Diesel Hatchback Weekend Edition: Volkswagen Öko-Polo

okopolo
Back in the ’80s and ’90s, you could have the tried-and-tested Volkswagen Polo with a 1.3-litre diesel engine. That one produced 45 horsepower, and managed a commendable 3,8 l/100km fuel consumption. But as an engineering feat, Volkswagen, together with IAV, designed a two-cylinder supercharged version.
The “Öko-Polo” (German for eco) was manufactured in a small 50 car batch, and the 858cc two produced 40 horsepower. And the fuel economy? A test run from Wolfsburg to Marseille resulted in 1,7l/100km, or over 138 mpg.

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Combined fuel economy was something to the tone of 3,3l/100km, which is still pretty decent. The “Steilheck” Polo was a light vehicle, but it’s not the most aerodynamic little box out there.
ecopolog40motor
The drivetrain featured a five-speed clutch pedal-less Ecomatic manual that worked pretty much like the later Saab Sensonic unit, with a micro switch in the shifter to detect shifting intent, and it also had a freewheel system. The actual engine only produced 12 horsepower, so the G-lader supercharger came in handy. It also used an iron oxide fuel additive, so its catalytic converter could work as intended. On top of that all, there was a huge amount of sound deadening.
[youtube width=”720″ height=”480″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-r9WBv0S28[/youtube]
The Öko-Polo was a little complicated for mass production, but it did sow some seeds that helped produce the Lupo 3L TDI two decades later.
[Lead image: Idnes]

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  1. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Never knew about this one. I always thought the French were the undisputed kings of saving:
    The 1992 Citroën AX Diesel had an advertised fuel consumption of 3.2 l/100km. Weighing in at below 700kg with a cW value of 0.31, Citroën managed to press it below 3 l/100km in record runs:
    http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citro%C3%ABn_AX
    They also made an electric model.
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Citroen_AX_GT_Opera_de_Paris.JPG

    1. smokyburnout Avatar
      smokyburnout

      I think it just depends on your perspective
      http://i.gyazo.com/58e8fbf2fc74ff81ca4d007130469f62.gif

  2. jim Avatar
    jim

    When i read “two-cylinder supercharged version” i immediately thought of another, even more obscure vehicle : the oddly named Alfa Romeo Romeo van. And what a wonderful engineering oddball it was :
    “Engines were either an 1290cc petrol or an 1160cc diesel, but of course, being Alfa Romeo, these were not just ordinary engines… The petrol engine was the new 750 series twin cam destined to power the Giulietta, while the diesel was an 1160cc two stroke twin cylinder with a Roots type supercharger produced under licence. The 750 engine was a detuned version of what would later be installed in the Giulietta Berlina with a single choke Solex carburettor. A compression ratio of 7.5:1 gave 35 bhp and enabled it to run on the low octane petrol generally then available and to carry loads of up to a ton at a top speed of 60mph, more than sufficient for the roads of that day.
    On paper, the 30 bhp and 40 mpg given by the diesel engine seemed to be an ideal combination, but more on this later… Transmission was via a four-speed front wheel drive transaxle supplied by ZF and mounted behind the engine. Suspension was independent all round, front by a transverse leaf spring, rear by trailing arms and transverse torsion bars, tyres were 6.00×16 radials, possibly the first specification of radial ply tyres on a light van. The chassis was constructed out of well-braced channel section and could take either factory produced van or truck bodies or special bodies produced by other body builders.”
    Story from here : http://www.alfastop.co.uk/romeo.htm
    more pics here : http://www.romeoregister.com/phdi/p1.nsf/supppages/0453?opendocument&part=3

    1. tonyola Avatar
      tonyola

      I have to ask – was there ever a Juliet van?

      1. jim Avatar
        jim

        There was the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint. They were both introduced at the same event.

  3. JayP Avatar
    JayP

    2 cyl?
    It looks cute?

  4. karonetwentyc Avatar
    karonetwentyc

    Along with the Fiat Panda of the time, I’ve always had a soft spot for this iteration of the Polo. Both were utterly unashamed about being exactly what they were, and both were very good at it in different ways that really refelct their respective national identities. On a personal level, though, while the Polo gets bonus points for pseudo-shooting-brake styling, the Panda ultimately wins out for the brilliantly-capable 4×4.
    Either way, this was a really interesting variant that I’d never heard of before. Thanks for sharing it.

  5. theskig Avatar
    theskig

    As a Polo owner and fan, I never heard about this. Thanks for sharing!