Volkswagen Malaysia roadshows are making their way to you this year end!

Here are Volkswagen Malaysia's upcoming roadshows making their way to you this year end. Expect lots of rebates and discounts on various models. First up is Mahkota Parade in Melaka on the 19th to the 22nd of November 2015 and then to the Atria Shopping Gallery in Petaling Jaya on the 10th to the 13th of December 2015. 

Details for both events are below: 


Mahkota Parade, Malacca 19 – 22 November 

The Volkswagen Malaysia crew will be making their way to Malacca

this November for a sales carnival. From 19 to 22 November, drop

by Mahkota Parade in Malacca and join in the fun as there will

exclusive Volkswagen merchandise given out for every test drive,

exciting Q&A sessions and also an Instagram contest where visitors

stand a chance to win petrol vouchers. The cars on display will be

the Volkswagen Passat, Jetta Sport, Polo Sedan, Polo 1.6 and the

iconic Beetle. Test drives are also available for all models on

display and the not to be missed “Volkswagen Big Day Out” year-

end promotion. The event will be hosted by Ms Lalitha Monisha,

former 1st runner up Miss Malaysia Universe 2014.

Atria Shopping Gallery, Petaling Jaya  10 – 13 December 

The Volkswagen crew will be headed back to KL and this time

visiting Atria Shopping Gallery in KL from 10 to 13 December. Do

drop by and participate in Volkswagen’s Instagram contest and

stand a chance to walk away with RM200 petrol vouchers daily.

Customers can also get up and close with the Volkswagen Passat

and Jetta Sport which will be on display.

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A 19 year old student wins the KenTrade Trading Challenge and drives away with a Volkswagen Beetle

19 year old Mr. Sim Yu Chin drove away with a brand new Volkswagen Beetle 1.2 TSI. The student, won the KenTrade Trading Challenge II after wining the final round of the challenge - a four hour Face Off Challenge at the Bursa Malaysia Listing Gallery today. 

Imagine that. Sign up for the challenge, participate, be given RM1,000,000 in virtual money (i.e not real currency), play or trade a bit, then make sure you actually profit instead of lose money (He made over RM107,000 within the short period of time) and then someone gives you a RM135,888 car to take home. Life couldn't be better. But technically it could. As the car given is one of those never outdated, iconic type of cars like the Volkswagen Beetle. How lucky can you get? 

Anyway, money makes money. In this case, virtual money makes a student win a Beetle. Next year I wanna participate. But with my luck..... 

(L – R) Datuk Chay Wai Leong, Group Managing Director, Kenanga Group; Ms Alice Wong, PR Manager, Volkswagen Malaysia; Mr Sim Yu Chin, winner of the KenTrade Trading Challenge II; Ms Ong Li Lee, Director of Securities Market, Bursa Malaysia and Mr Lee Kok Khee, Executive Director & Head of Equity Broking, Kenanga Investment Bank.

PRESS RELEASE
Student Wins A Volkswagen Beetle In The KenTrade Trading Challenge By Kenanga 

Share Trading Challenge ends with Live! Face Off Challenge at Bursa Malaysia

(L-R) Ms Alice Wong, PR Manager, Volkswagen Malaysia, Datuk Chay Wai Leong, Group Managing Director, Kenanga Group and winner Mr Sim Yu Chin

KUALA LUMPUR, 9 NOVEMBER 2015: Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad (“Kenanga Investment

Bank”) completed its KenTrade Trading Challenge II (“KenTrade Trading Challenge”) today after hosting

an intensive four hour Face Off Challenge at the Bursa Malaysia Listing Gallery.

Mr Sim Yu Chin (19), from the student category was announced the grand winner of the Face Off

Challenge winning a brand new Volkswagen Beetle 1.2 TSI worth RM135,888.00, sponsored by

Volkswagen Malaysia. Supported by Bursa Malaysia Berhad (“Bursa Malaysia or the Exchange”), the

KenTrade Trading Challenge was designed to simulate real life trading and was based on real time

market data from the local bourse. It was initiated via Kenanga Investment Bank’s online trading portal

KenTrade in efforts to continuously create awareness and education on share trading and the market.

