GENEVA — Volkswagen has finally pulled the covers off the redesigned Polo, at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show, and may bring the fifth-generation model to North America in 2011. Beyond the basic hatchback, future Polo variants are said to include a sedan, a small multi-activity vehicle, a GTI performance model and a green-tech BlueMotion edition.
A Polo BlueMotion II model on display here shows great promise for the future. Its 1.2-liter three-cylinder common-rail turbodiesel engine makes 74 horsepower, returns just 87 g/km of CO2 and is capable of delivering fuel economy of more than 70 mpg, thanks to such frugal technologies as automatic stop-start, regenerative braking, low-rolling-resistance tires and optimized underbody aerodynamics.
The standard Polo looks fairly impressive, too. A bit longer and wider than its predecessor, the new Polo borrows heavily from the recently reworked Golf. The car has shed weight and has more room inside for passengers and cargo.
The new Polo offers customers a variety of TDI and TSI engines. It can be equipped with a choice of five- or six-speed manual transmission, as well as VW's seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Stability control, antilock brakes and four airbags are standard.
It is slated to go on sale across Europe in June.
Inside Line says: The new Polo could come to the States via either Mexico or Brazil. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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redk2 says:
01:43 PM, 08/25/2010
Hurry up VW! Polo with base 1.4, Polo GTI, and Polo TDI will outsell Fiesta and all the other small cars except possibly the Fit (because it has such a long head start) if you get moving soon. The U.S. market for small cars is developing and is inevitable, but those who get in first will dominate it. Polo is much better looking than competitors.