No, that's not a stripper Polo you're looking at. It's actually a new Volkswagen Up! mule disguised as a Polo and it's been caught roaming the streets of Germany as the tiny city car inches closer to production.
Though this is the first we're seeing of it on the road, Volkswagen is still set on a 2011 launch date for the first of its "New Small Family" group of cars. Set to go up against the Smart ForTwo, a three-door model is expected to debut first, followed by a longer five-door version down the road. At launch, engine choices are expected to include small gasoline and diesel engines, likely a 1.2L four-cylinder with 60 hp and 80 lb-ft for the gas-burner with the option of a more powerful turbocharged version and a 1.2L four-cylinder diesel with 75 hp and 135 lb-ft.
Also rumored to be in the cards is a production version of the E-Up! concept Volkswagen presented last month in Frankfurt. The battery-powered concept is likely the first fruit born from Volkswagen's partnership with Toshiba, and VW has hinted strongly that it could see production as soon as 2013 as the company races to be among the first to offer a mass-production electric vehicle.
Volkswagen hasn't announced pricing yet, but the Up! is expected to fall in the $8,000 to $12,000 range when it debuts in less than two years' time. VW hopes to sell half a million Up!s annually and expects the car to be popular in Europe and in developing nations. It is also considering bringing it to the U.S.
Thanks to: Motor Trend