A repeat Challenge participant Mr Sim said. “Words can’t describe how I felt when they announced I was

the winner. It took me a few seconds to convince myself that I actually won the Volkswagen Beetle. I just

couldn’t believe it. In the last round, I realised that I was among the top five but knew that one wrong

decision, I could be knocked off the leaderboard. I’m glad that I decided to join the KenTrade Trading

Challenge as it gave me the perfect opportunity to be able to experience online trading and the

opportunity to test out some of my ideas in terms of strategy. It also gave me the confidence to look into

actually trading on the stock market. Thank you, Kenanga, for the experience and Volkswagen Malaysia.

I’m so excited to be driving home with a Volkswagen Beetle!”

Mr Sim together with 19 other finalists from both the public and student category achieved the highest

percentage portfolio growth* in the preliminary round which ran for four weeks from 1 to 30 October 2015.

The Face Off Challenge saw three finalist emerge as leaderboard winners:

Grand Prize
 Mr Sim Yu Chin Volkswagen Beetle 1.2TSi (RM135,888)

1 year unlimited online trading brokerage

1 year The Star ePaper subscription


1st Runner Up
Mr Lam Jun Wah
RM3,000 cash in trust account

1 year unlimited online trading brokerage

1 year The Star ePaper subscription


2nd Runner Up 
Mr Mooi Weng Hou
 RM2,000 cash in trust account

1 year unlimited online trading brokerage

1 year The Star ePaper subscription

According to Datuk Chay Wai Leong, Group Managing Director of K & N Kenanga Holdings Berhad, the

Trading Challenge is designed to promote online share trading on Bursa Malaysia and to demystify share

trading. “The response from the public at large reaffirmed our commitment that this was the right way to

create interest in share trading. Last year Kenanga received more than 12,000 entries, exceeding our

initial target. This year, KenTrade Trading Challenge II received more than 18,000 entries. The return of

its sponsors complemented with the introduction of three new sponsors is a testament to the KenTrade

Trading Challenge’s success,” added Datuk Chay.

Dato’ Tajuddin Atan, Chief Executive Officer of Bursa Malaysia said, “My heartiest congratulations to the

Kenanga Investment Bank team for another successful retail campaign. The gamification approach is one

that we have applied successfully and this fact is further reinforced by the feedback the team has

received. I understand that most of the players have not only learned how to trade, but are now able to

read technical charts and apply trading strategies. This progress is what we need in the retail space and

Bursa Malaysia congratulates the Kenanga team for creating this valuable experience that will spur

investors on their trip-to-trade. Bursa Malaysia looks forward to supporting more similar campaigns.”

Mr. Armin, Managing Director, Volkswagen Malaysia said, “We would like to congratulate Mr Sim on his

win today. Volkswagen Malaysia is pleased to participate in the KenTrade Challenge II for the second

consecutive year and though we are not listed on the stock market in Malaysia, we can’t miss out on this

opportunity to encourage youths to participate. What better prize that than our iconic Beetle which is fun,

young and energetic? Just like the KenTrade Challenge. We are confident that the smooth drive and

performance of the iconic Beetle will complement his/her win as he/she drives home today a winner.”

The original Beetle was first unveiled here in Malaysia in the 1950s, quickly becoming a cult favourite and

an icon. Today, after more than half a century of bringing happiness and creating memories for

Malaysians, the Beetle has evolved to suit modern needs but still remains an icon of popular culture

The Beetle comes with a 1.2l TSI direct petrol injection turbocharged engine which gives excellent

acceleration performance yet still has remarkable fuel consumption with 5.9 litres/100km (or 16.9km/litre)

on the combined cycle. As with all Volkswagen vehicles, driver and passenger safety is always a priority

with a host of uncompromising safety features, resulting in the Beetle receiving the highest possible Euro



During the prize presentation, 24 participants from the weekly challenge were also awarded with prizes

ranging from electronic devices - Fitbit Charges (1st place) and Western Digital Passport Ultra hard disks

(2nd Place) to cash vouchers (3rd place) courtesy of RadioShack Malaysia and KenWealth respectively,

who are new sponsors to this year’s line-up. The weekly prize winners were determined based on the

percentage portfolio growth* for the week.

KenTrade by Kenanga Investment Bank is a trading portal for clients to buy and sell equity shares online.

The portal enables users to make informed investment decisions for online trading through customised

viewing based on preference, fundamental financial data, charting tools, account management, market

data and also research reports.

For more information on trading online with Kenanga, please visit www.KenTrade.com.my.

* Growth is defined as profit, unrealized profit and cash balance.

