The refreshed Volkswagen Polo city hatch will be in Australia during the second quarter of next year.

    The company indicated it’s expecting the core Polo range to arrive “early Q2 2022” with the updated GTI hot hatch to hit Australian showrooms by May 2022.

    Australian-market drivetrains will be carried over, meaning the 1.0-litre TSI three-cylinder turbo in 70kW and 85kW tunes will feature, as will GTI’s 147kW 2.0-litre TSI.

    The three-cylinder models offer both manual and DSG auto transmissions, while the GTI is auto-only.

    Volkswagen’s entry-level passenger car in Australia (the Up! still lives on abroad) is due to get a number of refinements in terms of design and technology.

    So far, it has only shown a partial view of the front end, revealing a revised LED headlight cluster with a daytime-running light signature extending through the grille and connecting the front lights – aping the Mk8 Golf.

    We can also see a bright purple colour used on the body of this sketch, though it’s unclear whether such a distinctive hue will make it to production.

    In terms of what will be new, we’re expecting a mildly revised design with updated bumpers, light clusters, and new wheel designs.

    There should be an enhanced suite of IQ.Drive assistance technologies, likely offering Level 2 autonomous highway driving ability in the form of Travel Assist – combining adaptive cruise and lane centring functions.

    The existing Polo already offers the latest VW MIB3 infotainment with wireless smartphone mirroring and factory navigation on high-spec models, but we could see Digital Cockpit instruments fitted as standard across the range like in other new Volkswagen models.

    In its global media release, Volkswagen also says: “The structure of the offering in this best-seller has also been revised”.

    “New technologies are finding their way in, instruments are becoming more digital and, thanks to greater networking, the inhabitants are “always on” – so the success story of this vehicle can continue.”

    It appears VW will trim the model family, at least in European markets, and some form of connected vehicle tech will also be available in select regions.

    Further details will be confirmed at the new Polo’s international reveal, scheduled for Thursday 22 April at 11am European time.

    Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest.

    MORE: Volkswagen Polo news, reviews, comparisons and videos

    James Wong

    James Wong is the Production Editor at CarExpert based in Melbourne, Australia. With experience on both media and manufacturer sides of the industry, James has a specialty for product knowledge which stems from a life-long obsession with cars. James is a Monash University journalism graduate, an avid tennis player, and the proud charity ambassador for Drive Against Depression – an organisation that supports mental wellness through the freedom of driving and the love of cars. He's also the proud father of Freddy, a 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI .

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