One last 2025 post… There has been outstanding content celebrating the Polo's 50th anniversary, but a stand-out is the film by Michał Fidowicz and the guys at Candy Showroom, where a 25-year-old Polo is driven to the Polo 'birthday party' event. Just epic. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXe7... #Polo50
Volkswagen Polo wins 2025 Best Car of the Half Century award
1975 Volkswagen Polo and 2025 Volkswagen Polo badges
All in all, 2025 was a jam-packed anniversary year for the #VW #Polo. The icing on the proverbial birthday cake was the announcement the Polo won the Best Car of the Half Century: polodriver.com/polo-2017/vo...
2026 promises Polo fans a lot to look forward to and looks to be just as busy! #Polo50
2025 Volkswagen Polo Edition 50
Following the introduction of the #IDPolo, rumours hint the combustion-engined #Polo will be comprehensively upgraded once again – the current model's second update. Not only will new looks feature, but also new #hybrid powertrains and technology. www.autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/p... #VW #Polo50
2025 Volkswagen ID Polo camouflaged prototype drive, December 2025
2025 Volkswagen ID Polo camouflaged prototype drive, December 2025
The #IDPolo will be available with 114, 133 and 207bhp power outputs and 37kWh LFP and 52kWh NMC batteries. Ultimate range from the biggest battery and most powerful motors is up to 280 miles/450km, with a charging speed of up to 130kW. The new platform allows for a 435-litre boot, too. #VW #Polo50
2025 Volkswagen ID Polo camouflaged prototype drive, December 2025
2025 Volkswagen ID Polo camouflaged prototype drive, December 2025
Rounding out the year, the first drives of the electric #IDPolo took place around Barcelona in December (my favourite review: youtu.be/NP635Rk3T3M?...). Near-production prototypes, still in camouflage with covered interiors, technical specifications of the #EV were also finally revealed. #VW #Polo50
Volkswagen Polo 50th anniversary display at the 2025 St James's Motoring Spectacle
Volkswagen Polo 50th anniversary display at the 2025 St James's Motoring Spectacle
Volkswagen Polo 50th anniversary display at the 2025 St James's Motoring Spectacle
Volkswagen Polo 50th anniversary display at the 2025 St James's Motoring Spectacle
The final #Polo50 anniversary display of the year came at the St James's Motoring Spectacle in London in November, where six Polos spanning the 50-year production run gathered to celebrate. Three #Volkswagen UK heritage and modern cars were joined by owners' vehicles, including my #Polo BlueGT. #VW
Volkswagen Group Africa celebrates production of the 2 millionth Polo at its Kariega plant since 1996
November saw another #VW Group Africa celebration – production of the 2-millionth Kariega-built #Polo since the first rolled off the line there in 1996. Some stats: from the 2m Polos built so far, 592,840 were made for the local market, while 1,407,160 were produced for export. #Volkswagen #Polo50
VW Group Africa production milestone: 3 millionth car, 2025 Volkswagen Polo Vivo
VW Group Africa production milestone: 500,000th 2021-2025 Volkswagen Polo
In October, #VW Group Africa celebrated 3 million cars produced at the Kariega factory since 1948, the landmark car being a Polo Vivo, based on the fifth-generation #Polo. The current sixth-gen model was also celebrated, the milestone being the 500,000th built since introduction in 2021. #Polo50
Volkswagen Polo R WRC: Polo Project Drift – The Film
2025 Volkswagen Polo GTI and 2025 Volkswagen ID Polo prototype: Polo Project Drift – The Film
Volkswagen Polos: Polo Project Drift – The Film
A spectacular piece of promotion, the Polo Project Drift film showed motorsport-focused models being driven around, and in, #VW Group Africa's Kariega factory, ending with a 'baton-passing' meet-up with the ID Polo. If you've not seen the amazing film, watch here: youtu.be/X2LEgSHl_N4?... #Polo50
Volkswagen Polo R WRC: Polo Project Drift celebratory video
Volkswagen Polo WRX: Polo Project Drift celebratory video
A couple of days later, as part of the #VW IAA Mobility 2025 show activities, what is arguably the #Polo50 celebratory highlight, the 'Polo Project Drift' video was announced. A six-minute opus celebrating the Polo, the Harlequin-liveried Polo #WRX revealed earlier in the year was one of the stars.
