Next-generation Polo spotted out testing in China

The next generation of VW Polo has been spotted out testing in China and has got the Chinese automotive media into a tizzy with rumors of the Polo going 'up market' and pushing itself into a premium segment.

Initially the small car market had quite a few contenders from multinational JV's in China, but Chinese auto manufacturers began to launch many different cars such as the BYD F0, Chery QQ3, and the Chang'an Ben Ben mini, these cars pushed down the prices from a comfortable 80,000rmb – 100,000rmb to lows of 30,000rmb where JV's found it hard to compete against low prices and high turnover.

The Fiesta launched in China as a sensibly priced premium small car, and it appears the VW Polo is planning to follow it down a similar path of slightly higher pricing which will probably see it priced from 75,000rmb to 115,000rmb when launched, although if the GTI is made in China then the price of that 1.4TSI model might push it upto around 150,000rmb.