VIDEO: Sneak peek at the new sixth-gen VW Polo

Volkswagen is getting ready for the launch of a new Polo. That has happened only five times since 1975, when the first Polo surfaced. Since then, Wolfsburg has shifted 14 million units of the compact hatchback often shadowed by its iconic big brother – the Golf.

The sixth-generation “junior Golf” is set to debut this year and prototype test drives have already happened in South Africa for handpicked media. That could be where this official sneak peek video was shot.

The new Polo sits on the MQB A0 platform that made its debut on the new Seat Ibiza. As you may have guessed from the video, the new car is much larger than the outgoing sub-4m fifth-gen.

At 4,053mm long and 1,751mm wide, the new Polo is 81 mm longer and 69 mm wider. Significant gains, and interior space should also greatly benefit from the 94 mm increase in wheelbase length – from 2,470 mm to 2,564 mm. Height is down by 97 mm to 1,446 mm.

VW’s B-segment hatchback will launch with familiar TSI and TDI engines. The Euro 6 line-up should not stray far from the Ibiza’s.

When it was announced in February, the Seat came with a three-cylinder 1.0 TSI with 95 PS or 115 PS, to be joined by a new four-cylinder EVO 1.5 TSI with 150 PS later this year. In the diesel camp, the 1.6 TDI comes in 80 PS and 95 PS guises. 5MT, 6MT and DSG7 gearbox options will be available.

Ford has revealed a new Fiesta and that supermini will hit the market this year as well, so it’ll be interesting.

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