2025 Volkswagen ID Polo GTI prototype
2025 Volkswagen ID Polo GTI prototype
2025 Volkswagen ID Polo GTI prototype
2025 Volkswagen ID Polo GTI prototype
At the same time, the ID Polo #GTI was also confirmed. The first car to take the sporty badge into the electric age, the model will have up to 223bhp, based on the ID Polo's MEB+ front-wheel drive platform. Both were revealed in specially designed @seanbulldesign.bsky.social livery. #VW #Polo50
2025 Volkswagen ID Polo prototype
2025 Volkswagen ID Polo prototype
2025 Volkswagen ID Polo prototype
As September dawned, #VW announced its new small electric car based on the ID 2all concept of 2023 (polodriver.com/concepts/202...) will be called ID Polo, carrying the model's name into the #EV age. Priced at €25,000, it's another landmark in the #Polo story. polodriver.com/id-polo/id-p... #Polo50
Volkswagen Classic Polos at the 2025 Sachsen Classic Rallye
Volkswagen Classic Polos at the 2025 Sachsen Classic Rallye
Volkswagen Classic Polos at the 2025 Sachsen Classic Rallye
Volkswagen Classic Polos at the 2025 Sachsen Classic Rallye
From 14-16 August, #Volkswagen Classic took some of its heritage fleet Polos to the 2025 Sachsen Classic event. Only cars built up to 1993 and selected 'youngtimers' are permitted to participate in the 600km regularity rally. Some of the Polos had been at the 'birthday party' event in May. #Polo50
50 years of Volkswagen Polo display at the 2025 Tatton Park VW Show
Mk2 Volkswagen Polos at the 2025 Tatton Park VW Show
1979 Volkswagen Derby at the 2025 Tatton Park VW Show
2005 Volkswagen Polo at the 2025 Tatton Park VW Show
All in all, Tatton Park #VW Show was a really great event; good atmosphere, nice folks, interesting chats, and a huge gathering of #Volkswagen models of all shapes and sizes. And the Polos, did I mention the Polos? #Polo #Polo50
1992 Volkswagen Polo G40 at the 2025 Tatton Park VW Show
1991 Volkswagen Polo G40 at the 2025 Tatton Park VW Show
1998 Volkswagen Polo GTI at the 2025 Tatton Park VW Show
2009 Volkswagen Polo GTI Cup Edition at the 2025 Tatton Park VW Show
…to more sports-oriented models such as the supercharged G40 of the early Nineties, the very rare third-generation, 3000-unit 6N-based Polo #GTI of 1998 (seen here on upgraded wheels), and the later fourth-generation 9N3-based Polo Cup Edition with 178bhp. #Volkswagen #Polo #Polo50
50 years of Volkswagen Polo display at the 2025 Tatton Park VW Show
1979 Volkswagen Derby at the 2025 Tatton Park VW Show
1985 Volkswagen Polo at the 2025 Tatton Park VW Show
1989 Volkswagen Polo saloon at the 2025 Tatton Park VW Show
There really was a Polo for everyone in the Tatton Park display. Whether early cars with hatchbacks or boots (yellow was a popular colour choice!)… #Volkswagen #Polo #Polo50 #1970s #1980s
1981 Volkswagen Polo N at Tatton Park VW Show 2025
Mk1 Volkswagen Polo and Derby at Tatton Park VW Show 2025
50 years of Polo display at Tatton Park VW Show 2025
2014 Volkswagen Polo BlueGT and 2000 Volkswagen Polo Colour Concept at Tatton Park VW Show 2025
In early August, the Tatton Park #VW Show was the second UK-based event to have a dedicated 50th anniversary Polo display, with a wide and colourful array of models representing the breed. Despite some early rain, it was a highly enjoyable event and the second one my BlueGT took part in. #Polo50
2025 Volkswagen Polo Edition 50
2025 Volkswagen Polo Edition 50
2025 Volkswagen Polo Edition 50
Available to order from 19 June, #Volkswagen announced the celebratory £26,350 #Polo Edition 50. This special edition featured unique Crystal Ice Blue metallic paint, a sprinkling of '50' badges, a black 'Edition 50' dash pad, and a panoramic sunroof. www.volkswagen.co.uk/en/configura... #Polo50
Mk1 Volkswagen Polos at the 2025 Stanford Hall VW show
Volkswagen Derby at the 2025 Stanford Hall VW show
Volkswagen Polo G40 at the 2025 Stanford Hall VW show
Volkswagen Polo Transfer box-van at the 2025 Stanford Hall VW show
Non-official #Volkswagen events in the UK also celebrated the Polo's milestone anniversary. In May, the long-running Stanford Hall show had a healthy cohort of Polos, with a good showing of first-generation models, as well as rarities such as the G40 and Polo 'Transfer' small box-van. #Polo50
1986 Volkswagen Polo Coupé G40 Cup car on display at the 2025 Volkswagen Polo 'Content Creator Days' 50 Years of Polo exhibition
2013 Volkswagen Polo R WRC rally car on display at the 2025 Volkswagen Polo 'Content Creator Days' 50 Years of Polo exhibition
2025 Volkswagen Polo Cup car on display at the 2025 Volkswagen Polo 'Content Creator Days' 50 Years of Polo exhibition
