Volkswagen Polo Mk III

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Mk III (6N)
1996 Volkswagen Polo
Production: 1994–2000
Predecessor: Polo Mk IIF
Successor: Polo Mk IIIF
Class: Supermini
Body style: 3-door hatchback
5-door hatchback
4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
Platform: FF 6N
Mk IIIF (6N2)
2001 Volkswagen Polo 5-door hatchback
Production: 2000–2002
Predecessor: Polo Mk III
Successor: PPolo Mk IV
Class: Supermini
Body style: 3-door hatchback
5-door hatchback
4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
Platform: FF 6N

The Volkswagen Polo Mk III is the third generation of the Volkswagen Polo supermini, produced from 1994 until 2000. It was produced in two forms, the initial car (1994-2000) being known as the Mk III, and the updated version (2000-2002) known as Mk IIIF.

Contents

[edit] Mk III (1994-2000)

Interior of Mk III Polo
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Interior of Mk III Polo
Rear View of 1996 Volkswagen Polo
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Rear View of 1996 Volkswagen Polo

The Mk III Polo (6N) was launched in 1994, and was a completely new model/chassis from the old Polo, although early versions used the engines from the Mk II. The Mk III was the first Polo to be made available as a five-door as well as three-door hatchback.

The platform used for this model used a modified version of the floorpan of the VW Golf Mk III, as did the SEAT|Ibiza Mk II. A multitude of mechanical parts and all of the suspension components were intechangeable among the three models. Although the dashboard and a number of mechanical components, including engines, were shared with the Ibiza, outwardly the Polo hatchback models were entirely different with no body panels shared with the SEAT model.

The saloon and estate Polo derivatives Derby (Polo Classic) / Caddy /Polo Wagon/Variant were launched later, and were essentially rebadged SEAT Cordobas (the saloon and estate versions of the Ibiza). These are referred to by VW as 6K models.

In Europe a special 'Harlequin' model was released in 1995, with all panels being random colours, it used the same engine as the regular Polo - only the colour of the panels was the difference. The car was aimed at the wacky buyer who wanted to be unique, but the car resulted in a sales flop and was discontinued in 1996.

[edit] Bodystyles

In 1995, sedan (Polo Classic) and station wagon (Polo Variant) versions were also added to the range — these were badge engineered versions of the Ibiza-based SEAT Cordoba. They were referred to internally by VW as 6KV, and shared body panels with the SEAT model rather than the hatchback models.

A convertible version was not produced, although a version with an electrically sliding full length sunroof, called the Polo Open Air, was available.

[edit] Engines

Initially the car was available with the 1043 cc (45 PS/33 kW) and 1272 cc (55 PS/40 kW) engines from the previous generation Polo and a new 1598 cc unit. A new 1.4 L engine replaced the 1.3 L in 1996. In 1997 the 1043 cc engine was replaced by an all-new aluminium block multi-point injection 999 cc developing 50 PS (37 kW). The Classic and Variant models featured a 75 PS (55 kW) or 100 PS (74 kW) 1.6 L and a 64 PS (47 kW) 1.9 L diesel. For the first time, a turbodiesel engines (a 1.9 L engine) was available in a Polo, although only in the 6K models. Due to its smaller engine bay, the standard 3 and 5-door 6N did not get a turbodiesel engine until the facelift in 2000.

[edit] Sporting variants

Image:PoloGTI1998.JPG
Polo GTI 1998 (Type 6N)

Sporting variants were not introduced initially, and a supercharged G40 version of the Mk III was never made, but a GTI model introduced in 1995 catered for the hot hatch market. With a limited production run of 3000 units, the 6N GTI was available only in continental Europe. Featuring a 1.6 16V 120 PS (92 kW) unit that would later be found in the Mk IIIF model, the car came with 15" BBS alloys and could sprint to 100 km/h in just 9.1 seconds. The 16V, introduced to replace the GLX, was one of the most popular Mk III versions with modifiers, it used a 1.4 16V unit pushed to 100 PS (74 kW) as standard. This car was not a pure sporting model, and with a 0-100 km/h time of 10.6 seconds and a 190 km/h (118 mph) top speed, it was not as fast as the sporting Ibiza model (which used a 2.0 L 16V engine). The Polo GTI was often seen as over priced for the performance it delivered.

[edit] Equipment

Multicoloured Polo Harlequin
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Multicoloured Polo Harlequin

The new model was better equipped than ever before and a range of models featured items such as colour coded bumpers, heated/electrically adjustable mirrors, four speaker stereo, pollen filters, central locking, rear head restraints, split rear seats, fog lights, alloy wheels, air bags and so on. The car was available originally in four trim levels ranging from the L at the bottom level of the scale through the CL and GL to the range topping GLX model. The Polo Harlequin was an unusual edition featuring a multi-coloured body with each panel in a different colour ranging from red, yellow to pistachio green and blue. Nearly 4,000 of this limited series were produced.[1] In 1994 the Polo SE or Special Equipment was launched. Based on the 1.4 L it featured a number of features from higher spec models such as the GLX bumpers, Sport Rader alloy wheels, tinted rear light clusters and clear indicators. The Mk III came to the end of its production run in 1999 with another Polo Match.

