Following the emergence of spy shots of the next-generationVolkswagen Polo, reports suggest the German marque's (significantly) enlarged compact hatchback will be revealed early next year. Here are more details…

Photos by S.Baldauf / S.B. Medien

The 6th-generation Volkswagen Polo is widely expected to make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2017 and, given its popularity (and the fact that it is currently manufactured) in South Africa, the model is likely to be launched here soon thereafter.

Here we can see a regular Volkswagen Polo andthe hot GTI derivative undergoing testing in Germany. The GTI can be identifiedbyits larger alloy wheels and red brake calipers.

The Polo Mk6 will ride on the smallest version of the flexible MQB platform which underpins the likes of the Volkswagen Golf, new Tiguan and many other products in the Volkswagen/Audi family. Just how much bigger will it be than the current model? Well, a report by Spanish site Autopista suggests it’ll be up to 200 mm longer, which will make it longer than the Golf 4 (discontinued a little over a decade ago!) and about 70 kg lighter than the current Polo.

The engine lineup may include a new additions such as a 51 kW 1.0-litre TSI turbopetrol, as well as a 1.5-litre TDI turbodiesel, which will replace the 1.6-litre TDI unit offered overseas (local models are 1.4-litre units). A plug-in hybrid version has been mooted (at least for the European market), while the Polo GTI will either be powered by 147 kW 2.0-litre TSI or an upgraded (more powerful) version of the current 1.8-litre powerplant.

Autopista further suggests an electronically-controlled adaptive suspension will be offered as an option, as will the Active Info Display digital instrument panel. Meanwhile, the current CrossPolo could make way for/be complemented by a Polo-based SUV/crossover, as we reported here.

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