Updated Volkswagen Polo revealed in Germany; gets new engines and a new look

Nearly 14 million units of the Volkswagen Polo have been produced globally. Considered to be one of the world’s best-selling supermini cars, it definitely gives competition to others in the B-Segment. Now it is making a grand entry with updated engines, new technology and a new look.

The new look is just a tweaked version of the current car. The new Polo looks great with slightly modified styling and still remains true to its predecessor. Externally it is the sharper front and rear designs that make it easy to differentiate from the old Polo. The front gets LED headlights and buyers will have a choice in terms of 15-16-or 17-inch alloy-wheels depending on the trim. Furthermore, the base model, the Polo Trendline, is equipped with K7 headlights as standard. Another redesigned feature available immediately at market launch are dual round headlights with H7 technology (standard from Polo Comfortline).

Many new ergonomic and visual improvements have been made inside the latest Polo. The instruments, which are styled in the typical Volkswagen design language, are finely detailed. On the upper control level, just beneath the air vents, is a control panel that has been expanded from seven to nine buttons; positioned in the middle and easy to reach. The updated car is also the first Volkswagen to get the second generation radio and radio-navigation systems of the "modular infotainment system" (MIB).

Talking about features and additions, Volkswagen also offers the new optional Sport Select suspension − which uses electronically controlled dampers − so that drivers can choose between two tuning characteristics at the press of a button. Also making its debut in this car is the newly developed electro-mechanical steering system. It helps to give agile and precise responses in terms of steering. Many other assistance systems of the Golf class are also making their way into the new Polo. The standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System (automatically initiates braking after a collision), Driver Alert System, Front Assist ambient traffic monitoring system with City Emergency Braking and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) are just some of those features.

With regards to the engine, the company claims that it is 21 per cent more fuel efficient with new engines. Three engines are available, with seven different levels of power. The two petrol engines available are a 1.0-litre three-cylinder and a 1.2-litre inline-four, with four different power outputs that range from 59 to 109 horsepower. On the diesel side, only a 1.4-litre three-cylinder TDI engine is available, with three different tunes that provide anywhere from 74 to 103bhp. All of the available powerplants are mated to standard five- or six-speed manual gearboxes, and dual-clutch units are available, as well. This is what the company has intended for the European markets at least. 

The first deliveries of the car, the company has revelaed, will be in Germany and will be in late Spring. In Africa and Asia the car will be seen in the second-half of the year. Along with the basic versions (Trendline, Comfortline and Highline), the Polo will also be offered again as a GTI, BlueGT, CrossPolo and as a BlueMotion model. 

The company has also revealed that as in the debuts of the UP! and the Beetle, at the market launch Volkswagen is also introducing an exclusively equipped launch model in Europe: the Polo "Fresh". This high-end limited edition model will be offered in five body colours, with exclusive equipment features and a two-tone interior.

We recently reported about the car being spied testing in Europe and most of the features were visible to us then. The Polo facelift will, as mentioned, make its way to India by the second half of the year.