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Matthias Muller, Chairman of the Board of Management, Volkswagen AG announces key steps to realign the group

Matthias Müller, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG (ex-CEO of Porsche), has announced the five key steps to realign the Group especially in light of the current 'DieselGate' crisis that the group is facing. I think this is very much needed as we are now hearing that the 3.0liter Volkswagen/Audi diesel engine also has some cheat device for emissions testing in them. 

The crisis faced by Volkswagen group is really huge. For the first time in years the group has posted a loss. There are 600,000 employees worldwide to care about too. The key steps would be put in place (five of them) and we would now see a new game plan that would see the Volkswagen group's future to the year 2025 would be rolled out by middle of 2016. This effectively replaces the earlier Group Strategy 2018.

A lot of hard work ahead for one of the automobile industry's biggest players. And one of the hardest hit in recent history. 

PRESS RELEASE
Matthias Müller unveils next steps for the Volkswagen Group

• Support for customers top priority

• Volkswagen looks beyond current crisis

• New strategy to be unveiled in 2016

Wolfsburg, October 28, 2015 – Matthias Müller, Chairman of the Board of Management

of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, has announced the five key steps to realign the

Group. “We have to look beyond the current situation and create the conditions for

Volkswagen’s successful further development”, said Müller in Wolfsburg on

Wednesday. He presented a five point plan that he intends to use so that Volkswagen

remains one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers in the future. Müller is

confident that “Volkswagen will emerge from the current situation stronger than

before”. He announced that the cornerstones of the Group’s Strategy 2025 will be

presented next year.

The Volkswagen CEO explained that his top priority is to support the customers affected by

the diesel issue. “Our customers are at the core of everything that our 600,000 employees

worldwide do”, he said. According to Müller, Volkswagen is working intensively to develop

effective technical solutions. In contact with the Kraftfahrtbundesamt (KBA – German Federal

Motor Transport Authority) the implementation is set to begin in January 2016.

Müller’s second priority is to systematically drive forward and complete the investigation into

what happened. “We must uncover the truth and learn from it”, he said, adding that

Volkswagen is being extremely thorough in its analysis. For this purpose, audit firm Deloitte

has been engaged in addition to the steps already announced. According to Müller, those

responsible for what has happened must face severe consequences.

Müller’s third priority is to introduce new structures in the Volkswagen Group. “The key point

is that Group management will be decentralized to a greater extent in the future”, he said,

with more independence for the brands and regions. Müller stated that the Board of

Management will focus on addressing cross-brand strategies, leveraging synergies and

ensuring that Group resources are used effectively. “We will review in detail our current

portfolio of more than 300 models and examine the contribution that each one makes to our

earnings.”

As his fourth priority, Müller is driving forward a realignment of the Group’s culture and

management behavior. He noted that the pursuit of perfection, the employees’ commitment

and social responsibility in the Volkswagen Group must be retained. However, he believes

that changes are necessary in how Volkswagen communicates and how it handles its

mistakes. “We need a culture of openness and cooperation.” Müller also called on everybody

at Volkswagen to display more courage, greater creativity and a more entrepreneurial spirit in

their dealings with one another.

The Volkswagen CEO announced that the fifth priority will be to transform the Group’s

Strategy 2018 into a Strategy 2025. “Many people outside of Volkswagen, but also some of

us, did not understand that our Strategy 2018 is about much more than production numbers.

A lot of things were subordinated to the desire to be “Faster, Higher, Larger”, especially

return on sales.” According to Müller, the point is not to sell 100,000 more or fewer vehicles

than a major competitor. Instead, the real issue is qualitative growth. Müller announced that

the cornerstones of the Group’s Strategy 2025 will be developed over the coming months,

and that it would be unveiled mid-way through next year.

Read More

Volkswagen Beetle Bug edition and Beetle Club edition all sold out in record time

Sometimes cars just sell themselves. Volkswagen Malaysia has just sold out its run of the Beetle Bug edition (above) and the Beetle Club edition (below) . There were 200 Beetle Bug editions made available and 50 Beetle Club editions too. All have been bought by someone. I think even in these trying times iconic cars like the Beetle have their own special pull.

PRESS RELEASE

Beetles all sold out!

Both Beetle Bug Edition and Beetle Club all grabbed up.

