Progressive compact car. The Polo, which has sold more than 14 million units worldwide, is a giant among small cars. Now a completely redeveloped sixth generation has arrived. Pre-sales of the best-seller have already started in the first European countries. Standard on every model: four doors and the area monitoring system Front Assist with City Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring as well as the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System. The Polo, which has been upgraded comprehensively, is now less expensive when price-adjusted for added features. For example, in Germany the well-equipped basic model costs 12,975 euros (Polo 1.0 Trendline with 48 kW / 65 PS). The sixth generation Polo's concept and configuration are a reflection of automotive progress and the new status quo among compact automobiles. Four trim lines form the basis for the new Polo configuration: Trendline, Comfortline, Highline and Beats (which includes a 300-watt sound system). Following on from these, towards the end of the year will be the next Polo GTI.
Three high production volume engines at market launch. Customers of the sixth generation Polo will, in time, be able to choose from a total of nine efficient petrol, diesel and natural gas engines. The three powerplants that can be ordered at market launch are three-cylinder petrol engines at the three most popular output levels: two 1.0 MPI engines, one with 48 kW / 65 PS and the other with 55 kW / 75 PS as well as a turbocharged 1.0 litre TSI with 70 kW / 95 PS. All models are equipped with a stop-start system and a regenerative braking mode. It is possible to combine a dual clutch gearbox (DSG) with any engine with a power output of 95 PS or more. Another important aspect for buyers of the new Polo who drive it in personal or business use is that all three engine versions offered at market launch attain best-in-class figures for comprehensive insurance classifications and cost of ownership.
Six more engines by the end of the year. Six additional engine options will be introduced in stages by the end of the year: three petrol, two diesel and one natural gas engine. The petrol engine range will be completed by a 1.0 TSI with 85 / 115 PS and the further developed 1.5 TSI ACT with 110 kW / 150 PS and Active Cylinder Management (cylinder shut-off). The top petrol engine will also follow by the end of the year: a potent 2.0 TSI with 147 kW / 200 PS in the Polo GTI. Another new development is the first natural gas engine of the Polo: the 1.0 TGI with 66 kW / 90 PS. The engine range will be rounded out by two efficient diesels: the two 1.6 TDI engines deliver 59 kW / 80 PS and 70 kW / 95 PS respectively.
Expressive design. The sixth generation Polo has been designed on the modular transverse matrix (MQB) vehicle platform. This offers the ability to create significantly more dynamic proportions with a long wheelbase, short body overhangs and a sporty ratio of its key dimensions (longer, wider, lower overall height but improved headroom). The design has been made more powerful, masculine, charismatic and expressive than previously. This has resulted in a completely new vehicle.
Avant-garde interior. Designers also gave the interior an expressive and avant-garde flavour. It is an interior without precedent, developed for the digital era. The Polo is the first car in its class to offer fully digital instruments – the Active Info Display – as an option. The instruments are arranged on the same viewing, with infotainment system displays up to 8.0 inches in size (which, on top versions, are glass-encased). Digital interfaces for smartphones allow easier access to their apps and various online services on board. Not only can smartphones be charged by wire, but also wirelessly (inductively) as an option. Interior dimensions of the sixth generation Polo are also much larger. As a result, the car offers more space for five occupants and a boot volume that has increased significantly from 280 to 351 litres.
Four equipment versions and three packages. The new Polo is launching in the three trim core lines: Trendline, Comfortline and Highline, and as a 'Beats' special edition. The Polo Beats brings a 300-watt sound system and various customised features on board that were developed jointly by Volkswagen and US-based audio specialist Beats. Another version heading towards the starting flag is the Polo GTI, which will follow at a later stage. Even the base version, the Trendline, is well equipped: now included as standard are such features as rear doors, LED daytime running lights with Coming Home function, a speed limiter, the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System and the Front Assist area monitoring system with City Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring.
Systematically designed to offer choice. Everything becomes more colourful and personalised in the new Polo with a large range of fresh new colours (a total of 14 exterior colours) and twelve wheels (14- to 18-inch, some painted in contrasting colour), dashpads in eight different colours, two interior trim versions and eleven different seat covers. The further range of personalisation options is nearly limitless. These include contrasting coloured roofs; the largest panoramic sunroof in its class; full-LED headlights; LED tail light clusters; an R-Line package and features such as a 300-watt sound system from Beats and wireless charging for smartphones (optionally including an inductive aerial connection). In addition, the new Polo impresses with assistance systems, some of which have been adapted directly from the Golf and Passat.
The new Polo is the first model to be based on the new Volkswagen brand strategy: "We make the future real"
Four fields of innovation. The new Polo was created under the motto: "We make the future real" – the idea that guides the Volkswagen brand strategy. It defines progressive parameters for each and every Volkswagen. The new Polo is the first model to be created based on this strategy and is now launching in production. The Polo development and design teams addressed the brand strategy's four fields of innovation: Automated Driving, Intuitive Usability, Connected Community and Smart Sustainability. The teams used these fields of innovation to develop the DNA of the new Polo.
- Automated Driving. Volkswagen has made the new Polo even safer and more convenient and comfortable by implementing numerous semi-automated systems – many of them representing preliminary steps towards automated driving. Cutting-edge technology from the Golf and Passat is being introduced to the Polo class in the form of assistance systems such as the area monitoring system Front Assist with City Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring, the lane-changing assistant Blind Spot Monitor, Cross Traffic Alert and adaptive cruise control (ACC).
- Intuitive Usability. In the Polo, Volkswagen is systematically advancing digitalised display and control concepts. As previously mentioned, this involved locating instruments and the infotainment system along a common visual axis in the newly conceptualised cockpit. For the first time, Volkswagen is offering the Polo with an Active Info Display, and for only a modest extra price. This creates a digitalised display and control environment when combined with the glass-encased displays of the top infotainment system versions.
- Connected Community. Volkswagen is connecting people, cars and the environment more intensively than ever. The new Polo illustrates this very well. Interfaces for integrating smartphones such as App-Connect (with MirrorLinkÒ, Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™) are being supplemented by Volkswagen Car-Net which adds the various online services of ‘Guide & Inform'. These include online traffic information and information on filling stations and parking places.
Smart Sustainability. Volkswagen is advancing the development of innovative high-volume production models with sustainable drive systems. New technologies in the Polo that follow this theme include the latest Active Cylinder Management – automatic cylinder shut-off – in the high-tech 1.5 TSI ACT petrol engine. Another example of smart sustainability is the new 1.0 TGI natural gas engine.