First look: Polo goes V-shaped

JUST when it appeared Volkswagen’s recent new model rollout had run its course, the German giant has revealed a facelifted version of its Polo light car.

Like the redesigned Passat sedan revealed at Geneva on March 1, the new Golf-based Bora sedan unveiled at January’s Detroit show and the Golf GTI that debuted at Paris in September, the new-look Polo will also go on sale here late this year.

While Volkswagen’s most expensive model ever, the Phaeton sedan, has been put on hold by Volkswagen Group Australia’s new management, the revised Polo will go on sale here in September.

The upgraded Polo’s local release will be preceded by the 147kW Golf GTi launch in May, while the new Passat and seven-seater Caddy Life will follow it on sale here in November.

The new Bora arrives in early 2006, while the Passat wagon replacement, to be revealed at September’s Frankfurt motor show, will launch here by mid-2006.

Importantly, despite extra standard equipment, Polo pricing remains unchanged in Europe, where presales began yesterday (March 14). Sales in Germany begin in late April.

Polo celebrates its 30th birthday in Europe this year, but Volkswagen’s light car entrant is a relative newcomer in Australia, where only two generations have been made available.

Sold as a five-door only between 1996 and 2001, Australia’s first Polo made way in July 2002 for the new 9N model, which spawned three and five-door variants and, in April 2004, the Chinese-built Polo Classic sedan.

Now, the facelifted Polo receives the Passat’s new V-shaped corporate identity up front in a restyle that adds 19mm and makes the revised model 3916mm long. Width (1650mm) and height (1465mm) remain unchanged.

The new front-end not only introduces VW’s new family face to Polo, but aims to accentuate the differences between three and five-door variants.

It comprises the "escutcheon" grille with a reinterpreted V-shape theme, a bonnet crease that extends from the A-pillars to the new grille and new trapezoidal headlights with a circular main beam.

At rear, Polo now features a V-shaped lower window frame and new circular-themed lighting.

The other significant change is a renewed interior, including higher-quality fabrics, new instrument graphics and new steering wheels.

As with Golf V, three equipment levels will be available in Europe: Trendline, Comfortline and Sportline.

New Polo features include ABS with dual-rate brake assist mode, front power windows, central locking and, from Comfortline level upwards, central locking.

The standard equipment also includes front and side airbags and, on 1.6-litre models, stability control. The latter is available as an option on lesser models, as are head airbags, while new Polo options include park distance control, a tyre pressure monitor and a "Coming Home" low beam function.

Of the five petrol engines ranging in output between 40 and 74kW, Australian Polos are likely to remain available with either a 55kW 1.4 or 74kW 1.6-litre four-cylinder.

Volkswagen’s new 51kW and 59kW TDI diesel engines are unlikely to be offered here.