KUALA LUMPUR, 16 October 2015 – Volkswagen Group Malaysia is pleased to announced that all 200 units of the limited Beetle Bug edition has been sold out since its announcement in April 2015. The limited edition Beetle Club which made its debut last month at the Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week 2015 is fully booked – all 50 units.

The Volkswagen Beetle is an iconic car that has come a long way from the first 55 units manufactured in 1945. Over the years, the Volkswagen Beetle has evolved to keep up with the times. Beetle fans after all these years are kept on their toes with the latest editions.

The Beetle Bug Edition which was launched this April is priced at RM146, 888* with only 200 units in Malaysia is now all sold out. With genuine Volkswagen Bug side sill, side decals, racing and body stripes embellishments with the Bug logo – the cool and funky Beetle sold out this September.

The Beetle Club edition, which was announced last August has been fully booked. Imported from Mexico, the limited 50 units were priced at RM152, 888*. All about its looks – the Beetle Club edition comes with 17” Ravenna alloy wheels, text decal with “Club” lettering on the steering wheel, side sill with chrome strips and leather sports seats.

Pleased with the sales of the Volkswagen Beetles, Mr Armin Keller, Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Malaysia said that “The Beetle on its own is an Icon and the past 60 years of presence in Malaysia is proof. With every limited edition, Volkswagen aims to engage and excite Beetle fans. With that said, fans and customers should keep an eye out for the next limited edition which could be coming soon – another reason to get excited about.”

For more information, please visit www.volkswagen.com.my  

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News: Volkswagen Malaysia sponsors 100 units of Volkswagen vehicles to GPEC Asia

L-R  (front row) : YBhg. Dato' Sri Adenan bin Ab. Rahim, Timbalan Ketua Setiausaha (Dasar Keselamatan), YBhg. Datuk Nur Jazlan bin Mohamed, Timbalan Menteri Dalam Negeri and Mr Armin Keller, Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Malaysia.  

Volkswagen Group Malaysia recently announced its participation as the official car sponsor this year at the General Police and Special Equipment Exhibition & Conference (GPEC) Asia 2015. Volkswagen Group Malaysia will be sponsoring and registering a total of 100 units ranging from the Volkswagen CC, Sharan and Tiguan which will be used for and by delegates throughout the three day conference held at PWTC in Kuala Lumpur on the 21st to the 23rd of October 2015.

GPEC Asia, the region's largest dedicated police and homeland security equipment show, is in its fourth edition this year. GPEC Asia 2015 will anchor the burgeoning growth of the police equipment industry, bringing together high-profile police and security industry players under one roof for high-level strategic dialogues, and the very best in procurement and networking opportunities. Those of you who are in the defense industry (as vendors or contractors) or are interested in the defense industry should attend. But do note that this is a closed door event. So pre-register and have a business card that has some relevancy to the topic at hand (Mindef, PDRM, safety equipment related companies, govt. contractors/GLCs etc) you want to attend.

Expect to see a lot of VW Sharan and Tiguan (above and below) ferrying people in and around the PWTC this end of October 2015

PRESS RELEASE

Volkswagen Malaysia Salutes the Force

Volkswagen Malaysia sponsors 100 units to GPEC Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, 9 October 2015 – Volkswagen Group Malaysia is pleased to announce its participation as the official car sponsor this year at the General Police and Special Equipment Exhibition & Conference (GPEC) Asia 2015.

Volkswagen Group Malaysia will be sponsoring and registering a total of 100 units ranging from the Volkswagen CC, Sharan and Tiguan which will be used for and by delegates throughout the three day conference held at PWTC.

Volkswagen CC with its evolutionary design offers better dynamic performance and handling. Without compromising active and passive safety technologies, the CC is equipped with innovative driver assist technologies.

The Tiguan is a sporty SUV that is both practical and versatile, yet a safe and durable set of wheels. It combines exceptional performance, fuel efficiency, innovative and advanced safety features while delivering superior performance and acceleration with the highest torque in its class.

The Sharan comes with incredible amounts of power but yet impresses with its low maintenance and wear costs which makes owning the Sharan a breeze. Powered by a turbo charged engine, the Sharan not only has the speed but also the advanced and innovative safety features.

Commenting on the sponsor, Mr Armin Keller, Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Malaysia said that “Volkswagen Malaysia is pleased and privileged to lend our hand in support for this year’s GPEC Asia 2015. What these men and women on the force do is truly remarkable. We have utmost respect for the work they do and we thank them for all they have done. As they continue to uphold the safety of the nation, Volkswagen wants to support the force by providing them with our Volkswagen cars that come equipped with world class safety features, the very best of German engineering so that they have one less thing to worry about.”

