The All-New Sixth Generation Polo, bigger, better and more tech and kit, but looks the same.

Key facts: overview of the new Polo 

• The sixth generation Polo to continue the model's success story: with more than 14 million cars sold to date, the Polo is one of the most successful vehicles in its class.
• Largest Polo ever: new Polo is 4,053 mm long; 94 mm longer wheelbase perfects the car’s excellent ride comfort.
• New Polo is a space wonder: more room for everyone on board.
  Boot volume grew 25 per cent to 351 litres.
• This Polo plays in a higher league technologically: Front Assist, Blind Spot Detection, ACC and LED headlights like in the Golf class.
• First Polo with digital instruments: second generation of the Active Info Display celebrates its world premiere in the new Polo.
• Polo attracts with charismatic design: the new exterior is marked by expressive dynamism and a masculine front end.
• As you like it: Trendline, Comfortline, Highline, GTI, Beats and lifestyle packages create a broad selection of versions.
• Polo sets standards in personalisation: 14 body colours and 13 dashpad colours lead to almost limitless possibilities.
• Natural gas for the first time: engines have outputs from 48 kW / 65 PS to 147 kW / 200 PS.
  New Polo engine: TGI (natural gas) with 66 kW / 90 PS.
• Extremely attractive pricing: new Polo launches with four doors and Front Assist as standard at a price of 12,975 euros (Germany).

The new Polo – summary

This Polo makes the future real

Sixth generation. With more than 14 million units sold, it is one of the world's most successful compact cars: the Polo. 

Now a completely new generation of the best-seller is launching. With an entirely new exterior design, noticeably more spacious interior that has also been redesigned down to the last detail, new cockpit layout structured for the digital world, efficient TSI (petrol), TGI (natural gas) and TDI (diesel) engines1/2 as well as an array of assistance systems which previously was only familiar in larger Volkswagen cars. 

Dr Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board of Management for the Volkswagen brand: "The Polo is a young, fresh car. It combines charisma with strong technology. No other car offers so much space for its size. This makes our Polo the number one compact, and it will remain number one."

New Polo overcomes class boundaries

Digital instruments, new information and assistance systems. Dr Frank Welsch, Board Member for Development of the Volkswagen Brand: "The new Polo brings the future to the compact class. 

A whole lot of space – based on the modular transverse matrix – sustainable engines like a new natural gas TGI, the world premiere of a new generation of the Active Info Display, the latest infotainment systems and forward-thinking assistance systems – these qualities enable this Volkswagen to overcome traditional class boundaries."

Much more interior space, yet still compact outside

Polo has made continual gains in comfort. The sixth generation Polo has grown, making it larger than its predecessor in all of its dimensions. This has resulted in much more interior space and a significantly increased boot volume, which has grown from 280 to 351 litres. Nonetheless, it is still a snappy compact car on the outside. 

It is enlightening to compare this car to the fourth generation Golf (built until 2003) which has sold in the millions. It shows that the Polo has adapted to people who have grown, but also that it utilises its enclosed space even more effectively. 

The new Polo, with its length of 4,053 mm, is slightly shorter than the fourth generation Golf, but it surpasses that Golf when it comes to its wheelbase (53 mm longer) and space for the driver, passengers and luggage (21 litres more). Key dimensions in comparison:

All data in mm	Polo Mk. 6 (2017)	Polo Mk. 5 (2009)	Golf Mk. 4 (1997)
Length	4,053	3,972	4,149
Width (w/o mirrors)	1,751	1,682	1,735
Height	1,446	1,453	1,439
Wheelbase	2,564	2,470	2,511
Track, front	1,525	1,463	1,513
Track, rear	1,505	1,456	1,494
Head room, front	1,019	1,004	1,014
Head room, rear	964	943	955
Boot volume	351	280	330

Design follows the credo of our times

Crystal-clear charisma. The positive effects of the modular transverse matrix (MQB) on the car's proportions, and thereby on its design, are very significant. Klaus Bischoff, Head of Design for the Volkswagen Brand, explains: "The much better proportions create the framework for a grown-up, confident appearance of the sixth generation Polo – charismatic, progressive, contemporary and friendly. We have systematically capitalised on this realignment of dimensions to build a compelling compact car." 

The project targets, as defined by Bischoff: All Polo models should be made more sporty, more powerful, fresher, more masculine and more charismatic. Looking at the new Polo, the Head of Design sums it up: "This Volkswagen can immediately be made out as the original of its class, but also as a completely new generation. 

A Polo with an expressive design which makes the compact – now as a four-door only – sportier, cleaner and unique within the brand range. This is a car that fits in perfectly with our times – both visually and technologically."

Almost limitless personalisation

Five equipment versions and three packages. The Polo is launching in three familiar trim lines Trendline, Comfortline and Highline, and in the 'Beats' special edition with a sound system configured for contemporary sound. Another version that appears from the start on the new car's life: the Polo GTI. Several packages are also being offered in the form of R-Line, Black and Style. 

All three have a lot to offer. Consider the R-Line: it makes the Polo even more dynamic with such features as 16-inch alloy wheels ('Sebring'), a big, sporty front bumper and at the rear a diffuser with chrome trim and a roof spoiler. 

The Polo with an R-Line package also has wrap-around black sill trim strips which visually press the car down to the road. The R-Line package also upgrades the interior completely – adding dynamism at a low additional price.

Trendline. Even the base version of the new Polo, the Trendline, is well equipped and has standard features such as LED daytime running lights with coming-home and leaving-home functionality, a speed limiter and the Front Assist area monitoring system with City Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring. 

These are all features that confirm safety does not allow for any compromises. On the Polo Trendline, power is transferred to the road via 14-inch wheels. 

The base price of the Polo Trendline is 12,975 euros in Germany – this represents a significant price advantage compared to the previous model when the price is adjusted for now standard options such as the rear doors and the area monitoring system that is included free-of-charge.

Comfortline. At the Comfortline trim level, additional details are added such as the Composition Colour infotainment system, air conditioning (Climatic), Driver Alert system, centre armrest, seat covers in knitted velvet, front and rear electric windows with one-touch control, and a multi-function steering wheel. Also standard: 15-inch wheels.

