Spy shots show new VW Polo, set to arrive in 2017

Spy shots show new VW Polo, set to arrive in 2017

Volkswagen is aiming to trump rivals on interior quality, infotainment and connectivity with its next-generation Polo, seen for the first time by our spy photographers and revealed in our exclusive images here.

The new Volkswagen Polo is set to arrive by the end of 2017, and the spy shots show it out testing on a new version of the VW MQB platform. We can’t make out too much from the disguised bodywork, but the Golf GTI-style wheels and large twin tailpipes suggest that this could be a sporty Polo GTI model. It’s clearly still a five-door, though, with the handles easily visible at the back.

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The new Polo is likely to go on sale in the second half of next year, around six months after a heavily revised Ford Fiesta arrives in the UK. As with the Ford, VW engineers have been focusing on improving rear cabin space and the quality of interior materials.

Image 14 of 20New Volkswagen Polo spied 9
Image 14 of 20
But while Ford’s offering can move upmarket to allow room for the value-orientated Ka+, the Polo still has to serve budget-conscious customers and cater for the ever-increasing demands of buyers who want upmarket, premium features in a small supermini.

To help reduce costs yet boost sophistication, the new Polo will be the first car to switch to the smallest version of the VW Group’s MQB platform, called A0. While the larger chassis parts already underpin a wide variety of models on a selection of different wheelbases – everything from the Audi TT to the Golf SV – engineers across VW’s brands have been told to keep the A0 MQB set-up simpler.

That means a single wheelbase for the Polo, Audi A1, SEAT Ibiza and Skoda Fabia, as well as any subsequent SUV versions of those cars. Auto Express understands that the Polo’s current wheelbase of 2,470mm will stretch by as much as 90mm for the next generation – up to around 2,560mm. Shorter overhangs at the front and rear of the car should ensure that the overall length stays at around the four-metre mark, but the longer wheelbase will bring much-improved cabin space, particularly for rear passengers.

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New 2017 VW Polo: engines
The next Polo’s engine line-up will focus on small turbocharged units, although the range will start with a revised version of VW’s 1.0-litre naturally aspirated three-cylinder petrol unit, producing around 75bhp. Two turbocharged versions of the same motor will also be offered, with around 100bhp and 115bhp.

Further up, there will be a switch from the existing 1.4-litre petrol and 1.6-litre diesel engines to 1.5-litre motors. Expect the petrol to be offered in two states of tune – with around 140bhp and 160bhp – along with 90bhp, 110bhp and 130bhp diesels.

Image 2 of 20Volkswagen Polo – front (watermarked)
Image 2 of 20
The new supermini is unlikely to get the next Golf’s rumoured mild hybrid powertrain, however, because the system requires a step up to more sophisticated 48-volt electrics that are still considered too expensive to fit on a small car.

Six-speed manual gearboxes should be standard across the range, although a five-speed could be offered on eco-focused BlueMotion models to improve efficiency and cut CO2 emissions slightly. The automatic option is likely to remain a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG unit.

VW Polo interior technology
Inside, the Polo will get real benefits from the switch to MQB, as it adopts big-car technology that we’ve already seen on the Golf. All models will feature a colour infotainment screen, and all but the base editions should have smartphone connectivity and app integration through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

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The largest touchscreen could be as big as 9.5 inches, trumping the displays in all the Polo’s small-car rivals. VW is likely to offer the digital instrument cluster that we’ve already seen on several Audis and the latest Passat – but probably only as an option on higher-end trim levels.

VW’s new boss Herbert Diess has stated that connectivity is one of his main priorities over the next two years, and the Polo will get some of the features that will be seen first on the facelifted version of the Mk7 Golf due at the end of this year. Expect built-in Internet access on more expensive models, allowing the car to integrate with social networks without needing a smar