The next-generation Volkswagen Polo has been spotted again, this time in both regular and GTI-guise in Germany.

- shares





After a heavily-camouflaged GTI prototype surfaced a fortnight ago in California, these two Polo development vehicles were spotted this week at the Nurburgring. Though the two hatches look very similar, the regular Polo has its exhaust tips concealed under the rear bumper, while the GTI sports red brake calipers and exposed dual chrome tailpipes on the left-hand side. While both of these pre-production prototypes don’t give away much in terms of their design, the overall shape of the next-generation hatch gives us some clues as to what changes have been made. The new Polo will be lower and wider than the current model, and likely a longer wheelbase to provide more comfort for passengers in the second row.

Underneath the swirly camouflage, the Polo will likely sport design cues from Volkswagen’s recently-updated models, including the larger Passat sedan and wagon, along with the new Tiguan SUV. Riding on the smallest version of the company’s MQB platform yet, the next-generation Polo will likely share many of its underpinnings and components with its recently-spied SUV companion, along with the soon-to-be launched Audi Q2 and next-generation Audi A1. No shots of the interior have been seen yet, though UK’s Auto Express recently reported that we can expect to see an even more premium cabin than the current Polo, including a huge touchscreen infotainment system that could reach around 9.5 inches. The Polo’s engine line-up should consist of a mixture of three- and four-cylinder turbocharged units, with 1.0-litre and 1.4-litre petrols expected to feature, along with a selection of four-cylinder diesels - though the company recently withdrew the oil-burners from the Australian market so it’s unlikely they would be offered here.

Shifting gears will likely be six-speed manual and seven-speed dual-clutch DSG transmissions, depending on engine and specification. For the hotter GTI flagship, it’s likely Volkswagen will aim to push beyond the current model’s 141kW power output and closer to the larger Golf GTI’s 162kW, however, don’t expect the engine to grow from the current 1.8-litre displacement. The new Polo is expected to be revealed sometime early next year, which would translate to a late-2017 launch for Australia. Stay tuned for more Volkswagen Polo updates over the coming months.