GPEC Asia, the region's largest dedicated police and homeland security equipment show, is in its fourth edition this year. GPEC Asia 2015 will anchor the burgeoning growth of the police equipment industry, bringing together high-profile police and security industry players under one roof for high-level strategic dialogues, and the very best in procurement and networking opportunities.

For more information, please visit www.volkswagen.com.my  

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Volkswagen Roadshow over at One Utama and The Curve from October 1-4

The Volkswagen crew are hard at work pushing the brand over here in Malaysia. These dedicated bunch of people will be hitting the One Utama and The Curve shopping malls again this October 2015 with their range of Volkswagen vehicles. From 1 to 4 October, the German automotive brand will be at The Curve and One Utama from 10.00am to 10.00pm. 

Get up close with the Volkswagen Passat and Volkswagen Beetle Club at The Curve. There will be opportunities to walk away with a RM200 petrol voucher daily.

A much larger sales carnival will be held at One Utama where customers can learn more about the latest Volkswagen deals. The Polo, Polo Sedan, Jetta, Tiguan, Passat and CC will be on display and be available for test drive at the sales carnival in One Utama. All event attendees will have the chance to win exclusive Volkswagen merchandise. There will be a special treat for children as the Volkswagen Buckle Up Bear will be making an appearance.  

Experience Volkswagen at One Utama and The Curve

Location	Dates
The Curve	October 1 to October 4
One Utama	October 1 to October 4

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Volkswagen Malaysia's sales offers for the Polo Sedan, Jetta, Passat, Tiguan and CC

If you plan on buying a Volkswagen Polo Sedan, Jetta, Passat, Tiguan or CC now's the time. September's promotion for the cars mentioned above includes Cash rebates start from RM9,000 and go up to RM25,000 for each of the respective models. There is also zero instalments for 12 months package. This applies to customers who purchase under the 7 year loan package. Terms and conditions apply obviously.

Personally, if I am looking for a small sedan, the Volkswagen Polo Sedan would be on my mind. It would offer you peace of mind with that basic 1.6liter engine and traditional 6 speed automatic transmission. Great highway stability too. It has a recommended sales price of around RM88,000+, so with this offer you could save at least RM9,000 bringing the car in at under RM80,000. At that price..actually at RM88,000 it drives better than most of the Japanese B segment cars out there. Have a look at it.

The rest are good to drive too especially the Jetta and the CC. But I do recommend keeping with the maintenance schedules as with performance, (turbocharged TSI engines, super quick DSG transmissions), great responsibility is always required. Remember all the technology built into it. 

PRESS RELEASE

Volkswagen is offering free monthly instalments with 10% down payment

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 September 2015 – Drive home in an affordable German engineered car with Volkswagen Group Malaysia’s irresistible new financing campaign. The recently launched plan offers Malaysian customers cash rebates and free instalments for one year.

This promotion rolled out in September includes the Polo Sedan, Jetta, Passat, Tiguan and CC at stunningly accessible prices. Cash rebates start from RM9,000 and go up to RM25,000 for each of the respective models. The zero instalments for 12 months applies to customers who purchase under the 7 year loan package.

According to Mr. Armin Keller, Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Malaysia, “Volkswagen always emphasizes the customers’ experience and through this campaign the brand wants to ensure Malaysians have the opportunity own our cars and enjoy the best of German engineering.  With this in mind, we have created a new deal for car buyers who want quality, safe and stylish cars. ”

The five car models – Polo Sedan, Jetta, Passat, Tiguan, Volkswagen CC Sport and Volkswagen CC Std have world class safety features and is designed for dynamic performance. Cars bought under this campaign will enjoy five years warranty and five years mobility guarantee.  These are just some of the many reasons to own a brand new Volkswagen right now.

For more information and the terms and conditions, please visit www.volkswagen.com.my .

*Terms and conditions apply

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Volkswagen Group CEO shown the door due to US diesel emissions testing debacle

The Volkswagen diesel debacle in the US has hit Volkswagen group hard. Shares have dropped by a whole lot and the market value is now down by a third in just two trading days. And we thought the drop in the Ringgit was bad.