Highline. Customers who choose the Highline also get Park Distance Control (PDC), white LED background lighting (front doors and instrument panel), multifunction steering wheel in combination with leather-trimmed gear shift lever and brake lever ('small leather package') and 15-inch alloy wheels ('Salou').

Beats. A new edition of the successful Polo Beats has been designed, which targets younger customer groups. It has a 300-watt sound system by legendary US headphone producer Beats (Dr. Dre) as well as a host of other features. Exterior features include 16-inch alloy wheels, black painted exterior mirror housings, decorative decals on the bonnet and roof and 'Beats' badging on the B-pillars.

Inside, the 'Beats' model is customised with such features as a dashpad painted in 'Velvet Red', sport seats with specially designed covers and 'Beats' logo, the 'small leather package' and special sill panel trims. The sound system can be ordered as an option in other models.

GTI. Rounding out the model range at the top, as already noted, is the new Polo GTI. This sporty top model will now be powered by a 2.0-litre TSI with an output of 147 kW / 200 PS (previous model: 1.8 TSI with 141 kW / 192 PS). 

Matching the engine’s high output are the standard sport chassis and the optional Sport Select chassis. At the front, this most powerful Polo stands out by virtue of such features as a specially designed bumper with integrated spoiler lip and fog lights as standard. 

Typical GTI insignia at the front include the red stripe on the radiator grille, honeycomb air vent screens and, of course, the GTI badge. An exclusive feature offered in the GTI: optional LED headlights with a red winglet; stylistically they are extensions of the red stripe of the radiator grille. At the rear, the Polo GTI sports a large roof spoiler in high-gloss black (underside: black matt), a diffuser in the bumper, GTI-specific dual tailpipes (left side), LED tail lights and, again, the GTI badge. 

On the sides, GTI characteristics include standard 17-inch alloy wheels (18-inch optional), side sill extensions and brake calipers that are painted red. In the interior, the 200-PS Polo also offers unique characteristics that are typical of a GTI. 

They include top sport seats with the legendary 'Clark' tartan pattern, a multifunction leather-trimmed sport steering wheel with red stitching, rooflining and roof pillars in black and a GTI gear shift grip. Also included as standard: ambient lighting.

14 exterior colours. Everything becomes more colourful and personalised in new Polo with a large range of fresh new colours (a total of 14 exterior colours are available) and twelve wheels (14- to 18-inch, some painted in contrasting colour), dashpads in 13 different decors, two interior trim versions and eleven different seat covers.

Comfort & convenience features from the Golf class. The Polo can be further personalised and upgraded to satisfy individual budgets and tastes. 

New in the options programme are features such as light-intense full-LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED tail lights, 'Air Care Climatronic' system with air quality sensor and allergen filter, wireless charging for smartphones (optional inductive aerial connection) and one of the largest panoramic roofs in its class (opening is 10 mm wider and 20 mm longer than before). 

Another available option: the Sport Select running gear with active dampers. The new Polo can be personalised to create an almost unique car by choosing from different trim lines, colours, interiors, wheels and optional features. These options may also be combined with a broad range of highly efficient engines.

Polo makes its debut with new turbo natural gas engine

Market launch in 2017. The new Polo will arrive on the markets of most European countries in 2017, and it will launch successively with nine Euro-6 engines. The power range at market launch: 48 kW / 65 PS1/2 to 110 kW / 150 PS1/2. For the first time, the Polo is available with a natural gas engine: the newly developed 1.0 TGI with an output of 66 kW / 90 PS1/2. 

Four petrol and two diesel engines are also available. The petrol engines range from the 1.0 MPI with 65 PS1/2 to the brand new 1.5 TSI EVO with cylinder deactivation (ACT) and 150 PS1/2. The Polo is launching with diesel versions (TDI) with outputs of 59 KW / 80 PS1/2 and 70 kW / 95 PS1/2. All of these models are equipped with a stop-start system and a regenerative braking mode. 

Starting from an output of 70 kW, all engines may be combined with a dual clutch gearbox (DSG). The GTI rounds out the range of the Polo family as a highlight. As previously noted, the TSI in the Polo GTI develops an output of 147 kW / 200 PS1/2.

Assistance systems from the Golf and Passat in the Polo

High-tech finally democratised. In producing the new Polo, Volkswagen has put one of the world's most advanced compact cars on wheels. This is reflected in such advanced features as the array of new assistance and convenience systems – systems that were previously reserved for the Golf, or even the Passat, class. 

As already noted, even the base version of the new Polo is launching with the Front Assist area monitoring system including City Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring as standard. One option that is being offered again in the Polo is Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC; can now be activated up to a speed of 210 km/h).

In conjunction with a dual clutch gearbox (DSG), ACC also offers a Stop & Go function (for first time with a manual parking brake). New options in the Polo are the Blind Spot Detection lane change system with Rear Traffic Alert, the semi-automated Park Assist system for exiting parking spaces and a ‘manoeuvring function’. 

The latter automatically protects against minor but often expensive parking dents. The optional Keyless Access locking and engine starting system, which is also new, can be used to unlock and start the Polo.

New interior in harmony with the digital world

World premiere of a new Active Info Display. Interior and HMI (human-machine interface) designers created a new, clean interior layout in order to locate the digital and connected displays and controls on a continuous visual axis that is as high as possible and thereby optimally visible to the driver. Background: The Polo will launch as the first Volkswagen and the first Volkswagen Group model ever to offer this new generation of the Active Info Display. 

The functionality of the digital instruments reaches a new peak; just like the graphics, everything is clearer and easier to use. For the first time, just one button on the multifunction steering wheel is used to switch between the basic Views menus, for instance. 

At the same time, the Polo is getting the latest generation of infotainment systems with display diagonals ranging from 6.5 to 8.0 inches – glass-encased devices that are as sophisticated as high-end smartphones. 

The clean, high-tech image of the interior is reinforced by background lighting (standard equipment in Polo Highline and GTI) as well as by dashpads and decorative trim strips in a wide variety of colours.

