Volkswagen is planning a larger, more practical version of its Polo hatchback for 2018, and the range will
be augmented by the introduction of a proper baby SUV version that’s been teased today ahead of a Geneva Motor Show reveal.
The teaser doesn't show much, but it looks like the concept's design will share plenty with the brand's other SUVs in terms of shape. It will be marked out by some distinctive rounded-square fog lights and some sleek headlights, though.
A clear rival for the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Mazda CX-3, the production version will share a platform and therefore a wheelbase with the next Polo, yet its design is said to be much more daring than the small hatchback’s.
“The baby SUV looks very sporty,” said one company insider. “You will wonder whether it’s a VW at all; you may recognise the grille, but it’s a very exciting design elsewhere.”
The newcomer will be offered with four-wheel drive – a feature made possible by the MQB architecture the next Polo will use – and a choice of manual or dual-clutch auto transmissions. Its engine line-up will skip the Polo’s naturally aspirated 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrols and start with a turbocharged version of the same engine, which is set to deliver around 109bhp.
VW also continues to experiment with the idea of a smaller SUV, based on the up! city car and previewed by the Taigun concept. While that particular project is said to have been frozen on the grounds of cost and potential profitability, the brand is reportedly exploring how it could develop it into a vehicle that could be sold as a cost-effective, ‘rugged’ vehicle in markets like Brazil – where the likes of the Dacia Duster and Ford EcoSport perform well.
Now read more about all the other models at the Geneva Motor Show 2016.