[edit] Related models

The SEAT Ibiza Mk II was based on the same platform as the Mk III Polo, as were the SEAT Inca and VW Caddy vans.

The South African built VW Polo Playa was a rebadged version of the SEAT Ibiza Mk II, and was sold instead of the European Polo in South Africa until the introduction of the Mk IV.

The VW Lupo and SEAT Arosa were based on a shortened version of the 6N platform, and shared many components.

[edit] Mk IIIF (2000-2001)

The Mk IIIF was released in 2000, with the hatchback models featuring updated styling including new headlights and bumpers and an all new interior based on that of the Lupo. Although the car was similar in appearance to the Mk III (the bodyshell was fully galvanised and stiffened but not fully redesigned, although some panels were changed), Volkswagen claimed that 70% of the components were new. Power steering, antilock brakes and twin airbags were made standard. The sedan and estate versions received the new interior, but not the full exterior facelift. Also, the 3-cylinder 1.4 TDI engine was introduced for the 3 and 5-door hatchbacks.

Specification options ranged from power steering, tinted glass, split rear seats, electric windows and cup holders to ABS, air conditioning, Xenon headlights and satellite navigation. Thirty-two models with seven engines ranging from the 1.4 diesel to the 1.6 L 16V GTI made the choice of Polo the widest ever seen. The base model was the Comfortline with the option of no less than 5 engines ranging from the 1.0 50 PS (37 kW) to the 1.9 TDI unit found across the VW range, producing 90 PS (66 kW). The 1.0 L hatchback was considered cheap for the build quality and spec list when compared to other cars. Then came the Trendline and Highline models. With engine options ranging from 60 PS (44 kW) to a 110 PS (81 kW) Diesel they offered a range of features usually found on the more sporty models but without the insurance or running cost woes.

VW offered two sporting models, the 16V and GTI. The 16V came with the 1.4 16V 100 PS (74 kW) engine and had options such as 15" Spa alloys and air conditioning. However more interest was in the GTI. Available only in hatchback form, the GTI was powered by a 1.6 16V 125 PS (92 kW) engine making it the most powerful Polo to come out the factory to date. External changes gave the car the looks to match its power. Deeper front bumpers with honeycomb mesh inserts, side skirts, fog lights, a honeycomb mesh grill and 15" BBS split rims suited the car well. There were also extras such as "Climatronic" fully automatic air conditioning, Xenon headlights (with a headlight washer system) and a 6 disc CD autochanger. Leather and satellite navigation were also optional extras. The Mk IIIF Polo GTI however missed the new 6-speed gearbox that was introduced in the smaller Lupo GTI.

Awards

  • 1999 Used Car Buyer Greatest Used Car Buy Awards Best Economy Car
  • 1998 Top Gear Magazine Top Cars - Best Supermini
  • 1997 Which? Magazine Best Buys - Best Supermini
  • 1997 Auto Express New Car Honours - Best Supermini
  • 1997 Complete Car of the Year Awards - Best Supermini

[edit] Type 6K Derivatives

The SEAT Ibiza/Cordoba & Inca platform were rebadged and engineered in to the VW Polo and VW Caddy names respectively.

Type 6K Polos were introduced in 1995 as the Polo Wagon, Polo Classic and VW Caddy.

In South Africa & some Asia Pacific markets the Polo Classic (1995-2002MY) was sold as the Derby.

In China FAW-Volkswagen simply rebadged the SEAT Cordoba with no exterior modifications like the European Derby has ie rear and front bumpers/headlights. It was sold & assembled as the FAW-VW City-Golf during 1996. It is not to be confused with the Canadian spec Mark 4 City Golf of same name released in 2006 in Canada.

In Argentina VW still produce a 2002 facelifted Polo Classic which is sold as Derby in Mexico and a Volkswagen Caddy the SEAT Inca derived van which shares the same platform and front end styling as the South American Type 6K. The 6K Polo Classic & Caddy have been produced since 2000. All facelifted Type 6K models are Argentine built models.

The Polo Classic (Type 6K) & Caddy facelift are still sold in Latin America, and will be replaced in 2007/2008 by a sedan & van versions of the Gol V.

[edit] Trim levels

Unlike the Volkswagen Polo Mk I and Volkswagen Polo MkII, trim levels were not the same across Europe; the United Kingdom's were L, CL, GL, GLX, 16v (later E, S, SE and GTi); models sold in Europe had trim levels which were individual to the country they were marketed in.

Latin America had its own trim levels, although some of the trim level names were similar to their European counterparts. The CL and GL were available from 1996 onwards in Brazil; these were similar to their European counterparts, although slightly more expensive due to import tariffs.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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[edit] References

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