Updated Polo here next year

VOLKSWAGEN’s Polo has just received a mid-life makeover and the revised model is due to hit South African showrooms during the first quarter of 2022, VWSA says.

Like the current version, the 2022 Volkswagen Polo – including the GTI performance model – will be built in South Africa for local and international markets. The manufacturer says that local pricing and specifications will be released towards the end of this year.

Unlike most facelifts, the Polo’s visual upgrade is subtle at the front and more noticeable at the rear. Upfront we see new LED headlights, with available matrix technology, and there’s now a light strip that connects them via the grille. At the back end, the Polo gets reshaped LED tail lights which now run into the tailgate and it’s here that you’ll also see new “Polo” block letters.

Buyers can also opt for an R-Line version of the new Polo, complete with bumpers featuring high-gloss black treatment for the air intake bars and diffuser, as well as chrome-look exhaust tips and 16-inch Valencia alloy wheels.

Volkswagen has also used this facelift to upgrade the technology, a highlight being the new IQ.Drive Travel Assist system that allows for partially automated driving. It does this by combining adaptive cruise control with lane assist.

European models receive a spec boost too, with digital instrumentation now standard with lane assist and heated mirrors, among other things, but it’s not clear yet whether local models will receive similar enhancements.

Volkswagen has not mentioned any engine changes, but the vehicle will reportedly soldier on with the current 1-litre, three-cylinder TSI turbo-petrol units, as well as the GTI’s 2-litre TSI motor.

Watch this space for details.