VW Polo revved up and ready to go on your iPhone

Along with the launch of the all-new Polo at Geneva, VW announced that it was releasing a free iPhone game which has now become available as a download on the App Store in iTunes.

Developed by Fishlabs, it’s called Volkswagen Polo Challenge, and offers eight tracks with full, detailed 3D visuals. The game play is very straightforward: users have just basic touchscreen left and right steering and brake controls to contend with.

It’s a bit slow to load each track and I find the fact that the iPhone’s motion sensor is not utilised, somewhat disappointing. But let’s not forget - it’s free.

On the promotional side, the game  also allows you to find your nearest VW dealer on Google Maps to book a test-drive of the new Polo.

I’ll be keeping an eye on various manufacturers’ iPhone activity and letting you know which apps are worth their salt. Stay tuned (…or is that iTuned?)

India\\'s new people\\'s car

The big news in India this week has been the launch of the 1 Lakh (2500 dollars) Tata Nano people’s car. Looking like a stretch smart on castors, the baby Nano is powered by a small 2-cylinder engine and can just about manage to carry four people.

Just as the first Nanos were rolling off the production line, Rolls Royce announced to the world that its own ‘baby’ model - based on the 200EX concept car - will be powered by a 6.6-litre V12 manufactured by BMW. Rolls Royces were once very popular on the Indian sub-continent and frequently ordered in fleet quantities – one for each day of the week. With the recent emergence of a prosperous middle class, Rollers are once again proving popular, and no doubt the baby model will be snapped up in sizeable quantities.

Meanwhile, Tata will continue to churn out Nanos for a nation of poor people who can afford nothing better. I will let you know when the first models arrive.

Arnold Schwarzenegger at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show

If we told you there was something big and foreign at the Geneva show this year, you’d probably picture a gas-guzzling Hummer. But actually we’re talking about California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who popped in to show support for American carmakers and non-polluting vehicles before a visit to his native Austria.

We joined the media frenzy, catching up with the ‘Governator’ at the Volkswagen stand. When asked if he planned to visit any motor shows in the future Arnie replied, “I’ll be back.”