A few days ago we brought you spy images of the facelifted VW Polo. This time we have images released by VW ahead of the car’s launch at the Geneva Motor Show.
As you can see the upgrade, which comes almost five years into the Polo’s lifecycle, makes the little VW appear much closer to larger stablemate Golf 7.
Changes include larger headlamps, a re-sculpted front bumper with more styling around the foglamps. You’ll have to be a real VW Polo anorak to spot the differences to the rear end, as they are very subtle. Much like the rear, the interior is very similar to the current model, with just a sportier steering wheel finding its way into certain variants.
Volkswagen has introduced new engines to replace the current 1,2 and the 1,6-litre units, a new petrol engine and uprated the power in some of the current units. The new diesel powerplants include three 1,4-liter three-cylinder units with outputs of between 55- and 77 kW with the low-output version having a torque figure of 210 N.m and a frugal consumption level of 3,2 litres/100 km. There is a new 66 kW 1,0-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine for the TSI BlueMotion and the entry-level 1,2 with 44 kW has been refined to return better fuel consumption. This motor is also offered with 55 kW. Other engine upgrades include the 66- or 80 kW 1,2-litre, an extra 7 kW in the GT (not available in SA) and 9 kW extra for the 1,4-litre GTI to bring the total engine output to 141 kW.
This updated Polo will be introduced in SA in the second half of the year. The local launch of the GTI will only be discussed once the regular Polo is launched, while the hot Polo R is still under consideration.