The story is simple. News broke that Volkswagen cheated in its diesel emissions tests in the United States where the pollution controls will only come into full swing when it detects the car is being tested for emissions. If one drives a Volkswagen model fitted with this software, chances are the car is actually between ten to forty times more polluting than when it is tested. Discrepancies relate to vehicles with Type EA 189 engines, involving some 11 million vehicles worldwide and there could be fines in the US hitting billions of US Dollars. In fact Volkswagen have set aside USD$7.27billion to cover any contingencies that may arise from this incident. And you thought RM2.6billion was bad.

And then with this comes the head culling - CEO Martin Winterkorn has been shown the way out. The 20 person Supervisory Body of the Volkswagen Group have retracted their support for him and it seems his final day as CEO is this Friday. I think it is an easy thing for the Board to come with a decision as billions of dollars in profits and reputation could be lost or at stake. But this was not the case. Prior to this I remember Mr Winterkorn had a lot of support even when then Supervisory Board Chariman Ferdinand Piech, (part of the Porsche family who own a significant portion of Volkswagen AG) tried to oust chief executive Martin Winterkorn. In fact, Piech's plan backfired and led to the resignations of Piëch and his wife from the supervisory board. And now, this issue has left the Board no choice but to show Winterkorn the door.

Tough times ahead for Volkswagen in the coming months. They have been trying to boost flagging sales in the US prior to this and this, will not help its cause.

So does this affect us? Not really. Malaysia is a petrol vehicle market for Volkswagen. But I can guarantee that with this there would be more internal systems of check and balance within Volkswagen and a ramp up in quality so that worldwide customer satisfaction will be up. Expect more tender loving care for your Volkswagen because of this.

Oh. The new CEO is reported to be current Porsche CEO Mr. Matthias Muller. I wish him all the best in his future undertakings at Volkswagen. He's really gonna need it.

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Volkswagen crowned world rally champions* for third time & some stuff about the Volkswagen Polo R WRC

I was a little bit busy travelling around Malaysia and Thailand to write over the past couple of weeks. Last week, Volkswagen made a successful title defence by wining the Manufacturers, Drivers and Co-drivers competitions in the FIA World Rally Championships with a one-two over at the Rally Australia.

The winner was Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) and the Volkswagen Polo R WRC were crowned world champions. This marks he third time in a row that Volkswagen have won all titles for the FIA WRC. The Drivers', Co-Drivers' and Manufacturers' competitions were settled in just three quarters of the way into the season – earlier than any manufacturer before them in the history of the World Rally Championship. Jari-Matti Latvala (the chap that drove me round a circuit in Setia Alam just a few weeks ago) /Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) finished runner-up and Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene fourth to complete a fantastic result for Volkswagen Down Under. They currently lie second and third overall with three rallies remaining.

I must say that whilst the WRC does not feature much on my scope these days but lets take a note at the Volkswagen Polo R WRC. 1.6liters 318bhp and a massive 430Nm (from a 1.6liter) makes it do 0-100kmh in 3.9seconds and a gearing limited 200kmh. Note the engine bay pic below, it shows you that the car still uses a production bodyshell and something that most of us can relate to. This is unlike LeMans, DTM, JTCC (or whatever its called today) and Formula 1. If you had a Polo GTI, you may aspire to put a WRC replica 

The only thing that would be hard to replicate is the wheel arches and doing that jump below with the stock suspension. Full Specs of the Polo R WRC are included below 

PRESS RELEASE

Volkswagen crowned world rally champions* for third time

Volkswagen wins Manufacturers', Drivers' and Co-Drivers' competitions in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)

One-two for the Polo R WRC at the Rally Australia secures titles with three races remaining.

15 September 2015 - Successful title defence: Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (F/F) and the Volkswagen Polo R WRC were crowned world champions* on the back of an extraordinary triumph at the Rally Australia. For the third time in a row, all the titles in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) go to Wolfsburg. And they do so after another record-breaking performance: a one-two at the Rally Australia, the tenth of 13 WRC rounds on four continents, saw the manufacturer crowned champion in the Drivers', Co-Drivers' and Manufacturers' competitions just three quarters of the way into the season – earlier than any manufacturer before them in the history of the World Rally Championship.

Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) finished runner-up and Andreas Mikkelsen/Ola Fløene fourth to complete a dream result for Volkswagen Down Under. They currently lie second and third overall with three rallies remaining.

