Volkswagen confirms Polo 1.5 diesel

Volkswagen has officially confirmed that it will introduce a 1.5-litre diesel engine in the Polo in 2014. News of this engine, which is essentially a downsized version of the Vento’s current 1.6 diesel (EA 189), was first broken by Autocar India over a year ago.

The new 1.5 diesel “has been specifically developed keeping the Indian market in mind” says Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, chief of product development at Volkswagen. “It will have a different bore and stroke,” he adds. The downsizing project includes the development of new pistons, rings and connecting rods and a stringent validation process that has taken the better part of two years.

VW also hopes to reduce the cost of the engine by assembling it in India. The current 1.6 diesel is imported from South Africa.

With the 1.5 diesel, VW hopes to enhance the appeal of the Polo, which is struggling in the premium hatchback market against rivals like the Swift and i20. The new 1.5-litre, four-cylinder motor is expected to be significantly smoother and more powerful than the current 1.2-litre, three-cylinder diesel. As the engine is still in the development stage, the power and torque outputs have not yet been decided.