'We by Volkswagen' launches. Volkswagen is also forging new paths in the area of connectivity. Not only are the 'App Connect' Car-Net applications (with MirrorLinkÒ, Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™) and 'Guide & Inform' available in the Polo. Now there is also the new 'We by Volkswagen' – a digital user platform from Volkswagen for all drivers. 'We by Volkswagen' will open up another online level of mobility. 

One example is the app-based 'WePark', a cashless payment service for parking: in the German capital Berlin, this feature will already be a reality at the time of the Polo world premiere. Other large German cities such as Hamburg and Cologne will follow the example of Berlin and launch 'WePark'.

Key aspects

New brand strategy defines DNA of the sixth generation Polo

Polo embodies the brand's four fields of innovation

Strategic DNA. The new Polo was developed based on the latest Volkswagen brand strategy with its four fields of innovation. This strategy is known by the motto: "We make the future real." The Polo DNA develops its product characteristics via these fields of innovation.

• Automated Driving
  Volkswagen wants to make cars even safer, more convenient and more comfortable by means of automated driving or semi-automated systems.
• Intuitive Usability
  Volkswagen focuses on cars that are intuitive to operate and feature new display and control concepts.
• Connected Community
  Volkswagen will interconnect humans, cars and their surroundings more intensively than ever in the future.
• Smart Sustainability
  Volkswagen is advancing the development of innovative high-volume models with sustainable drives.

Progressive compact car. The new Polo is precisely following this roadmap, with Volkswagen Research & Development as its compass. It has led to one of the most progressive cars in its class based on the four fields of innovation: Automated Driving, Intuitive Usability, Connected Community and Smart Sustainability. An overview of the new and most important features of the Polo in relation to these fields of innovation:

Automated Driving

The assistance systems of the new Polo. Volkswagen has integrated a new generation of assistance systems into the Polo. These are systems which were adapted from larger car classes and are being further democratised by their use in the Polo.

Front Assist/ City Emergency Braking / Pedestrian Monitoring. They include the Front Assist area monitoring system with City Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring. In the new Polo, it comes as standard in even the Trendline base version. Its automatic warning and braking functions contribute towards avoiding frontal collisions on highways, secondary roads and in the city. Another system that is already included in the Polo Trendline as standard: a speed limiter, which can limit the car's driving speed to a desired figure, e.g. to avoid going too fast in the city. The Tyre Pressure Monitoring System is also always on board a new Polo.

ACC / Blind Spot Detection / Rear View. Volkswagen is offering the Polo with an optional Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system (up to 210 km/h; with DSG it includes the Stop & Go function as well). Another option new in the Polo: Blind Spot Detection including Rear Traffic Alert. ACC is a smart cruise control based on radar, which automatically brakes and accelerates according to the traffic situation. 

The Blind Spot Detection lane change system gives a warning in the exterior mirror if vehicles are located in what is known as the blind spot during overtaking. 

Meanwhile, Rear Traffic Alert assists in reversing out of parking places, because it can detect vehicles in cross traffic behind the car. If it detects a hazard, the system warns the driver here too, and it even brakes if necessary.

Park Assist with manoeuvring braking function. Another automated technology from a higher vehicle class is the Park Assist system; it automatically guides the car into nearly any conceivable parking space. 

This means that the Polo steers, and all the driver needs to do is brake and accelerate. The new 'manoeuvring braking function' assists in an extremely practical way, especially in the city. It is active during parking at speeds of up to 10 km/h, and it brakes automatically as soon as it detects obstacles such as the infamous bollard. This saves on repair costs, and aggravation.

Intuitive Usability

Digitalised cockpit of the new Polo. Volkswagen cars are cars that are intuitive in operation. However, the exponential growth of digital systems in the car and their continually increasing number of functions pose new challenges for preserving this intuitive operation in the future. This, though, has been assured in the new Polo. The interface engineers and interior designers have reassessed the interior, analysing and reorganising it from the perspective of tomorrow. This has led to an interior which will be considered a frontrunner for years to come.

One visual and control axis. Everything is located where it should be in a world with analogue and digital functional elements. The interior specialists have therefore created a new visual and control axis in the Polo.

Instruments and infotainment are increasingly merging onto one level. The designers and engineers accomplished this by positioning the infotainment system display high up and the air vents and air conditioning controls beneath them. As a result, the driver has a better view than ever of the cleanly designed displays and controls. 

The digital world is making its way into the Polo in the form of glass-encased infotainment systems, fully digital and newly designed instruments (Active Info Display), wireless interfaces for smartphones (including wireless charging) and the Keyless Access automatic locking and engine starting system.

Infotainment & Active Info Display. A whole new generation of infotainment systems is being used in the Polo. With glass-covered surfaces and digital operation that is more powerful than before. Even the Polo Comfortline has the Composition Colour infotainment system with a 6.5-inch display as standard. Also new, and a novelty in the segment: the optional new generation of the Active Info Display. 

The digital instruments offer more information, a more logical structure, even more graphic clarity and more joy in operating them. Now, one button on the steering wheel can be used to activate different graphic menus quickly, for example. 

A digitalised level is created, especially in combining infotainment and the Active Info Display. On this level, it is very easy to 'drag' functions such as the play list or phone contacts from the infotainment system display to the screen of the Active Info Display.

Wireless Charging & Keyless Access. Along with the classic way of supplying power to smartphones by cable, in the new Polo it is also possible to do this via an optional inductive interface (for compatible phones). The interface is located beneath the air conditioning controls. The smartphone can also be connected to an external aerial via the 'Deluxe' phone interface. Right in front of it is the 'Start engine / stop engine' button for starting or stopping the engine without a key. This is a function of Keyless Access, the first keyless locking and engine starting system to be offered in the Polo.

Connected Community

Online services in the new Polo. The new Polo interconnects the driver and other vehicle occupants more innovatively and more simply than ever before. Likewise, with the Volkswagen's outside world. In the Polo, they are 'always on', which is to say they are online whenever they wish. 

Not only can they access the 'App Connect' Car-Net applications familiar from the previous model (App Connect integrates Android and Apple smartphone apps via MirrorLinkÒ [Android] Android Auto™ [Google] or Apple CarPlay™) and 'Guide & Inform' (wide variety of online services). Another new feature is 'We by Volkswagen' – a digital user platform from Volkswagen for all car drivers. 'We by Volkswagen' opens up another online level for automobiles. 

