REPORTS OUT OF EUROPE this week tell us that Volkswagen is working on a very special two-door version of its all-new Polo, and it’s a whole other creature.
While the German giant did offer a three-door iteration of the Polo GTI in the previous generation, the design of the Polo V-based model is believed to be a huge leap from the current offering.
Unlike the previous three-door, and the 2009 Volkswagen Golf GTI - which is simply a shortened version of the regular hatch - this new Polo three-door will sport a fastback, coupe-like roofline. Think of the difference between the regular Holden Astra and the three-door Astra, and you’ll get the idea.
The previous generation Polo IV GTI three-door.
According to British auto rag AutoExpress, the Polo coupe will be powered by Volkswagen’s supercharged and turbo-charged 1.4 litre engine, and will produce power in the neighbourhood of 140kW – this same engine will appear in the upcoming Polo GTI, paired with Volkswagen’s new 7-speed DSG transmission.
Despite the obvious attraction to a small fastback hatch, the Polo coupe might seem like an odd addition to the line-up when you consider that the company is preparing a regular three-door Polo GTI. As an alternative to the more powerful but more expensive Scirocco however, it should prove a successful seller.
According to British magazine Autocar, Volkswagen is also working on a new Beetle and considering a Polo-based mini MPV.
An unnamed insider has told Autocar that the new Beetle will be “less effeminate, more assertive and masculine,” suggesting that women often like the same cars as men, but that it doesn’t work as often in reverse.
Meanwhile, Volkswagen Board member Hans Dieter Potsch has told Autocar that a mini MPV, based on the Polo platform, is on the cards.
“A mini-MPV is in an area we have under active consideration. In terms of downsizing, people will not stick to one type of small car or another,” Potsch told Autocar.
Potsch went on to say that rather than cut back its R&D projects, Volkswagen is pushing forward with new concepts that will ensure the manufacturer’s readiness when the global automotive market recovers.
