusted.

Optionally, the rear seat can be electrically unlatched and folded down at the press of a button in which case, it frees up 1,642 litres of cargo space.

Perhaps the most important news about the 2011 Touareg is that Volkswagen managed to shave up to a whopping 208 kg or 459 pounds over the outgoing model.

Even so, the German automaker claims that the 2011 Touareg’s body has five percent greater torsional rigidity than its predecessor.

At launch, the new Touareg will be available with three engines including two turbo diesels and a gasoline-electric hybrid, all of which are offered with a standard 8-speed automatic transmission.

The range kicks off with a 3.0-liter V6 TDI diesel that churns out 240HP and 405 lb-ft of torque that returns 38.1mpg UK, 31.8mpg US or 7.4lt/100km on the combined EU cycle, with 195g/km of CO2.

Next up is the 4.2-liter V8 TDI diesel with 335HP and a massive 590 lb-ft of torque that is said to achieve a combined 31mpg UK, 25.8 mpg US or 9.1 lt/100km with 239g/km of CO2.

The highlight of the range is the new hybrid model that’s mates a 3.3-liter supercharged V6 TSI producing 333HP and 265 lb-ft of torque with a 47HP electric motor for a combined output of 380HP and 428 lb-ft.

The Touareg Hybrid, that can be driven up to 50 km/h or 30 mph in purely electric mode, sprints from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in 6.5 seconds and returns a combined 8.2lt/100km which is equal to 34.4mpg UK and 28.7mpg US.

As for the standard all-wheel drive system, the base 4MOTION versions get a Torsen limited-slip differential (climbing ability: 31 degrees) and an “Off-road driving programme”, which – at the press of a button – tunes the ABS, EDS and ASR for off-road duty, activates Hill Descent Assist and adjusts the automatic gearshift points.

Optionally, instead of a Torsen differential, the V6 TDI can be ordered with an “Terrain Tech Packet” that is said to have an even more rugged transfer case designed for off-road duty. It includes reduction gearing and centre and rear differentials, each with up to 100 percent locking (climbing ability: 45 degrees).

Like the first generation Touareg, this version also gets a rotary switch that allows the driver to adapt the car to specific duty conditions over five levels: 1. “On-Road”; 2. “Off-Road” (like “Off-road driving programme” plus automatic control of the mechanical locks); 3. Low (like “Off-road” plus activation of reduced gearing, higher shift points, no automatic upshift in manual mode); 4. Addition of centre differential lock; 5. Addition of rear differential lock.

More details will be released at the new Touareg’s world premiere in Geneva.

The Volkswagen Touareg hybrid is now just a few months away from production, but the crew in Wolfsburg are staying busy by cranking out small concept vehicles with hybrid powertrains. The latest that debuts here at the Detroit Auto Show this morning is called the New Compact Coupe (NCC), a handsome hybrid coupe that looks remarkably production-ready. Designed to slot globally between the not-for-North-America Scirocco and the rakish CC, we could see a serial version of the NCC competing well here in the States with coupes like the Honda Accord and Nissan Altima.

In showcar guise, the NCC features Volkswagen’s 1.4-liter TSI inline-four with 148 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid system uses the same basic architecture (if not dimensions) as the recent L1 and Up-Lite concepts from Frankfurt and Los Angeles. In this case, a 20-kilowatt electric motor is sandwiched between the engine and the seven-speed DSG dual clutch gearbox. A 1.1 kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery in the back of the car provides electrical energy storage for electric drive, electric boost and regenerative braking. The system also allows for the complete decoupling of the transmission for enhanced coasting even at highway speeds, although it isn’t immediately clear from the press release if the electric motor will push the NCC along for extended periods as it does with Volkswagen Audi Group’s Porsche Cayenne Hybrid system. Either way, VW is estimating the NCC’s mileage at 45 miles per gallon based on EPA test procedures with the EU numbers coming in at 56 mpg (U.S.) and 98 g/km of CO2. Acceleration to 60 mph is ballparked at 8.1 seconds and top speed is pegged at 141 mph.

The car itself is virtually the same size as the current Jetta except for wheelbase length and overall height (the concept has three more inches between the axles and the roof is two inches lower), and it may well be a preview of what to expect from the next-generation Jetta. Recently there have been rumors circulating that VW plans to revive the Jetta coupe, a model that hasn’t been in the lineup since the late ’80s. A production version of this poor-man’s Audi A5 could well be that car, although VW officials aren’t talking. Similarly, the forthcoming Tennessee-built New Medium Sedan is expected with both diesel and hybrid powertrains and the same could be the case for the next Jetta. While you wait, you can check out our high-res gallery below and VW’s official press verbiage available after the jump.

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

Two years ago at the Frankfurt auto show, Volkswagen unveiled the Up!, a prototype for a minicar targeting global markets. It came as a surprise that the Up! was designed with the engine in the back, a layout that was deemed space-efficient and perfectly suited for strict pedestrian-protection regulation. A Space Up! and a hydrogen-powered Space Up! Blue concept followed to show the possibilities of the platform.

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