Take cashless payment for parking, for instance. In Berlin, this is already a reality in the context of the Polo world premiere. Other German cities such as Hamburg and Cologne will follow. The project is known as 'We by Volkswagen Park' or simply 'WePark'.

We by Volkswagen Park. Just how much easier the new services of 'We by Volkswagen' make life for car drivers is illustrated by the 'WePark' project that is running in Berlin. All that users need to do is download the app of the same name from the Apple Store or Google Play. Then register via the app or at park.we-vw.com, and they can begin. The app recognises the parking site by GPS and automatically shows the price. 

Parking is billed based on the actual amount of time the car is parked. Simply drive to the parking zone, start the parking time by app and later end the parking time by app as well. Billing is cashless. A small sticker on the windscreen (download and print online, or have it mailed) shows that the car user is participating in 'WePark' cashless payment for parking. 

Searching for coins for parking is now passé, as are parking meters, payment machines and parking tickets. 'WePark' will officially kick off with the world premiere of the Polo. In the future, plans call for including parking structures and available parking places found online. For more information visit: park.we-vw.com.

Smart Sustainability

Engines of the new Polo. Sustainable drives are the core of the Smart Sustainability field of innovation. They might be battery-electric systems such as in the e-up!, plug-in hybrids like in the Golf GTE or innovative new engines with conventional or alternative fuels. That is true of the Polo, too. Volkswagen is equipping the compact car with a natural gas drive for the first time: the entirely new 1.0 TGI with 66 kW / 90 PS can actually be CO2-neutral, depending on the energy source. 

It is one of a total of nine Euro-6 engines available for the Polo, which always has front-wheel drive. The five petrol engines range from the 1.0 MPI with 48 kW / 65 PS to the new 1.5 TSI EVO with 110 kW / 150 PS and cylinder deactivation (ACT). The drive systems are rounded out by a sixth petrol engine, the GTI engine that is a 2.0 TSI with 147 kW / 200 PS. 

As a diesel, the Polo will launch with a choice of two 1.6 TDI engines whose outputs are 59 kW / 80 PS and 70 kW / 95 PS, respectively. Both TDI models have an SCR catalytic converter. All Polo engine variants come equipped with a stop-start system and a regenerative braking mode as standard. Overview of the entire line-up of drive versions:

Natural gas

• 1.0 TGI with 66 kW / 90 PS1/2, 5-speed gearbox

Petrol

• 1.0 MPI with 48 kW / 65 PS1/2, 5-speed gearbox
• 1.0 MPI with 55 kW / 75 PS1/2, 5-speed gearbox
• 1.0 TSI with 70 kW / 95 PS1/2, 5-speed gearbox / 7-speed DSG
• 1.0 TSI with 85 kW / 115 PS1/2, 6-speed gearbox / 7-speed DSG
• 1.5 TSI with 110 kW / 150 PS1/2, 6-speed gearbox / 7-speed DSG
• 2.0 TSI with 147 kW / 200 PS1/2, 6-speed gearbox / 7-speed DSG

Diesel

• 1.6 TDI with 59 kW / 80 PS1/2, 5-speed gearbox
• 1.6 TDI with 70 kW / 95 PS1/2, 5-speed gearbox / 7-speed DSG

Features

The exterior and interior design of the new Polo in detail

Expressive exterior – charismatic compact car

MQB A0 as a basis. The sixth generation Polo is the first to be based on the new Modular Transverse Matrix for compact models (MQB A0). The positive effects of the MQB on the car's proportions and, in turn, on its design, are huge. The car has much more dynamic proportions and a significantly longer silhouette, because the wheelbase, exterior length and width all grew while the car’s height remained nearly identical. 

The design team took advantage of these realigned dimensions to put a sporty, powerful, fresh, masculine and overall superior Polo onto wheels of up to 18 inches in size (GTI). This resulted in an expressively designed, charismatic compact car – which can immediately be made out as the original of its class and yet as an entirely new generation.

Simply impressive. The MQB's dynamic effects on the proportions are reflected in the Polo's new dimensions. The length of the compact Volkswagen has grown by 81 mm to 4,053 mm. A much larger wheelbase now spans the axles; it has grown by 94 mm to 2,564 mm. This shifts the wheels further towards the front and rear. 

It also shortens the overhangs, which gives the car a much more powerful and sportier visual image. At the same time, the new Polo gained a total of 69 mm in width and now measures 1,751 mm. As already mentioned, interior height decreased just slightly, by 7 mm, and remains nearly the same as the previous model at 1,446 mm.

Silhouette. The sixth generation Polo has become a masculine car, which generates charisma from all perspectives with its new expressive design. The following details – considered from top to bottom – define the Polo when it comes to its significantly stretched silhouette. The roof line was made longer and thereby more elegant; it transitions into a roof spoiler at the rear. 

A fine line on the side body runs parallel to the roof line; it visually lowers the Polo's centre of gravity. Key detailing of the Polo includes its long line of side windows – the Polo is the only Volkswagen to have a window line that terminates in a rise at both front and rear. This contour with the window integrated into the C-pillar was further developed and sharpened. 

The C-pillar in particular, which is now designed to reach forward more and is precisely sculpted, makes the car dynamic in this area and makes it appear to lunge forward, even when stationary.

Arrow-shaped 'tornado' double line defines the side body. Emerging from the straight line of the window shoulder is another line that runs towards the front and into the headlights, making the Polo appear very long. 

Other new and important design features follow beneath this window line. An arrow-shaped double line, which is known as the tornado line, is a new design feature defining the Polo. The surface of this three-dimensional tornado line is – in the style of a shoulder section – slightly flared, and it finishes with a sharp downward undercut. The upper of these two double lines starts in the C-pillar and visually shoots forward into the front wings. 

The second, lower line, on the other hand, forms the mentioned undercut. It develops from the 3D graphic of the tail lights and also extends forward into the front wings, where it rises slightly, meeting the upper line. This strong, arrow-shaped tornado line structures the car’s side profile, forming, as already mentioned, a strong shoulder section and giving the Polo a low and sporty stance on the street.

