Wolfsburg, 28th June 2004 - The new Polo Fun is proving so popular with customers in Europe that the initial planned volumes have nearly tripled, less than five months after its launch.

Introduced in January 2004, the Polo Fun fills an increasingly important lifestyle niche. With distinctive, compact 4x4 looks, the Polo Fun offers something more stylish and unusual and at the same time makes a clear and individual statement.

Preliminary market research shows that Polo Fun owners have chosen this vehicle mainly because of its distinctive style and image. Indeed, the Polo Fun reflects the sporty and active character of its owner.

The Polo Fun has numerous distinctive visual cues, most notably its highly imposing stance. With suspension raised by 20 mm, the Polo Fun has a 'mini off-roader' appearance, enhanced further by chrome-coloured multi-purpose roof rails and 17” BBS alloy wheels with low-profile 215/40 ZR 17 tyres. The redesigned bumpers integrate fog lights which, together with the existing four headlamps, add another visual dimension to the familiar Polo face. The wide bumper in a darker matt colour outlines and highlights each wheel for an even more striking appearance. Contrasting-coloured door mirror housings further enhance the individual image of the car.

The exclusivity of the Polo Fun is emphasised by the availability of two new exterior Polo colours - "Lime” and "Ravenna blue” in addition to the existing Flash-red, Black magic and Reflex silver.

Inside, the Polo Fun, available in two trim design colours "space grey” or "lime”, features front sports seats, a perforated leather-rimmed four-spoke steering wheel, gearknob and handbrake grip with colour co-ordinated stitching. Chrome rings on the instrument dials and aluminium pedals complete the look.

An immobiliser; remote central locking; 'Climatic' semi-automatic climate control; and the radio system "Beta” are included as standard equipment. As on all Polos, safety is paramount. To that end, the Polo Fun features ABS, twin front and side airbags, plus Isofix child seat preparation for two rear seats.

Volkswagen was one of the first car makers to recognise a consumer need for a compact car model that is distinctly individual and at the same time offers identical quality and comfort to its popular standard version.

The Polo Fun is available with seven different engines. The first model is the 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine with 40 kW / 55 PS or 47 / 64 PS. The choice continues with the 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine with 55 kW / 75 PS, 74 kW / 100 PS and the 63 kW / 86 PS petrol direct injection engine (FSI). The Polo Fun is, of course, also available with diesel engines. The consumer can choose between the 1.4-litre three-cylinder TDI (55 kW / 75 PS) and the 74 kW / 100 PS 1.9-litre TDI engines.

In Europe the Polo Fun is offered in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, the Canaries, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg¸ Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia and Switzerland. The Polo Fun is offered as Polo Dune in the UK and France and as Polo Soho in Spain.

*VWVortex