Volkswagen has done what was expected, replaced the four-cylinder diesel engines in its facelifted Polo range with Euro6-compliant three-cylinder units.
But the thrifty oil-burners aren’t likely to be among the engine options when the facelifted hatchback lands in New Zealand later this year.
Instead, VW is expected to continue with 1.4-litre petrol power, something it has done with the Polo range for the past few years. For the moment, VW isn’t saying what’s coming.
The three optional 1.4-litre diesels return fuel economy improvements by up to 21 per cent. The star is the 55kW Polo TDI BlueMotion, which does a claimed 3.2 litres/100km, or 88mpg, for a C02 rating of 82gr/km.
The current NZ range of Polos comprises three models, each powered by 1.4-litre petrol units and priced from $21,990. There’s a 63kW five-speed manual, a 63kW seven-speed DSG automatic, and a boosted 66kW unit with DSG.
The new-look Polo GTi is unlikely to arrive until next year, but its turbocharged 1.4-litre engine will deliver 141kW, up from the current car’s 132kW.
The changes to Polo – over 14 million of which have been sold worldwide since its introduction in 1975 – are not just under the bonnet, although again the NZ distributor is playing a wait-and-see game.
Chief among the changes is a range of advanced technology features that casino online will be familiar to drivers of the latest Golf. These include the Golf’s infotainment system.
There’s new technical stuff, too, like a 16.5cm colour touchscreen that senses your hand moving towards it, then displays more options. It incorporates Bluetooth audio streaming and smartphone-style gesture zooming for maps, too.
There are styling changes, too, although they are not overly visible. Sharper bumpers, redesigned LED headlights and a chrome strip between the foglamps are the only exterior tweaks.
Safety tech has also filtered its way down from the new Golf. This includes radar-controlled adaptive cruise control, an autobraking function that brakes the vehicle after a collision to reduce kinetic energy and minimise the chance or consequences of a second impact, and an optional rear view camera.
A new electromechanical steering system helps to reduce fuel consumption, says VW, while two-stage adaptive dampers can be added, in a Polo first.