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From Autoexpress


A Hole Lot More In Store For Polo


Exclusive pictures in the current issue of Auto Express magazine reveal next year's heavily revised Polo, which is aiming to blow holes in its opposition in the super-competitive small hatchback market.

The newcomer is set to debut at the Geneva Motor Show next March, and will be looking to continue the Polo's well established role as the supermini with the image all other car manufacturers aspire to. The excellent residual values, superb build quality and smart, chunky styling make the current model a hit and maintain the solid reputation the Polo has enjoyed for nearly a decade.

UK sales of the new car are due to start next summer, and the line-up will encompass a wide range of variants, including a hot GTI version. Our pictures show how VW is introducing several styling cues from other models in the range on to the next-generation Polo.

It gets rear lights similar to those on the new Golf, complete with foglamps cut into the tailgate, and also features its bigger brother's door mirror-mounted indicator repeaters. At the front, there's an even more dynamic appearance. The current car's twin headlights will be replaced by the same single-unit design due to grace the new Passat - another VW debuting in showrooms in 2005.

The revised Polo gets a distinctive chrome grille just like the one that will appear on the Golf R32, adding a touch of class to its front styling. Under the bonnet, buyers will have a choice of engines similar to the current Polo's. The entry-level car will use the 55bhp three-cylinder 1.2-litre unit introduced in 2002. A 65bhp version of the same powerplant is also to be offered, along with a 100bhp 16-valve 1.4 FSI. However, the current supermini's eight-valve 75bhp 1.4-litre is unlikely to continue.

Diesel choices will comprise the current 75bhp 1.4 TDI and a 105bhp version of the proven 1.9-litre TDI engine - that's a 5bhp increase over the existing model. A 130bhp variant of this powerplant will appear in the warm Polo GT.

But there's talk of an even hotter variant, which could feature the 140bhp 2.0-litre oil-burner from the Golf GT TDI. The top performance model, though, will be the GTI, which is scheduled to debut towards the end of 2005. It will be powered by a 2.0-litre FSI engine, and will develop upwards of 150bhp.

VW is also planning to continue the Polo Dune. The chunky Rover Streetwise rival has only recently joined the line-up, but it will undergo a similar revamp and is expected to be offered with a larger engine range.

The facelifted Polo will be the first in a series of launches for the firm, which will give its entire range a shake-up next year. As well as the supermini, the Fox will join the line-up in the summer, replacing the Lupo, while the new Passat will be seen for the first time towards the end of 2005, probably at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Des

Polo Dune with a bigger engine mmmmmmmmmmmmm........ tempting

Must admit that car has grown on me

sounds like a smaller golf to me! thats good!!

Hmmm.. so according to that, the Passat's coming six months later than originally planned, and the GTi Polo's not coming 'till the end of next year. I'm not sure I can wait that long

Anyway, I'll see if I can get a paper copy on the way home tonight -- to see the pictures!

It gets rear lights similar to those on the new Golf, complete with foglamps cut into the tailgate

Oh, dear God, no!!

Deek.

i think the current back end is cool
i like the front, especially with fogs!

it's also kinda sad you know, to see our polos getting older by the day. its enough pain to see 2005 models in one month's time, and now this facelift...

i can't take it any more!

I must say I am tempted by the 2.0 tdi or a Dune with a decent engine.

I had a look at autoexpress during my lunch break and although the cars rear lights look great along with the new front lights (Xenon in picture) the bumpers are similar to what we already have and frankly look out of place.

The transition from 6n to 6n2 was much better, I can't say the same for 9n to 9n2. Also I think they've left the interior alone, lets just hope it's screwed together with more care.

Who knows 'in the flesh' it'll be a different prospect.

Des

Hmm so I got hold of a copy...

Liking the front. Not liking the back at all. I'm hoping it's just a bad photoshop. If you squint really closely, for example, the wiper arm is the old style, not the aero. If the back stays like that I'll be forced to conclude that it's not "different enough" to make me buy another.


Also, the text says:

the current ... eight valve 75bhp 1.4litre is unlikely to continue

eh??


Deek.

The autoexpress rear image is definately a photshop. You can find the image it's based on
here.

Note the traditional (non-aero) rear wiper and lack of a middle rear brake light.

I would post scans of the images, but can't for copyright reasons. Get yerself down the papershop -- it's only £1.80!

Derek.

See what you mean, christ you've got some good eyes there.

I didn't look at it in that much detail.

Let's hope VW leak some real pictures, autoexpress do have a nack of producing photo-shop images which in some cases do not do the car justice.

Des

can somebody post pics?

pretty please?

i dont like that front end

I like it. They don't call it the tough new Polo for nothing though. Its tough that I can't afford it!

Karl.

i like it too, but isn't this too much revision for a facelift? it's waaay more than the difference between 6n and 6n2. feels like it's a whole new model.

Most facelifts now are becoming more radical. I suppose they class a facelift as something like: As long as the car has the same floor pan, as the model it replaces, then its a facelift.