Next-generation Volkswagen Polo in the works

Volkswagen has been burning the midnight oil, trying to get its formula for the new Polo right. A car that is crucial to the success of the brand in India. VW is currently struggling with the fact that the new-generation Polo is likely to be both, too small and too expensive for our market. The purchasing power of Indian car buyers is currently half that of Europe 26,000 Euros (around Rs 20 lakh) on average.

That, however, has not deterred the German brand, which is looking to deliver a lower sticker price as well as more space on the inside. The sticker price is likely to come via high levels of localisation and customising the car for India. There are a lot of expensive things on the European car which India doesn’t need. We don’t have the same focus on C02 emissions, nor do we have the same ultra high-speed environment and so no need to pass the same safety norms. Some of the mechanical bits aren’t well-suited to India either and can be altered.

For more inside space, VW is looking at a longer wheelbase that will be used on other cars in this class as well. It is likely that the new Polo and the next-gen Vento will use the same wheelbase; which in turn could be shared by the compact SUV and that will further add to economies of scale.

The new Polo is likely to be based on the MQB A0 platform which will also underpin the all-new compact SUV due in 2018. Like the current model, the new Polo is likely to get the localised 1.2 TSI four-cylinder motor with a similar amount of power (112hp) and a retuned and more powerful version of the 1.5 TDI (117hp) that’s currently made here. 

What VW is talking about, of course, is the creation of a sub-platform that will have a lower cost base. So, what started out with the Vento is likely, in theory, go on to become a whole family of cars and that’s what VW is currently crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s on.