Victory Down Under was the Polo R WRC's ninth win in ten rallies so far in 2015. As such, the World Rally Car from Wolfsburg remains the most successful model in WRC history: since Volkswagen returned to the pinnacle of rallying in January 2013, 31 of 36 victories have gone to the Polo R WRC, with the car claiming a total of 62 podium finishes. The 318-hp four-wheel drive powerhouse has contested 668 special stages so far, winning a remarkable 467. A win ration that is second to none.

The titles in the Drivers', Co-Drivers' and Manufacturers' Championships earn Volkswagen World Championship titles number seven, eight and nine within the space of just three years. The manufacturer remains unbeaten with the Polo R WRC at the pinnacle of rallying, which is the most famous motorsport world championship outside of Formula One. The World Rally Championship is regarded as the greatest challenge in motor racing, from both a driving and technical point of view: the 13 events that make up the season are held on four continents, on gravel, asphalt, ice and snow, and in temperatures ranging from minus 20 to plus 40 degrees Celsius.

The final quarter of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) kicks off with the Rally France (01.10.–04.10.2015), which is followed by the Rally Spain (22.10.–25.10.2015) and the Rally Great Britain (12.11.–15.11.2015).

* subject to confirmation from the FIA.

The Volkswagen Polo R WRC Specification

Engine 

TypeStraight-four engine with turbocharger and intercooling, transversally mounted in front of the front axle

Displacement1,600 cc

Power output234 kW (318 hp) at 6,250 rpm

Torque430 Nm at 5,000 rpm

Bore / stroke83,0 mm / 73,8 mm

Air restrictor33 mm (FIA regulation)

Power transmission 

GearboxSequential, six-speed racing gear box, transversally mounted, hydraulicallyactivated, paddle on the steering

Gearbox Final drivePermanent four-wheel drive with equal torque split between the front andrear axles, multi-plate limited-slip differentials, front and rear

ClutchHydraulically actuated double-disk sintered metal clutch from ZF

Chassis/suspension 

Front/rearMcPherson struts, dampers from ZF

Suspension travelapprox. 180 mm on tarmac, approx. 275 mm on gravel

SteeringServo-assisted rack and pinion steering

Braking systemVentilated disc brakes (front Ø 355 mm and rear Ø 350 mm on asphalt,front and rear Ø 300 mm on gravel),aluminium brake callipers (four callipers, front and rear)

Dimensions and weight 

Length / width / height3,998 / 1,820 / 1,356 mm

Track width1,610 mm

Wheelbase2,480 mm

Minimum weight1,200 kg

Performance 

Acceleration0–100 km/h in approx. 3.9 seconds

Top speed200kmh

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Volkswagen WRC team Jari-Matti Latvala & Miikka Anttila launch limited edition Volkswagen Polo Trophy Edition

Volkswagen World Rally Championship (WRC) driver Jari-Matti Latvala together with his co-driver Miikka Anttila made a visit to Malaysia courtesy of Volkswagen Group Malaysia before heading off to compete in the Australian rally leg of the WRC. The two very sporting men were fresh from an amazing one-two-three win on Volkswagen’s home turf, the Rallye Deutschland. 

Messrs Latvala and Anttila graced the grounds of Setia City Convention Centre in Shah Alam to meet specially invited Volkswagen owners, fans and members of the media as well as launch the limited edition Volkswagen Polo Trophy released in conjunction with Volkswagen’s success in the World Rally Championship (WRC) arena. The event today, marked the start of the Polo Rally Weekend scheduled for the 5th and 6th of September 2015. Visitors could go for a ride with two of Malaysia’s top female drifters – Leona Chin and Azrina Jane Abdullah. They could also take a closer look at the newly launched Polo Trophy (some trim and stickers differentiate it from the normal version) where only 100 units are available. It is priced at RM89,888 while stocks last. 

Anyway, back to the day itself. Jari- Matti Latvala gave 60 lucky individuals comprising media, consumers and Volkswagen Facebook contest winners a memorable ride of their lives. So obviously Yours Truly managed to sit right beside him. A WRC driver taking you round a circuit with a jump in the middle even in a normal Polo 1.6 Hatchback is still an experience to remember. Whilst sitting shotgun in the slightly mundane Polo 1.6 Hatchback Jari-Matti demonstrated great skill. He would obviously leave most drivers for dead on a windy road even in the Polo. The best thing for me was that he had basically confirmed that even the base Volkswagen Polo is a tidy handling car that can be fun to drive (and it is one of the cars that  I would recommend if you're interested in a small car that comes in just under RM90K). But dammit, wish it was at least a Golf R he was piloting. But is was the launch of the Polo Trophy. So a Polo 1.6 it was.

