Volkswagen Australia has announced a number of updates to its recently launched sixth-generation Polo light-car range, including a limited run of 500 Polo Beats vehicles and the addition of several new option packs such as the sporty R Line package.
The Volkswagen Polo Beats is priced at $22,490 for the six-speed manual and $24,990 for the seven-speed automatic DSG, and both models are powered by the up-spec 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine (85kW/200Nm).
Compared to the standard Volkswagen Polo models — the Trendline ($17,990) and Comfortline ($19,490) — the Polo Beats gets a 300-Watt premium audio system co-developed with Beats, featuring six speakers, a boot-mounted sub-woofer and an eight-channel digital amplifier.
It’s also festooned with Beats logos inside and out, including on the seats, front tweeters, scuff plates and exterior B-pillars.
White, red or black paint jobs are available with contrasting body stripes and the VW Polo Beats also gets new 16-inch Torsby alloy wheels, front fog lights, LED tail-lights, black door mirrors and tinted rear windows.
"We hear a great deal about car-makers pursuing a 'younger' demographic,” said Volkswagen Australia’s managing director Michael Bartsch.
“This usually amounts to a basic car in jellybean colours. We don't have to make a noise about the Polo Beats because its message to aspirational buyers is loud and clear.”
Other features of the Volkswagen Polo Beats include a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster – basically Audi’s ‘virtual cockpit’ – plus wireless phone charging, matt-red dashboard inserts, an 8.0-inch touch-screen and sat-nav.
Volkswagen will also make the ‘Beats’ audio and digital instrument technology optional for Polo Comfortline and GTI models.
The German car-maker says the $1900 ‘sound and vision’ package makes the Polo “…the first car to offer of the Beats premium audio system outside of the branded special models”.
As well as the 10.2-inch digital display, the sound and vision package adds sat-nav and wireless charging for compatible smartphones.
Then there’s the ‘R Line’ package ($1400), which for the first time is available on the Volkswagen Polo. It’s only offered with the Comfortline model grade and adds an R Line front bumper, black radiator grille, side skirts, badging and black rear diffuser with chrome trapezoidal inserts.
It also gets front fog lights, 16-inch Sebring alloy wheels, lowered sports suspension and dark tinted privacy glass. Accord to Volkswagen, it represents a “complete transformation” for the Polo.
Finally there’s also a ‘driver assistance’ package ($1400) that provides the Polo with adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitor with rear traffic alert, a proactive occupant protection system and automatic parking functionality.
How much does the new Volkswagen Polo cost?
70TSI Trendline manual — $17,990
70TSI Trendline auto — $20,490
85TSI Comfortline manual — $19,490
85TSI Comfortline auto — $21,990
GTI auto — $30,990
Beats manual — $22,490
Beats auto — $24,990
How much do the Volkswagen Polo options cost?
Driver assistance package — $1400
Sound and vision package — $1900
R Line package — $1500
Metallic or pearl effect paint — $500