A best-seller at home in Germany, the Polo is a crucial vehicle for Volkswagen and so the debut of the new three-door model was big news at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
The good news for Australian new car buyers is the scheduled April 2010 local introduction of this sharply-styled and nicely equipped small hatchback.
Leading the local lineup will be a turbocharged 1.2-litre, 77kW/175Nm, four cylinder model driving through a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox. Other engines will mirror the existing Polo five-door lineup - a 63kW/132Nm naturally-aspirated 1.4-litre petrol and a 1.9-litre turbo-diesel with 74kW/240Nm. The standard transmission is a five-speed manual.
The three-door Polo certainly looks the business and is the latest example of Volkswagen's new 'design DNA' developed by Design Chief Walter de Silva. Overall, the design is characterized by sharp, precise lines and, in the case of the Polo three-door, a large glasshouse accentuated by the thin B- and C-pillars.
Polo three-door is dimensionally identical to its five-door sibling (3,970mm) and the cargo space is also the same (280 litres with the rear seat in place or 952 litres when folded).
In Europe, Polo is sold in three equipment levels - Trendline, Comfortline and Highline - however full details about the local lineup and pricing will not be revealed until next year.
