PoloDriver

Polos do make it to the US after all! At least they do when it comes to testing of new model prototypes. While the Ford Fiesta gained a refreshing last year, the Polo’s rumoured facelift has been a long time coming. First launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 2009, the current fifth-generation Polo 6R has been on sale for over four years with no major changes. These pictures show something we’ve expected for a while – that changes are indeed afoot.

Undergoing hot weather testing in Death Valley, Eastern California, these test prototypes have undisguised rears suggesting that either no changes will be made to the Polo’s back end, or that if there are, they are yet to be grafted on. We would think that Golf 7-like rear lights would update the Polo’s rear view, and one of these cars is badge BlueGT, even though it’s running on GTI wheels. The front does show some disguise, though, suggesting new headlamps, grille and bumper. Renderings by Filipe Augustus show how these treatments may look.

As for engines, the current range of units are probably already as technologically advanced as they can be (with the exception of the lower 1.2-litre three-cylinder powerplants), but a newly-developed three-pot TSI lump similar to that of the Up city car could be slotted under the Polo’s nose. It is expected to develop between 60 and 90bhp, therefore replacing the 1.2-litre versions at a stroke. We expect the facelifted Polo 6R to be enjoy a world premiere at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland – an almost unheard of 5 years after its predecessor.

[Images: SB-Medien and Filipe Augustus]
[Sources: worldcarfans.com, autoevolution.com and noticiasautomotivas.com]