Volkswagen is set to take on the Nissan Juke and Mini Countryman with a crossover version of its Polo. The news comes in the wake of the German giant admitting it will unveil a crossover version of its Up! city car (pictured).
The new Up!-based model will be officially presented to the public at the end of this month during the 2012 Sao Paulo Motor Show.
In addition, the Polo SUV — expect to be closely related to the Audi Q2 in terms of size — is also in the pipeline. It will be spun off the VW Group’s versatile new MQB platform.
“We have to increase our SUV offerings,” VW R&D chief Ulrich Hackenberg said. “It’s important we get in the A0 SUV segment, and we’re working on it.”
And although Hackenberg wouldn’t confirm a launch date for the new model, it’s expected the newcomer will be in the showrooms in 2014.
Both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive will be offered, but the bulk of sales will come from front-drive models.
VW is also set to show an SUV based on the US-market Passat, although this model is unlikely to make it to Europe.
About Jim McGill
Jim McGill is an award-winning motoring and motorsport journalist with more than 25 years' industry experience. He contributes to a number of newspapers and magazines, including The Times, Telegraph, Daily Mail, Scotsman, Sunday Herald and AA Magazine.
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