Volkswagen unveils 2010 Polo; new subcompact will come to U.S. within two years

March 3, 1:22 PMDC Car ExaminerBrady Holt

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 The new Volkswagen Polo will go on sale in Europe
 this summer, but it will take longer to get to the U.S.

Volkswagen had announced earlier this year that it was bringing the popular Polo subcompact hatchback to the U.S. market to slot beneath its compact Rabbit and compete with such cars as the popular Honda Fit and upcoming Ford Fiesta. 

But before the Polo will come stateside, likely as a 2011 or 2012 model, it will have been redesigned from the existing car that's currently sold in Europe and other parts of the world. 

Volkswagen this week showed the new design at the Geneva Auto Show, which features a new look, new powertrains, and a lower weight compared to the previous version, which first went on sale in 2005. 

The automaker has not announced the specifications for the U.S.-spec Polo, but industry observers are speculating that this market will get a small 1.2-liter 4-cylinder gas engine with 103 horsepower that gets over 40 miles per gallon. Most European Polos will be sold with diesel engines.

Currently, the most fuel-efficent Volkswagen that runs on regular gasoline available in the U.S. -- the Rabbit -- gets just 24 miles per gallon in mixed driving. The diesel Jetta sedan gets up to 35. 

The redesigned Polo goes on sale in Europe this summer. See the slideshow below for more photos. (photos by Volkswagen)