For example, the first...
For example, the first claim is that "the average annual distance travelled by residents in Great Britain rose by five per cent to 6,800 miles in 2004". But after carefully studying the full report for several hours, the facts weren"t so depressing. The truth is we each did an average of 6,762 miles last year (that"s motorists and non-motorists). So we travelled less in 2004 than at the end of the last century and the start of this one.
The Polo is getting...
The Polo is getting a ò€˜fresherò€™ flavour! VWò€™s fifth-generation supermini will go on sale next year with a more upmarket look ò€“ and a front end which has been given ò€˜the Scirocco treatmentò€™.
The carò€™s nose reflects the styling of VWò€™s sleek coupé ò€“ and inside, there is a classier cabin. A range of new engines includes hi-tech, low-emission diesels and super-turbo petrol powerplants.
As you can see from our pictures, produced using insider information, the Polo draws on the next Golf and Scirocco, dropping the large chrome grille seen on recent VWs for a simpler design with twin horizontal air intakes and angled headlights. Itò€™s a cleaner look all-round, with uncluttered flanks, neat tail-lamps and a purposeful stance.
Under the skin, the Polo gets the new PQ25 small car platform ò€“ first used by the latest SEAT Ibiza. This means a bigger cabin, even though the dimensions are similar to the current modelò€™s.
Quality will improve, as VW bids to address criticism over falling standards. It promises the Polo will be the best-built car in its class, with a Scirocco-style dash and soft-touch materials.
The generous kit tally will include an MP3 player input and Bluetooth connectivity on most models. Plus, the Polo could get the same sat-nav docking port as the Ibiza ò€“ this allows portable, hand-held units to be plugged into the dash.
While the car is unlikely to match the likes of Fordò€™s next Fiesta for driver fun, the steering will be improved and the ride made more compliant. Engine highlights will include 1.4 and 1.6-litre FSI direct-injection petrol units, plus new TDI turbodiesels.
The Polo will also make use of VWò€™s 1.4-litre supercharged and turbocharged TSI motor, available in a 138bhp ò€˜warm hatchò€™ and a 168bhp GTI variant. There will be a new Bluemotion model, too ò€“ this promises to emit less than 100g/km of CO2 and return 75mpg economy.
The firmò€™s seven-speed DSG twin-clutch box should appear as an option throughout the range. As well as three and five-doors, there will be a coupé-cabrio, inspired by the Karmann-built drop-top seen at 2007ò€™s Frankfurt Motor Show.
In addition, buyers get the option of a four-wheel-drive SUV variant to replace the Dune ò€“ as we revealed in Issue 1,018 ò€“ and a compact MPV. These models wonò€™t appear until at least 2010, while the hatch arrives next year, starting from around Ò£9,000.
In a related story, VW has revealed more about its future by unveiling its first-ever plug-in hybrid. The Golf-based Twin Drive can run for up to 30 miles solely on battery power thanks to an 82bhp electric motor. When it runs out of energy, a 122bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel takes over.
It gets stop-start technology, regenerative braking and hits a top speed of about 75mph. Energy comes from lithium-ion batteries that can be plugged into a household socket.
While there are currently no plans to put the Twin Drive into production, some of its features are set to debut on VW models within the next two years.