Front end. The front end of the Polo was made much more emotional, dominant and sportier than that of the previous model. Each detail was carefully re-designed. The headlights are now also available in an LED version. 

Together with the new radiator grille, they form the new 'face' of the Polo that extends across the entire vehicle width. Self-confident: a bumper which also emphasises vehicle width in its design elements. More pronounced contours: the bonnet which now extends far downward into the 'face'.

Self-confident, masculine look. Two lines on the bonnet are influential; they develop from the A-pillars and run in a V-shape to the inner sides of the headlights and the radiator grille. Outside of these lines, which appear as though cut by a knife, the bonnet transitions into the powerful side flanks. Two straight lines that run along the middle of the bonnet also finish at the radiator grille. 

The uppermost grille cross-bar is now painted in body colour. 

The cross-bar joins with the lines of the headlights on the left and right. As noted, this gives the bonnet a lower visual appearance. At the same time, it emphasises the greater width of the Polo. The low-profile headlights give the car a more concentrated and dominant, forward-looking appearance. 

A slender, second radiator grille louvre (this one in chrome) begins at the sides of the Volkswagen badge, transitions over into the chrome lines of the headlights and thereby reinforces this concentrated, self-confident and masculine look. Also unmistakable is the new signature of the daytime running lights.

Strong bumper. The bumper was also completely redesigned. The large glass surfaces of the fog lights and turn signal lights are eye-catching from the side of the car. They terminate outwards in three-dimensionally contoured angles. Between them there are two air intakes: a V-shaped one in the middle, and a narrow second intake that extends across the entire width.

Rear bodywork. The Polo's rear bodywork design had been instantly recognisable even before the fifth generation made its debut. Now the clean, well balanced overall architecture has been significantly further developed and – like the sides and front end – made more precise and sharper. 

Powerful: the much fuller volume of the shoulder section. Concise: the new trapezoidal-shaped tail lights that are worked into the shoulder section and, now, inwards too. For the first time, they will also be available on the Polo as LED tail lights with a very distinctive light signature. 

Typical: a horizontal line beneath the tail lights on the rear hatch, which now transitions into the bumper and also underscores the Polo's width from this perspective. Distinctive: the new diffuser that is integrated into the bumper.

Revolutionary interior – welcome to the digital world

Cockpit is the centre of focus. A new dashboard and cockpit layout for Volkswagen compact models is making its way into the sixth generation Polo. Interior designers have made revolutionary changes. Their focus was on continued growth in the digitalisation of displays and controls as well as connectivity, and this called for clever new solutions. Another declared goal was to give the interior much more character than before and to thereby give the Polo an interior 'face' as well.

Starting with a blank slate. The interior team started with a blank slate, departed entirely from the vertically-oriented dashboard layout of the previous model and developed instead a bold horizontal architecture. 

As is always the case in interior design, this architecture is primarily defined by the modules that are used on the dashboard. In the case of the Polo, designers took the 'form follows function' motto very seriously, because a new digitalised world was being kicked off here in the A0 segment. 

The interaction between the new Active Info Display and the infotainment systems, in particular, made it necessary to take new approaches. The new dashboard architecture began with the objective of locating the infotainment system much higher than before so that it would be in the driver's direct line of sight. 

Because the display should visually merge with the instruments to create a high-gloss 'island', it was also clear that the middle air vents had to migrate downward. All of this was done, and it has now resulted in a dashboard architecture that is refreshingly contemporary and charismatic – introducing an exciting new epoch of digitalisation and connectivity.

One visual and control axis, up high. All key modules – except for the air conditioning unit – have been integrated on the upper cross-panel of the dashboard. This cross-panel is continued up to the front doors and is trimmed with various accents, depending on selected options. 

A highlight here is the trim strip of the Polo Beats which is painted in 'Velvet Red'. The outer air vents are integrated on the far left and right. Located in the middle of the high-gloss black 'island' is, as mentioned, the glass-encased screen of the infotainment system. 

The only additional button in this area is the button for the hazard warning lights. To the left, the high-gloss black user control island transitions into the level of the instruments. This creates a coherent digital cockpit landscape, especially in conjunction with the Active Info Display. Arranged on the next lower level are the air conditioning functions in the middle, and the lighting functions on the driver's side. 

The horizontal dashboard is slightly angled towards the driver in the middle. This is also true of the centre console with the gear shift grip and the buttons for the various car handling functions. A fin surrounds the outer right side of the centre console. The sum of these actions: a sporty cockpit feeling.

Jump in vehicle class. Contributing towards a perceptible jump in vehicle class are the new design, which is both clean and fresh, the horizontal structure, the high-gloss black surfaces and enormous visual impression of width. Or, to express it in the words of one of the main interior designers involved in the project: "The Polo is no longer just the small sibling of the Golf when it comes to its interior. It is no longer the car that people only buy when they cannot afford the Golf. Now it is exactly the car that people want!"

The New MINI Countryman, comes with new engines and gearboxes, is more powerful and bigger, its not a MINI !

• All-new Countryman enters the C-segment with increased dimensions, powerful proportions and rugged styling
• Five full sized seats, with a clear increase in space and versatility and a premium cabin ambience
• MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4: the first ever MINI with plug-in hybrid drive
• New generation of engines and gearboxes, ALL4 efficiency-optimised all-wheel drive system
• High level of equipment - Satellite Navigation, Bluetooth, Emergency E-call and more, now standard on all models
• Central instrument with a touchscreen function for the first time in a MINI
• Electronic tailgate control as well as touch-free opening and closing of the tailgate
• New, unique options, including MINI Picnic Bench: foldout loading sill cushion on the luggage compartment lid for outdoor use
• Order books open at MINI retailers today, MINI Cooper Countryman priced from £22,465. First customer deliveries in February 2017

The new MINI Countryman is the biggest and most versatile model to be launched in the brand’s 57-year history. With its larger external dimensions, and increases in space throughout the cabin and luggage area, it offers occupants even greater comfort and a genuinely premium ambience. 

Useful new features such as electric tailgate control with touch-free opening and unique options, including a fold down picnic bench at the rear, add to the ownership experience.

The Countryman’s on- and off-road ability is readily apparent throughout its design, which fuses familiar MINI styling with the tough look of a crossover thanks to the extended ground clearance, large wheel arches and short overhangs.

