SUV-styled subcompact goes on sale

(Volkswagen)

Volkswagen has officially launched its SUV-styled CrossPolo, the fourth and final addition to its immensely successful Polo range.

The ruggedized version of the Polo subcompact, which debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March, is now available in Germany priced from €16,550 and will be rolled out to Europe and Japan in the coming months.

The five-door model adds several SUV-like features to the traditional Polo base, including black wheel-arch extensions, silver roof rails, sporty bumpers and 952 liters of cargo space.

It is available in six engine configurations; three petrol (1.2 liter, 1.4 liter and a turbocharged 1.2 liter TSI engine) and three 1.6 liter diesel engines with 55 kW / 75 PS, 66 kW / 90 PS and a 77 kW / 105 PS power options.

The 1.2 liter turbocharged petrol engine can manage a respectable top speed of 188 km/h and a 0-100 km/h time of 9.9 seconds.

The Volkswagen Polo has enjoyed considerable sales success and critical acclaim, currently holding both the European Car of the Year and the World Car of the Year titles.

Earlier this year, Volkswagen confirmed that the full range would comprise the base version, BlueMotion, GTI and CrossPolo models, mirroring some of the models in the larger Golf range.

Adding a crossover variant is an increasingly popular way for automakers to increase the appeal of compact vehicles, which are traditionally popular with urban audiences.

The unveiling of the CrossPolo at Geneva was somewhat overshadowed by the simultaneous launch of a sports-styled variant of the iconic MINI, the MINI Countryman.

The first-ever MINI with four doors, the Countryman was intended to "bridge the gap between the classic concept of the MINI and a modern Sports Activity Vehicle."

http://www.volkswagen.com/vwcms/international_portal/virtualmaster/en.html