Automotive

VW Polo grows up with new tech, new look

VW Polo grows up with new tech, new look
The VW design language translates well to the new Polo
The VW design language translates well to the new Polo 
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VW has teamed up with Beats for a special edition Polo
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VW has teamed up with Beats for a special edition Polo 
The new Polo is an evolutionary design on the outside
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The new Polo is an evolutionary design on the outside
The Polo has grown meaningfully larger for its sixth generation
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The Polo has grown meaningfully larger for its sixth generation 
The new Polo will be offered with a huge range of gasoline engines
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The new Polo will be offered with a huge range of gasoline engines
The new Polo has a bigger boot than the car it replaces, and the Mk4 Golf
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The new Polo has a bigger boot than the car it replaces, and the Mk4 Golf 
The new Polo is a much smarter beast than the car it replaces
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The new Polo is a much smarter beast than the car it replaces
VW will be showing the Polo off at the Frankfurt Motor Show
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VW will be showing the Polo off at the Frankfurt Motor Show 
The colorful interior of the Polo is a welcome change from the dour looks of its predecessor
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The colorful interior of the Polo is a welcome change from the dour looks of its predecessor
There are 13 different trim options for the colorful dashboard in the new Polo
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There are 13 different trim options for the colorful dashboard in the new Polo 
The touchscreen in the Polo is up to 8 inches
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The touchscreen in the Polo is up to 8 inches 
The new Polo GTI will be powered by a 2-liter turbocharged engine
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The new Polo GTI will be powered by a 2-liter turbocharged engine
With 147 kW of power, the new Polo GTI should be a fun little thing to drive
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With 147 kW of power, the new Polo GTI should be a fun little thing to drive
The Polo GTI gets the same red exterior highlights as the Golf GTI
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The Polo GTI gets the same red exterior highlights as the Golf GTI
VW is targeting the Ford Fiesta ST with the new Polo GTI
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VW is targeting the Ford Fiesta ST with the new Polo GTI 
The new VW Polo GTI
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The new VW Polo GTI 
The Polo GTI is available with a manual or automatic gearbox
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The Polo GTI is available with a manual or automatic gearbox 
The new VW Polo GTI will have 147 kW of power
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The new VW Polo GTI will have 147 kW of power
The new Polo GTI is more sophisticated inside than before
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The new Polo GTI is more sophisticated inside than before 
The angular Polo GTI sticks to the theme for VW on the outside
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The angular Polo GTI sticks to the theme for VW on the outside 
The Polo GTI looks like a downsized Golf GTI from the outside
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The Polo GTI looks like a downsized Golf GTI from the outside 
VW has used tartan on the seats for the Polo GTI
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VW has used tartan on the seats for the Polo GTI
The wheel in the Polo GTI is nicked from the Golf GTI
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The wheel in the Polo GTI is nicked from the Golf GTI 
Wireless phone charging in VW Polo
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Wireless phone charging in VW Polo 
The Virtual Cockpit display makes its debut in the VW Polo
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The Virtual Cockpit display makes its debut in the VW Polo 
A bright, colorful interior design focus makes the interior of the VW Polo a nicer place to look at
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A bright, colorful interior design focus makes the interior of the VW Polo a nicer place to look at 
Behind the wheel of the VW Polo
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Behind the wheel of the VW Polo 
The new Polo looks very grown up in profile
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The new Polo looks very grown up in profile 
The new Volkswagen Polo
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The new Volkswagen Polo 
The VW Polo has grown in all directions
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The VW Polo has grown in all directions 
The new Polo is like a shrunken Golf
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The new Polo is like a shrunken Golf 
The VW design language translates well to the new Polo
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The VW design language translates well to the new Polo 
The new Volkswagen Polo
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The new Volkswagen Polo 
View gallery - 32 images

Volkswagen has been through some tough times of late, but that hasn't stopped it from constantly improving its already impressive product lineup. Having treated the Golf to a technology injection, the company has overhauled the Polo. It might serve as an entry point to the VW range, but the Polo packs a range of features passed down from its big brothers.

It might not be quite as well known as the Golf, but the Polo nameplate is an enduring member of the VW family. More than 14 million examples have been sold since it debuted in 1975, but the sixth-generation car launches into a class full of excellent rivals headlined by the fresh Ford Fiesta. Volkswagen has thrown the kitchen sink at this new car, although the evolutionary styling would suggest otherwise.

For starters, the car has grown in every direction. It's now more than 4 m (13.1 ft) long and 1.7 m (5.6 ft) wide, with a 2.56-m (8.4-ft) wheelbase. Not only is that wheelbase longer than the last Polo, it's longer than that on the Mk4 Golf. There's also more boot space in the new entry-level hatchback, and more headroom for all passengers – with the little up! sitting below it in the range, the Polo has grown significantly.

Behind the wheel of the VW Polo
Behind the wheel of the VW Polo 

This upsizing extends to the in-cabin technology, with the new dashboard design neatly integrating a bigger 8-inch touchscreen, and the Virtual Cockpit now appearing on the option sheet. Adaptive cruise control, auto-emergency braking and blind-spot warnings are new for the Mk6 Polo, and the car will park itself in tight spots. A low-speed braking system will even help drivers avoid bollards or low kerbs when manoeuvring in tight spaces.

Along with all the technology on offer, the Mk6 Polo debuts a playful interior design streak rarely seen at Volkswagen. The large dashboard trim piece can be specced to match the exterior finish, and there are even some bright options for the seat covers. It looks great in pictures, especially when you compare it to the dour current model.

Power will come from a dizzying array of gasoline, diesel and natural gas engines. The gasoline range kicks off with a 1.0-liter engine making just 48 kW (64 hp), and extends to the range-topping Polo GTI producing 147 kW (198 hp) from its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Fans of diesel can choose from two versions of the same 1.6-liter engine with 59 or 70 kW (79 or 94 hp), while the single natural gas-powered option produces 59 kW (89 hp).

Expect to hear more about the new Polo at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this year. Prices will start at €12,795 (US$13,320).

Source: Volkswagen

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1 comment
1 comment
MQ
Time for VW to introduce a new small/micro car now that the golf has grown into a passat, and the polo has become a golf....(passat [and its variants] is now a large car, which is a segment VW didn't fill in the past)