I kinda like the CrossPolo, although I can't really figure out for myself exactly WHY VW made it in the first place. And now, there is a replacement heading our way in May...
The more rugged (looking) CrossPolo slips on its "angry eyes" ahead of a debut alongside its hotter and more desirable GTI sibling.
The Polo with built-in butch gets ready to strut at next month's massive Geneva Motor Show where it will undoubtedly be outdone by the infinitely more exciting Polo GTI. It is likely to again garner a fair share of loyal fans, though.
Production of the all-new CrossPolo retains a base at the local Uitenhage plant and the South African line-up should follow that of the previous iteration’s – a petrol 1.6 and a TDI. This time, though, turbodiesel power will be sourced from the new 77-kW common-rail direct injection 1.6 TDI rather than the 1.9 TDI used before.
A mix of manual and automatic transmissions will be offered, including the new seven-speed DSG box shared with GTI model – a first for CrossPolo.
The face on the more purposeful five-door gets a fair share of chrome detailing while it shows off its more hardcore nature in profile with black wheelarch extensions and bump strips along the lower door area.
The rear bumper is also finished in a hardy, black plastic, with a silver rimmed cutout designed to look like a diffuser.
CrossPolo rides on 17-inch alloy wheels with a snazzy five-spoke design.
A more practical consideration, perhaps, are the silver anodised roof rails that are decorative, yes, but useful, too. They are able to carry a weight up to 75 kg.
The cabin is, we presume, meant to be comfortable since it is described by Volkswagen in its media release as having materials that are “friendly to the touch”.
Sport seats are finished in two-tone fabrics with four available colour trims and all seats have a black webbed structure to make them more durable. “CrossPolo” is embossed on all the backrests.
However, for the most part, specification will mimic that seen on the “regular” Polo models. More detailed information will be released when CrossPolo is released in South Africa in May this year.
) as a GTi. To me, a GTi will always be a GOLF. Why couldn't they find some other name? CLi and GLi were used in the past, what about PLi??