Volkswagen Polo 2000 User Manual

Car test

R0027A

See also R9612 and R9959

May 2000

TESTUPDATE

VW 3-cylinder diesels

Featuring Polo 1.4 TDi and Lupo 3L

THIS ISN’T THE FIRST THREE-CYLINDER diesel in modern times – Daihatsu had one under the bonnet of the Charade in the early eighties.

However, this state-of-the-art VW diesel has come to fruition as part of a project to demonstrate how frugal and environmentally considerate future motoring can be.

In 1.2 litre/61bhp guise, installed in a special version of the Lupo (not yet on sale here in the UK), VW claims that its fuel consumption will average 3 litres per 100km (i.e. 94½ mpg) in the official tests – hence the title Lupo 3L(itre).

To achieve such frugality, VW has virtually reconstructed the model, so that although it looks similar to any other Lupo, in fact it bristles with ingenious (and expensive) solutions to reduce weight and ensure ultimate mechanical efficiency. The use of aluminium, plastics, even magnesium in the body and chassis has produced a formidable weight saving, compared with an equivalent, regular-series Lupo 1.7SDi, and its aerodynamic efficiency has improved from a Cd value of

.32 to .29.

However, it’s the under-bonnet wizardry that plays a major role. As well as the direct-injection three-pot

turbo-diesel, the “conventional” five-speed synchromesh gearbox is also electronically controlled, it uses hydraulics to do the shifting, so it finishes up behaving like an automatic, with an additional “Tiptronic” manual shift facility when required.

Even the automatic shift sequence has dual modes – for ultimate fuel economy, an Eco button on the facia is depressed, which results in very early upshifts (1800rpm on half-throttle compared with 2800rpm in non-Eco mode), plus two other features. These are a freewheel on the overrun (like being in neutral) and the engine switching off a few seconds after coming to a traffic halt – if the footbrake stays depressed. The traffic-lights turn green, you release the brake and the engine starts again, with gentle “creep” (just like a conventional automatic) in gear.

We found the early upshifts embarrassing at times (when it changed from first to second half way across the traffic, emerging from a junction, for instance) and the shift quality can be rather ponderous, especially when taking off from rest.

In non-Eco automatic guise, these “special effects” don’t occur and if you prefer a clutchless manual car,

Continued on page 3

2

PERFORMANCE - 1.4 TDi

Acceleration time in seconds
mph	30	4 0	5 0	6 0	70
THROUGH
THE			4.9	8.4	13.3
GEARS		2.0
IN 5TH					22.8
GEAR		7.8	13.3	17.8
IN 4TH
GEAR		4.0	7.2	10.8	15.4
20 mph	30	4 0	5 0	6 0	70
5TH/4TH	17.6/10.2			10.0/6.8
SPEED
RANGES			13.3/7.2		9.5/8.2

Maximum speeds using accelerator kickdown

			1	3	5
			25½	64	108
REVS	1st	4th	5th
PER	2nd	4200* 4200*	4100
MINUTE	3rd				mph
			43½	87
* for best acceleration

2 4

PERFORMANCE - 3L

Acceleration time in seconds - using kick-down or manual

mph	30	4 0	5 0	6 0	70
THROUGH
THE			6.0	9.6	15.8
GEARS		2.0

20 mph	30	4 0	5 0	6 0	70
SPEED		4.0		7.6
RANGES
USING
KICKDOWN			4.0		9.8

Maximum speeds

using accelerator kickdown or manual

					5	103
REVS	1st/2nd	3rd	4th	5th	4	93
PER	4400	4175	3975	3475			mph
MINUTE					3	67

2 42

1 24

FUEL CONSUMPTION - 1.4TDi

Type of use - with air conditioning off*	mpg
Urban (17mph average/heavy traffic)	39½
Suburban (27mph average/6.4 miles from cold start)	55
Motorway (70mph cruising)	55½
Cross-country (brisk driving/20 miles from cold start)	64½
Rural (gentle driving/20 miles from cold start)	76
Typical mpg overall	62

Realistic tank range (not nominal tank capacity) 37 litres/500 miles

*with air conditioning switched on, consumption will increase by 2–4% in winter and 4–8% in summer

FUEL CONSUMPTION - 3L

Type of use - Eco mode switched on/switched off	mpg
Urban (17mph average/heavy traffic)	49 / 48
Suburban (27mph average/6.4 miles from cold start)	60 / 59
Motorway (70mph cruising)	66 / 66
Cross-country (brisk driving/20 miles from cold start)	72 / 73
Rural (gentle driving/20 miles from cold start)	90 / 86
Typical mpg overall	71½

Realistic tank range (not nominal tank capacity) 28 litres/440 miles

*with air conditioning switched on, consumption will increase by 2–4% in winter and 4–8% in summer

FOR THE TECHNICAL - Polo 1.4TDi

ENGINE

Type transverse three cylinder with all-alloy block and head. Four main bearings and counterbalance shaft

Size 79.5 x 95.5mm = 1422cc

Power 75bhp at 4000rpm

Torque 144 lb ft at 2200rpm

Valves belt-driven single overhead camshaft actuating two valves per cylinder

Fuel/ignition direct injection diesel with electronically controlled high pressure unit injection for each cylinder; turbocharger and intercooler with unregulated catalyser. 45-litre tank, with low-level warning lamp

TRANSMISSION

Type five-speed manual, front-wheel drive

Mph per 1000rpm 26.4 in 5th; 20.7 in 4th

CHASSIS

Suspension front: independent damper/struts with integral coil springs and lower wishbones. Rear: torsion beam (dead) axle with trailing arms and coil springs; telescopic dampers. (Modified front wishbone and wider track in latest Polos)

Steering rack and pinion with hydraulic power assistance; 2.9 turns between full locks. Turning circle diameter averages 10.1m between kerbs, with 14.6m circle for one turn of the wheel

Wheels 6J alloy with 185/55R14H tyres (Michelin Energy on test car)

Brakes ventilated discs front, drums rear with servo-assistance and standard anti-lock control (ABS)

MEASUREMENTS

Centimetres		Polo Five-door hatchback

93-98
(with sunroof)			91
81-108	T	66	60	91
142
				173
42-45	93		51	29
	T			68
11	33
(inner sill)	(outer sill)
374

T: typical back seat space behind medium-sized front occupants

	124	117
183*	163	89-110
		123
	No	47-62

* 168 with mirrors folded

kerb weight : 1016kg (maker’s figure)