New VW Polo Coming to America

That’s right, VW will be getting into the ultra-competitive sub-compact segment in North America with the new VW Polo.

There is no word on which engine options will be offered but we wouldn’t be surprised to see one of the TDI engines (of which VW will produce three) offered. TDI models will range in power from 60 to 105 hp.

As for gasoline engines, the Polo will be offered worldwide with four different FSI engines. The U.S.-market is likely to see just one of these but possibly two. The most likely is the 1.2TSI, a turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 105hp.

The next engine down from that is a naturally aspirated 1.4-liter four-cylinder with 90hp.

VW is planning to offer some of the higher-performance Polos with its new 7-speed DSG gearbox. Some models will also be offered with 17-inch wheels.

Look out Honda Fit!

GALLERY: 2010 VW Polo

Official release after the jump:

The new Polo is one of the safest cars worldwide;

Polo’s TDI and TSI engines noticeably reduce fuel costs

No other car in this class has such a mature and high-end image as

the new Polo. Comfort, quality and safety have all taken a

considerable leap forward. One example: the Polo was specifically

designed to attain the recently established, stricter and more

comprehensive, 5-star EuroNCAP rating. The higher structural

rigidity of the Polo’s bodyshell contributes to these results. In the

footwell area alone, intrusion – related to the car body’s deformation

strength in a frontal crash – was lowered by 50 percent! In the case of

a side impact, the intrusion value was reduced by 20 percent.

Standard equipment for safety

In addition, the European version of the Polo now being presented is

equipped with standard ESP electronic stabilization program with

Hill Hold Control, and it has a highly effective network of airbags on

board, including combined head-thorax airbags (integrated in the

front seatbacks), belt tensioners and belt force limiters plus seatbelt

warning indicator and head restraints that counteract the risk of

whiplash injury (both front seats), three rear head restraints and

Isofix child seat preparation.

Weight down, fuel consumption down

Despite significant improvements in all aspects of the car, it was

possible to reduce the Polo’s body weight by 7.5 percent. The

introduction of new TDI and TSI engines, as well as the 7-speed dual

clutch transmission (DSG), has resulted in considerably reduced fuel

consumption and emissions over a wide range of engine power

outputs. An excellent example here is the new 1.2 TSI. This turbo-

charged four-cylinder direct injection gasoline engine produces 77

kW / 105 PS, yet it consumes just 5.5 liters of fuel per 100

kilometers (129 g/km CO2); this is 19 percent less than on the

equivalent model of the previous generation!

In total, seven different engines will be offered on the new Polo in its

first year – four gasoline and three diesel – spanning a power range

from 44 kW / 60 PS to 77 kW / 105 PS. Five of these engines are

entirely new or are being used for the first time in the Polo.

The new engines include all three TDIs (turbo-diesel direct-

injection); thanks to the implementation for the first time of common

rail technology in the Polo, these engines are both efficient and

refined. The potential in the new TDI engines is clearly evident in the

example of the Polo 1.6 TDI with 66 kW / 90 PS: when combined

with a “BlueMotion package”, its average fuel consumption of 3.8

liters per 100 kilometers and 96 g/km CO2 makes it the most fuel

efficient and lowest emitting five-seater diesel in the world. The

“BlueMotion package” may be combined with any of the three

equipment lines developed for the Polo. Available for selection here

are the base version “Trendline”, the mid-level “Comfortline” and the

top of the line “Highline”.

Individually combinable high-tech features

Options that Polo drivers will be able to order on their new

Volkswagen include static turning lights integrated in the front fog

lights, (from “Comfortline” up), side curtain airbags (head airbag

system for front and rear passengers), radio and radio-navigation

systems and integrated hands-free telephone systems. A panorama

sunroof and bi-xenon headlights will follow at a later time.

Market launch starts the end of June

Start of production of the five-door Polo is scheduled for the end of

March. This will be followed, starting in the last week in June, by the

market launch of the visually and technically advanced new edition of

the million unit bestseller in Germany. Just two weeks later, thanks to

an ambitious logistics plan, Volkswagen will begin selling the car

across mainland Europe, and soon Polo engines will be revving up

across all continents.