For the first time MINI is offering a plug-in hybrid model with the new MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4. Drawing from expertise gleaned from across the BMW Group, this new hybrid features a turbocharged petrol engine and an electric motor, reducing fuel consumption to 134.5 mpg yet also enabling a 0-62 mph time of just 6.9 seconds.

The rest of the new MINI Countryman line-up is powered by an all-new range of engines sourced from the latest MINI TwinPower Turbo generation, offering outstanding performance and efficiency. With between 136 – 192 hp and 220-400 Nm of torque, the new MINI Countryman can sprint from 0-62 mph in as little as 7.2 seconds, while fuel consumption reaches 64.2 mpg and CO₂ emissions drop as low as 113 g/km.

The new MINI Countryman is available with both manual and Steptronic gearboxes and with front- and all-wheel drive. The latter, MINI’s ALL4 system, has been further refined for increased driving agility and efficiency.

Reflecting customer demand for high-end features, equipment levels on the new MINI Countryman have been bolstered versus the outgoing model. Additions to the standard equipment list include MINI’s acclaimed Satellite Navigation System, Bluetooth, Cruise Control, Emergency E-call and Active Guard among others. Naturally, being a MINI, there is broad scope for owners to personalise their new Countryman, with extensive colour and trim options, advanced technology features and a range of option packs that offer carefully selected items with significant cost savings for the customer. One such option is a new 8.8” inch touchscreen display as part of the MINI Navigation System XL, offering touchscreen multimedia and navigation control for the first time in a MINI.

The new MINI Countryman is available to order at MINI retailers nationwide today starting at £22,465 for the Cooper Countryman, with the first UK deliveries in February 2017. Prices for the plug-in hybrid model will be announced in due course.

Model	HP	Trans	CO2	0-62 mph	OTR
MINI Cooper Countryman	136	Man	126	9.6	£22,465
		Aut	126	9.6	£24,060
MINI Cooper ALL4 Countryman	136	Man	139	9.8	£23,555
		Aut	136	9.8	£25,150
MINI Cooper D Countryman	150	Man	113	8.9	£24,425
		Aut	115	8.8	£26,020
MINI Cooper D ALL4 Countryman	150	Man	127	8.8	£26,025
		Aut	126	8.7	£27,620
MINI Cooper S Countryman	192	Man	141	7.5	£24,710
		Aut	137	7.4	£26,410
MINI Cooper S ALL4 Countryman	192	Man	159	7.3	£26,350
		Aut	146	7.2	£28,025
MINI Cooper SD Countryman	190	Aut	121	7.7	£28,430
MINI Cooper SD ALL4 Countryman	190	Aut	129	7.4	£29,565

Exterior Design: recognisably MINI with a powerful presence

The new MINI Countryman is some 20 centimetres longer than its predecessor and three centimetres wider, while its wheelbase has been extended by 7.5 centimetres. These enlarged proportions – making it the largest of any MINI on sale - form the basis of a new design that has both the unmistakable MINI aura and the additional presence borne from an extended ground clearance and specific off-road design details. For example, the standard-fit roof rails in satin-finished aluminium are combined with silver-coloured side sill tops, thereby lending greater visual emphasis to the car’s height. The familiar ‘floating roof’, large headlamps and hexagonal radiator grille are all present, albeit having undergone careful evolution. From the front, the headlamp units differ from other MINI models by having an asymmetric shape, with LED lighting now an option. And at the rear, the vertically arranged light units help create the family ‘look’.

Interior Design: more space, more versatility, more style

The interior ambience of the new MINI Countryman has been further improved by the creation of more space, an attractive design, and a new operating and vehicle display concept.

The hallmark MINI central instrument is integrated in the instrument panel and is surrounded by an LED ring that provides a lighting display in response to driving situations by way of feedback from the controls.

Both driver and front passenger benefit from extended head and shoulder space, while the adjustment range of the seats has also been extended. Electrical adjustment of the driver and front passenger seats is now an option, including a memory function on the driver's side.

The second row of seating now contains three fully-fledged seats, and the rear door openings have been enlarged, enabling easier entry and exit. In addition to overall interior width, leg space is now significantly more generous too, with an extra five centimetres of knee room over the previous model. The rear seats can be shifted back and forth by up to 13 cm, prioritising either passenger legroom or boot capacity depending on the situation. The folding rear backrest offers a 40 : 20 : 40 split and also provides a variable tilt angle so as to also offer either increased seating comfort or additional storage space at the rear.

The new model also benefits from more storage for on-board items and increased overall cargo capacity both with the seats in position and when lowered. In both the front and rear doors there are pockets that hold one-litre beverage bottles and the centre console extending up to the instrument panel has an integrated storage compartment and two cup holders in front of the gear or selector lever. The MINI Controller and the switch for the electrical parking brake are also positioned on the centre console.

The luggage compartment volume is 450 litres and can be extended by folding the rear seats to a total of 1,309 litres. This constitutes a maximum increase of 220 litres as compared to the previous generation model.

The luggage area can be accessed via an optional electric tailgate with touch-free opening and closing possible in conjunction with Comfort Access. The optional storage package comprises a variable load floor, lashing eyes and tension straps and also a stainless steel insert on the loading sill. One unique option is the Picnic Bench – a flexible surface that folds out of the luggage compartment and provides seating for two people.

Engine and transmission: new engines provide increased performance and efficiency

The new MINI Countryman is available at launch with a choice of four new engines: two petrol-powered variants and two diesels. In addition, for the first time there will be a plug-in hybrid MINI, the Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 (see below).

The new EU6-compliant MINI TwinPower Turbo engines are familiar from the other recent additions to the MINI family. The petrol engines, a 1.5-litre three-cylinder in the Cooper Countryman and a 2.0-litre four-cylinder in the Cooper S Countryman, feature turbocharging, direct fuel injection with centrally positioned injectors, variable camshaft control on the intake and exhaust side (double VANOS) and fully variable VALVETRONIC valve control technology.

