Photo: SB-Medien
Our spy photographers have just sent us word that a couple of Polo hatchbacks have begun testing in Death Valley in preparation, indicating a facelift model will is being developed and will be launched.
Only the front of the car is covered up, indicating that the changes will be limited to grille, front bumper and headlights. But from what I can tell the headlights are the same non-xenon basic unit currently offered on the polo. The upper grille is also exactly the same, so only the lower valence, fog lights and lower grille are subject to change.
For a few months now, I've been suggesting that VW doesn't do facelifts, and that this is just a test mule for the next generation Polo. VW doesn't make facelifts of its cars very often, and we've seen a test mule for the next-generation Passat fooling people into thinking it's a facelift.
Keen eyed readers will have already spotted there are two Polo prototypes in our photo set. The black 3-door version of the car is unmarked, but currently only 1.2 TSI and 1.6 TDI models have a visible exhaust tip, so it should be a turbo model. The white five-door on the other hand is badged as a Polo BlueGT, a brand new model launched late last year which is powered by a new 1.4 TSI turbo rated at 140 PS and equipped with cylinder deactivation. The wheels, however, are from the GTI.
What makes this even more interesting is that Volkswagen doesn't sell the Polo in America and has made no mention that it wants to in the future. Premium subcompacts like this make little sense there, where buyers associate them with bad build quality and lack-luster performance. As an example, the top-trim Ford Fiesta Titanium doesn't come with all-round automatic up/down power windows.
For a few months now, I've been suggesting that VW doesn't do facelifts, and that this is just a test mule for the next generation Polo. VW doesn't make facelifts of its cars very often, and we've seen a test mule for the next-generation Passat fooling people into thinking it's a facelift.
Keen eyed readers will have already spotted there are two Polo prototypes in our photo set. The black 3-door version of the car is unmarked, but currently only 1.2 TSI and 1.6 TDI models have a visible exhaust tip, so it should be a turbo model. The white five-door on the other hand is badged as a Polo BlueGT, a brand new model launched late last year which is powered by a new 1.4 TSI turbo rated at 140 PS and equipped with cylinder deactivation. The wheels, however, are from the GTI.
What makes this even more interesting is that Volkswagen doesn't sell the Polo in America and has made no mention that it wants to in the future. Premium subcompacts like this make little sense there, where buyers associate them with bad build quality and lack-luster performance. As an example, the top-trim Ford Fiesta Titanium doesn't come with all-round automatic up/down power windows.
Google News