BIG improvements with no increase in pricing is set to pave the way to further success for Volkswagen's Polo, it was claimed at the show.

VW Group chairman Ferdinand Piech said the company had strived to make significant improvements to a range which had made a major contribution to the achievement of all-time record sales to earn the company a 12% share of the world passenger car market.

 

'We have tried to make a good car better.

'Running gear has been optimised and road noise has been lowered still further.

'Even the gaps and shut-lines are now closer to raise the quality appeal and the bodywork is now fully galvanised and has a 12-year guarantee against rusting,' said Piech.

'Clear glass optic headlamps, new bumpers and a modified grille give an element of Bora styling to the 2000-model year range.

Torsional rigidity has been increased and rounded instrumentation features on a revised dashboard. With the addition of a three-cylinder, 1.4-litre turbodiesel engine and a 125bhp,1.6-litre 16-valve petrol motor, the Polo range now offers a choice of eight engines.

'Producing 75bhp, the pump-jet direction injection motor is claimed to return average economy of 64.2mpg, while the top unit allows the GTI version to reach 62mph in 8.7 seconds.

'All versions in the new range get driver and front passenger airbags along with anti-lock braking.