The result is 136 hp and 220 Nm of torque in the Cooper, which enables a 0-62 mph time of 9.6 seconds and fuel consumption and emissions figures of 51.4 mpg/126 g/km. The Cooper S produces 192 hp with 280 Nm of torque, and completes the sprint to 62mph from rest in just 7.5 seconds, yet still manages 45.6 mpg with 141 g/km of CO₂ emitted.

The 2-litre diesel engines in the MINI Cooper D Countryman and MINI Cooper SD Countryman both also feature MINI TwinPower Turbo technology, with high pressure common rail injection. The 150 hp / 330 Nm engine in the Cooper D enables a very competitive 0-62 mph time of just 8.9 seconds (considerably quicker than the previous model) but with 64.2 mpg and 113 g/km of CO₂ emitted. The high performance Cooper SD Countryman features 190 hp and a full 400 Nm of toque, providing a 0-62mph sprint of just 7.7 seconds but with 61.4 mpg and 121 g/km of CO₂ emitted.

MINI Cooper Countryman: 3-cylinder petrol engine, capacity: 1 499 cc, output: 100 kW/136 hp, max. torque: 220 Nm.

MINI Cooper S Countryman: 4-cylinder petrol engine, capacity: 1 998 cc, output: 141 kW/192 hp, max. torque: 280 Nm.

MINI Cooper DCountryman: 4-cylinder diesel engine, capacity: 1 995 cc, output: 110 kW/150 hp, max. torque: 330 Nm.

MINI Cooper SD Countryman: 4-cylinder diesel engine, capacity: 1 995 cc, output: 140 kW/190 hp, max. torque: 400 Nm.

MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4: MINI’s first plug-in hybrid

For the first time a MINI is available with a plug-in hybrid system, achieving outstanding performance with extremely low consumption and emissions. The new MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL 4 draws on the expertise in this area from across the BMW Group, including the range of BMW iPerformance vehicles.

A three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine with MINI TwinPower technology, producing 136 hp and 220 Nm of torque, powers the front wheels of the Cooper S E Countryman. This engine is combined with a six-speed Steptronic transmission. The rear wheels are powered by a synchronous electric motor housed under the floor of the luggage compartment. This motor offers 88 hp and 165 Nm of torque, with all of the torque available from zero rpm. The motor’s output is sent to the rear axle via a two-stage single-speed transmission.

The lithium-ion battery is positioned directly in front of the electric motor underneath the rear seat. It is made up of five modules, each comprising 16 battery cells. Like the electric motor, the battery is produced at the Dingolfing plant, the BMW Group’s competence centre for eDrive technology. The high-voltage battery has a capacity of 7.6 kWh. At a wallbox with a charging capacity of 3.6 kW it can be fully charged in 2:15 hours, while charging at a regular household socket takes 3:15 hours. The intelligent energy management system, controlled by the power electronics of the plug-in hybrid system, ensures that the interplay between the combustion engine and the electric motor is optimised for both driving fun and efficiency in all situations. Using the power of the electric motor alone, the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 is able to provide locally emissions-free driving, and in the event that more intense acceleration is required, the electric motor supports the combustion engine via a boost function. A total system output of 224 hp and a combined torque of 385 Newton metres are available, enabling 0-62 mph in just 6.9 seconds. Fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions are very low, with 134.5 mpg and 49 g/km respectively, and the Cooper S E Countryman can travel up to 25-miles on electric power alone.

Via the eDrive toggle switch, the driver can also influence control over the interaction of the power units. There are three operating modes: Auto, Max and Save Battery. In the standard setting AUTO eDRIVE, the vehicle runs on electrical power only up to a speed of 50 mph. At higher speeds and in the case of very intensive loads, the combustion engine is automatically enabled in addition. In MAX eDRIVE mode the vehicle is powered by the electric motor alone at speeds up to approximately 78 mph. Finally, the SAVE BATTERY mode can be selected so as to relieve the capacity of the high-voltage battery or raise its charge state to at least 90 per cent so that sufficient electrical power remains for locally emissions-free driving later on.

With route guidance activated on standard specification navigation system, MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 uses an anticipatory energy management system to ensures that appropriate sections of the route are run on electric power alone.

The high-voltage battery is housed underneath the slightly raised rear seat, as is the 35-litre fuel tank. When all seats are in use, the luggage compartment volume in the MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 is only slightly less than in the conventionally powered models. The connection for the charging cable is under a flap in the area of the left-hand side scuttle.

This particular model is distinguishable by the model-specific “e” badge on the side scuttles, and also a yellow “S” in the model inscription on the rear as well as on the radiator grille and doorsill finishers. At the rear, a JCW aerodynamic rear bumper features a single exhaust outlet. Inside, the cockpit includes a yellow start/stop unit at the centre of the toggle switch panel and a performance display in the instrument cluster on the steering column.

The MINI Cooper S E Countryman ALL4 comes as standard with the MINI Visual Boost Radio featuring a 6.5-inch colour screen in the central instrument. In addition to the MINI Country Timer, this also displays information such as the charge state of the high-voltage battery and operating mode of the hybrid drive selected by eDrive toggle switch. In conjunction with the optional Media package including MINI navigation system XL, operation is via an 8.8-inch screen with a new graphic design and touchscreen function as well as via the Touch Controller in the centre console.

MINI Cooper SE CountrymanALL4: 3-cylinder petrol engine, capacity: 1 499 cc, output: 100 kW/136 hp, synchronous electric motor, output: 65 kW/88 hp, system output: 165 kW/224 hp, system torque: 385 Nm.

ALL4: improved version of MINI’s all-wheel drive system

MINI’s all-wheel drive system, ALL4, is available as an option on all engine variants. This latest version of the system not only reacts quickly and precisely to changing situations, it is also compact and offers a high level of internal efficiency. It consists of a power take-off unit integrated in the front axle differential, a propeller shaft leading to the rear axle and a hang-on clutch that ensures precisely measured transmission of the drive torque to the rear wheels. The system's electronic control is interconnected with the Dynamic Stability Control DSC, so it detects any need to adapt power distribution early on. In this way, ALL4 optimises both traction and stability in adverse weather and road surface conditions, as well as ensuring improved agility when driving through bends in a sporty manner.