Finally, motorsport-themed Polos formed a big part of the exhibition, too. Among the track and rally stars gathered in Ilsede were a #Polo Coupé G40 Cup car from 1986; the championship-winning Polo R WRC (here in 2013 livery); and a 2025 Polo Cup car. Guests could also drive selected models. #Polo50
2001 Volkswagen Polo GTI prototype on display at the 2025 Volkswagen Polo 'Content Creator Days' 50 Years of Polo exhibition
2004 Volkswagen Polo Cup prototype on display at the 2025 Volkswagen Polo 'Content Creator Days' 50 Years of Polo exhibition
2007 Volkswagen Polo GTI Cabriolet concept on display at the 2025 Volkswagen Polo 'Content Creator Days' 50 Years of Polo exhibition
Often unloved, the fourth-generation #Polo was celebrated with an array of special cars: a 150bhp Polo #GTI prototype from 2001; a 2004 Polo Cup car prototype; and a Karmann-built Polo GTI Cabriolet concept from 2007, featuring both a retractable hood *and* a sunroof. #Polo50 #Volkswagen
2010 Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion on display at the 2025 Volkswagen Polo 'Content Creator Days' 50 Years of Polo exhibition
1981 Volkswagen Polo GT on display at the 2025 Volkswagen Polo 'Content Creator Days' 50 Years of Polo exhibition
1995 Volkswagen Polo Harlekin on display at the 2025 Volkswagen Polo 'Content Creator Days' 50 Years of Polo exhibition
1983 Volkswagen Polo Sprint prototype on display at the 2025 Volkswagen Polo 'Content Creator Days' 50 Years of Polo exhibition
In addition to standard and rare cars (2010 #Polo BlueMotion and 1996 Polo Harlequin and 1981 Polo GT respectively, here), prototypes including the rear-engined 1983 Polo Sprint (polodriver.com/polo-1981-19...) were wheeled out of various #Volkswagen museums to please the invited guests. #Polo50
2025 Volkswagen Polo 'Content Creator Days' exhibition
1977 Volkswagen Polo L at the 2025 Volkswagen Polo 'Content Creator Days' exhibition
1983 Volkswagen Polo CL Formel E at the 2025 Volkswagen Polo 'Content Creator Days' exhibition
In May, the 'Content Creator Days' special Polo exhibition was arguably the highlight of the Polo's 50th anniversary year. A big #Polo 'birthday party', 29 Polos from all six generations were special guests of honour – some *very* special – gathered together south east of Hannover. #VW202 #Polo50
50 Years of Polo train at the Minatur Wunderland attraction in Hamburg
50 Years of Polo train at the Minatur Wunderland attraction in Hamburg
Also in April, a fleet of Polos were stars at the Minatur Wunderland scale model railway attraction in Hamburg. More than 70 1:87 Polos featured on a train that ran around the 'City of Hamburg' part of the display, complete with '50 Years of Polo' branding! polodriver.com/50-years-of-... #Polo50 #VW
2018 Volkswagen Polo WRX in Harlequin livery at the Bicester Motion Scramble event in April 2025
2018 Volkswagen Polo WRX in Harlequin livery at the Bicester Motion Scramble event in April 2025
In April, at the Bicester Motion Scramble event, a celebratory livery designed by @seanbulldesign.bsky.social was unveiled, referencing the 1996 #Polo Harlequin. Featured on a 600bhp Polo #WRX, the livery would play a key role later in the celebratory year… #Polo50 polodriver.com/50-years-of-...
Volkswagen Polo production, 1975
Volkswagen Polo production, 1975
Volkswagen Polo press presentation, 1975
Volkswagen Polo press presentation, 1975
March 2025 (the 5th to be precise) marked 50 years since the #Polo entered production at the #VW HQ plant in Wolfsburg, where the #Audi 50 had been produced since August 1974 (polodriver.com/polo-1975-19...). The Polo debuted to the press on 16 March 1975. polodriver.com/polo-1975-19... #Polo50
1975 Volkswagen Polo L
1977 Volkswagen Polo hillclimb car
From 31 January to 2 February, #Volkswagen Classic displayed a 1975 Oceanic Blue Polo L and a 1977 Bali Green hillclimb Polo at the Bremen Classic Motorshow. The later car was powered by a 1300cc, 107bhp engine; 67bhp more than the standard car’s 895cc unit. polodriver.com/polo-1975-19... #Polo50
The #Volkswagen Polo celebrated its 50th birthday in 2025, and this milestone anniversary was landmarked in various ways. Join me for a whirlwind journey… #VW #Polo50 youtu.be/sWeYFLafGNo?...
Watched this a while ago, and while the AI-generated voice translation is awful, the car is fascinating. A 1998 #Volkswagen Polo, with almost registered 0km. A truly time-warp car… youtu.be/U5bGTjxOwEM?... #VWPolo #Polo50
2014 Volkswagen Polo BlueGT in a covered car park
Of course! Four years, 105,000 miles and counting… Three Polo 50th anniversary displays this year! #Volkswagen #Polo #Polo50
