Clearance "Volkswagen Polo", optimum ground clearance and other characteristics

"Volkswagen Polo" - a popular compact car group Volksvagen Group. For the first time the model was presented in the form of a cheaper version of the Audi-50, and in March 1975 Polo was launched into the series as an independent model. The production of the car started at the car factory in Wolsburg. "Volkswagen Polo" is a three-door front-wheel-drive hatchback with an all-metal body and an inexpensive interior trim. In the style of equipping the car could be called Spartan - nothing superfluous. At the same time the car was characterized by a capacious luggage compartment of 260 liters, and with the rear seats folded, the volume of the boot increased to 900 liters.

First generation

Initially, the Volkswagen Polo was equipped with a 4-cylinder gasoline engine with a capacity of 0.9 liters and a capacity of 40 liters. With., Which was docked with a mechanical 4-speed gearbox. The undercarriage consisted of a front suspension type "MacPherson" with stability stabilizer and rear suspension, semi-independent, with an H-shaped beam. Ground clearance "Volkswagen Polo" Was standard, within the norms adopted for passenger cars of a similar class. The steering was used in a rack design, and it did not need to be strengthened, it worked on the principle of self-sufficiency. The brake system on the cars of the first edition was a two-circuit, with a diagonal separation, the front and rear brakes were equipped with drum mechanisms.

In 1976 Volkswagen Polo received a new engine with a capacity of 1.1 liters, a double modification: Polo L with a capacity of 50 liters. from. And Polo GLS with a capacity of 60 liters. from. At the same time, the front drum brakes were replaced with disk, more efficient ones.

Derby

In early 1977, the car began to be produced with a sedan, this model was called Derby. In addition to the new body, it differed from the basic auto-engine capacity of 1.3 liters and a capacity of 64 liters. from. And reinforced rear suspension. The ground clearance of the Volkswagen Polo (Derby sedan) was 102 mm. Then Polo received new plastic bulk bumpers and a radiator grille of improved design, and Derby installed square-shaped headlamps. In 1979 there was a new modification - Polo GT, a machine with a sporty bias. The high-speed characteristics of the new model have significantly improved, while the ground clearance of the Volkswagen Polo GT dropped by 4 mm.

Economical Formel-E

In 1981, Volksvagen Group launched a program that, if successful, was to provide fuel economy. To this end, two economical modifications were developed under the name of Formel-E, whose engine capacity of 1.1 liters, with a compression ratio of 9.7, was combined with a modified gearbox. The essence of the new KP was that the gear ratio of the fourth speed was reduced and reduced the engine speed by 17% when driving in a straight line in a constant mode. The fuel economy was about one and a half liters per 100 kilometers. The "Volkswagen Polo Formel-E" clearance of 108 mm also helped fuel economy, reducing the coefficient of aerodynamic drag.

The second generation

Cars of the second generation "Volkswagen Polo" began to descend from the assembly line in Wolsburg in 1981. At first there was a hatchback with a classic 3-door body of more strict outlines and with an almost vertically facing rear door. At the end of the year, the Derby modification was restyled, resulting in the sedan turned into a coupe. All second-generation machines received improved equipment, the equipment was divided into three types: C, CL, GL. The standard kit included black wheel hubs, a triplex windshield (three-layer), a rear window with a washer and a brush cleaner. Front seats received headrests. In the GL kit, in addition to the equipment listed, a rear seat with a modified configuration was added, the backs were separated and stacked separately. Since 1985, a hatch has appeared on the roof of the Volkswagen Polo, and since 1990, an experimental sliding roof has been installed on individual cars, this innovation has brought the car closer to the class of a convertible. "Volkswagen Polo", ground clearance Which was in the range of average values, became visually lower.

The power plant was also subjected to changes, there was an attempt to apply a 45-hp diesel engine, a four-cylinder, in-line, in-line, but this option was not found due to a clearly insufficient capacity. In 1989, all machines of the Polo range were already equipped with catalytic converters, which minimized CO ₂ emissions. Chassis of the updated car has not changed, except for the appearance of a vacuum amplifier in the brake system. The "Polkswagen Polo" ground clearance of the second generation increased to 118 mm.

The third generation

In the summer of 1994, the production of Volkswagen Polo cars of the third generation began. The body, undercarriage and power units were completely new. The contours assumed a streamlined shape, the angularity of the former outlines completely disappeared, the design changed radically and the aerodynamic characteristics improved significantly. In the production of 3-and 5-door hatchbacks, the Derby model was already abolished by that time. The line of engines consisted of aggregates with a capacity of 50, 55 and 75 liters. from. Landing of the car became lower, the ground clearance "Volkswagen Polo" (hatchback) Already was 102 mm. Strictly marked complete sets were not, the buyer was offered a number of accessories, among which he could choose the necessary. The presentation of the Polo III took place at the motor show in Paris and in October of the 94th the car went on sale in Germany.