And after he finished with going round and round with us lucky people, Jari-Matti had a face off with our local drift queen, Leona Chin (pictured above on the left, with Jari-Matti). Jari-Matti is currently ranked 2nd in the WRC arena – got behind the wheel as promised, to take on the challenge issued by her majesty queen Leona Chin on her Facebook page a week prior to his arrival. The time attack challenge saw them going head-to-head in a gymkhana course in the Polo.

Unsurprisingly the WRC driver was victorious (easily a good 4 seconds faster if not for a clipped cone which he gained a 3 second penalty), anyway, Leona walked away with the experience of a race of a lifetime against a 14-times rally champ who then let her ride shotgun and give her pointers. I was watching the 'race' from the comfort of the hospitality tent via the cameras. I have to say that the rally driver was super precise in cutting close to the apex of the corners. And he did so carrying a heck of a lot of speed. Even in a normal Polo. 

So anyway, do head over to Setia City in Shah Alam so that you can experience some high speed taxi rides and other stuff over the weekend.

Not a Polo, but a Beetle Rally on display...very unique with the roof scoop and all

PRESS RELEASE (and more pics below)

Volkswagen WRC team unveils Polo Trophy in KL

(4 September 2015) Before tackling the Australian rally leg, Volkswagen World Rally Championship driver Jari-Matti Latvala together with his co-driver Miikka Anttila made a swift pit stop here.

Fresh off the exhilarating one-two-three win on Volkswagen’s home turf, Latvala and Anttila graced Kuala Lumpur to meet fans and launch the limited edition Polo Trophy released in conjunction with Volkswagen’s success in the World Rally Championship (WRC) arena.   

At the circuit, the duo – who finished second after team mates Sebastian Ogier and Julien Ingrassia at the German Rally – competes in the Polo R WRC, a vehicle technically enhanced and cosmetically upgraded from the roadworthy Polo.

The duo were received by Volkswagen Group Malaysia Managing Director Mr Armin Keller, who congratulated them on their spectacular achievement before launching the new Polo enhanced with side and bonnet stickers, contrast wing mirrors and rear spoiler inspired by the sport. The Polo Trophy also comes equipped with satellite navigation and tinted windows.

“Today’s Polo Rally Weekend is an important one for the team. What a great way to be able to share with you another side of the brand. Volkswagen has had a long history of engagement in different rally platforms through the years.

“The World Rally Championship is one of them and we have consistently made podium finishes in most of the rallies in recent years. And last month was a great day for Volkswagen at the Rallye Deutschland, where all three of our WRC teams had podium finishes.

“We are proud to have with us today Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila at the launch of this limited edition Polo Trophy designed especially for Malaysian and WRC fans,” Keller said at the launch event held at Setia City Convention Centre.

Latvala and Anttila, who finished second after team mates Sebastian Ogier and Julien Ingrassia at the German Rally, unveiled the cars in nothing short of magnificent fashion via an explosive, show-stopping ramp jump; a first for a regular production Polo here.

Latvala also gave 60 lucky fans comprising media, consumers and Volkswagen Facebook contest winners a memorable ride of their lives. Sitting shotgun, the 30-year-old piloted them through a thrilling, fast lap displaying precise driving action around the course in daily drive Polos.

And before departing, Latvala – currently ranked 2nd in the WRC arena – got behind the wheel as promised, to take on the challenge issued by viral drift princess Leona Chin on her Facebook page a week prior to his arrival.

The time attack challenge saw the duo going head-to-head in a gymkhana course where both demonstrated who can outrun the other better and faster in the Polo. While the amicable challenge crowned Latvala victorious, Chin walked away feeling like a winner having had the race of a lifetime against a 14-times rally champ.

The event will continue over the weekend for consumers. Visitors could go for a ride with two of Malaysia’s top female drifters – Chin and Azrina Jane Abdullah. They could also take a closer look at the newly launched Polo Trophy where only 100 units are available. It is priced at RM89,888 while stocks last. Fans of the Volkswagen performance range could also enjoy up to RM30,000 in savings for the Golf GTI, Golf R and Scirocco R till 30 September 2015.

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