Chassis: sophisticated chassis with adaptive technology

The advanced suspension of the new MINI Countryman combines the well-proven principle of a single-joint spring strut axle at the front and a multilink rear axle with a design that is optimised for weight and rigidity as well as with a set up specific to this model. Servotronic steering, powerful brakes and Dynamic Stability Control DSC form part of a highly developed chassis package.

Dynamic Damper Control is an option: two program maps can be activated for the electronically controlled dampers via the likewise optional MINI Driving Modes. A rotary switch at the base of the gear or selector lever enables the driver to select a set-up according to one of the three modes - MID, SPORT and GREEN. This also influences the accelerator pedal and steering curve, the operating mode of electrically powered comfort features and the engine sound and shift characteristics of the Steptronic transmission, depending on engine and fittings.

Safety: driver assistance systems for improved safety

In addition to a strong but weight-optimised monocoque construction and a full complement of airbags, the standard and optional driver assistance systems are a key factor in improving occupant safety. The standard collision warning with city braking function can be extended to include the Driving Assistant system with camera-based active cruise control, pedestrian warning with initial brake function, high beam assistant and road sign detection. In addition to this, Park Distance Control, rear view camera, Parking Assistant and Head-Up-Display are also optionally available.

Equipment and options: build your perfect MINI Countryman with extensive options and packs

75% of customers who purchased the outgoing MINI Countryman model in the UK selected a Pepper, Chili or Sport pack for their vehicle. Reflecting customer demand for high-end features, MINI has significantly raised the level of standard equipment offered on the new Countryman, with many features previously included in the ‘Pepper’ pack on the outgoing MINI Countryman now offered as standard. Highlights include 16” alloy wheels on Cooper and Cooper D models, rear parking sensors (PDC), MINI Connected and Bluetooth connectivity. MINI Cooper S and Cooper SD Countryman models add 17” alloy wheels and cloth/leather upholstery. All models in the MINI Countryman range now benefit from Satellite Navigation as standard.

The standard entertainment system is the MINI Visual Boost Radio featuring a 6.5-inch colour display in the central instrument. Bluetooth hands-free telephone facility and satellite navigation are also both standard on the new MINI Countryman.

Options include the Harman Kardon hi-fi speaker system and the MINI navigation system XL, which comprises not just the Touch Controller on the centre console but also an 8.8-inch colour touchscreen in the central instrument with a new graphic design.

Another new feature offered as standard is the MINI Country Timer. This fun feature registers all travel over sloping, uneven, un-surfaced and snow-covered roads and tracks. As soon as the new MINI Countryman moves on demanding terrain, the type and extent of the challenge are detected and shown on the display in the central instrument by means of graphics. The driving situation is analysed based on data supplied by the control unit of the Dynamic Stability Control function. Owners can progress from the status of “Street Cruiser” to the “Cliff Champ” category, and the icon of the MINI on the display grows to be a MINI monster truck.

The program of optional equipment items further includes two-zone automatic air conditioning, a panorama glass roof and a tow hitch with removable ball head. Depending on the engine type, the permitted trailer load is between 1,500 - 1,800 kg.

The broad range of exterior paint finishes, seat upholstery types and interior surfaces enables individualisation of the new MINI Countryman in a way that reflects personal style. However, owners can choose to personalise their vehicles further with the aid of MINI’s option packs. These bring together a wealth of optional equipment but with a considerable cost saving compared to buying the items individually. The most popular of these is set to be the Chilli Pack, which for example enjoys a 75 per cent take up rate on the new MINI Clubman. The Chilli Pack includes automatic air conditioning, the MINI driving modes, sports seats (trimmed in part-leather or cloth/leatherette) and LED headlamps amongst a long list of items. The price of the pack is £2,980, but the saving for the customer is £1,150.

The JCW Chilli Pack (£4,950/£4,250 for ‘S’ models) includes all of the above plus items such as the JCW aerodynamics kit, sports suspension and 18” wheels. Its price depends on whether it’s fitted to a Cooper or Cooper S model. The Media Pack (£950) includes the MINI Navigation System XL, MINI Find Mate, MINI Connected XL and the Extended phone prep with wireless charging. Meanwhile, the MINI Yours Pack (£2,300/£1,825 for ‘S’ models) brings 19” alloy wheels, leather ‘Lounge’ seats, and a choice from three MINI Yours illuminated facia panels on the dashboard: Chestnut, British Oak or Piano Black. The MINI Teck Pack (£2,090) provides a rear view camera, Harman Kardon hi-fi, MINI Head-up display and the Media Pack XL contents. Finally, the MINI Activity Pack (£850) features the sliding rear seats, the picnic bench and the automatic tailgate amongst other items.  

New from MINI Connected: personal mobility assistant and MINI Find Mate.

MINI Connected now goes beyond the familiar in-car infotainment functions to become a personal mobility assistant. Based on a flexible platform called the Open Mobility Cloud, MINI Connected integrates the vehicle seamlessly into the MINI driver’s digital life via touchpoints such as the Apple iPhone and Apple Watch.

At the heart of this connectivity lies MINI Connected, the personal mobility assistant available to MINI drivers with new innovative services as of October 2016. Here, individual mobility planning enables punctual, stress-free arrival at appointments. And mobility doesn’t start in the car: MINI Connected informs the driver of the optimum departure time based on calendar entries and current traffic data. Address data and appointments saved by the driver previously on a smartphone via MINI Connected are automatically transferred to the car and do not have to be entered in the navigation system again. MINI Connected can also save regularly visited places as favourite destinations and it detects frequently covered routes such as the daily run between home and work so as to be able to inform the driver in the event of unexpected traffic delays.

Another new feature in the area of connectivity is MINI Find Mate. This forms part of the Media pack and consists of so-called tags with a wireless tracking function that can be attached to frequently used objects and travel items such as bags, cases, key rings and rucksacks. MINI Find Mate is able to track the location of any such objects connected to the system that the driver wants to be sure not to forget: tracking is done not only on the on-board computer of the MINI Countryman but also on a smartphone. Providing there is a Bluetooth connection with the tag, an acoustic signal can be activated in the car or on the smartphone to help locate the object. If the tag is outside the Bluetooth range, the driver can be guided to the place at which a connection was last detected.