[tbppjpr]

Originally Posted by Scorcher

My point is, in a price sensitive market like India, they're never gonna get a winner unless they price it right. It needs to look like a steal compared to its rivals (XUV, classic case in point).

Like the S10 and Baleno, the Polo and Fabia 1.6 are sureshot future classics, the Kizashi, GV, Aria are all excllent pre-used buys, but getting it out of showrooms in the first place isn't gonna be that easy.

I agree with you that these cars don't appeal the bigger class of the buyers. But will you favor the 'compromises' just keep the pricing right?

Let's see ti this way, VW has a decent range of Polo variants. All cater to different class. There are two variants with 1.2 MPI and 1.2 TDI engines whic are decently priced and will keep selling in numbers. Now there was/is another performance oriented variant which is helping in establishing the Polo brand and building a image here.

Now this new Cross-Polo avatar. Personally I don't like this version but different people like have different likings. This Cross-Polo will appeals to many and may much some numbers.

Let them keep experimenting and keep bringing the newer offerings filled with newer technologies. Ultimately its good for our grosing market.

Sometimes don't you miss something which you desperately want to get but that thing is not available in the market, like circa you mentioned? This type of experiments done by one manufacturer open the gates for others. Maybe others also start taking some daring decisions and we are left with lot more desired options in future.

Give them liberty to price the product where they are comfortable, we should focus on the offerings where we can get comfortable.

Originally Posted by Scorcher

So was the Fiat 500 with a hefty crib sheet, still the Beetle and Mini Cooper outsold/sell it despite costing twice as much and doesn’t even have a diesel on option.

Fiat's case falles in exception. Fiat 500 is good offering at attractive price point. But they carry forward a very untasteful history with them in India. Their history and bad image is as much as deep into Indian hearts like how good the Maruti's goodwill is. This image will take time to get vanished.

[JayPrashanth]

Link to News Section

Team-BHP's crack team of spy photographers have homed onto an exciting new variant of the Volkswagen Polo Cross, a jacked up version of the Polo hatchback. These are the clearest shots yet, of the Volkswagen Polo Cross, an upcoming car from the German car maker. Before you begin yawning, we'll get you up to speed on the "exciting bit". Team-BHP's sources assert that the Polo Cross would be powered by a 1.6 Liter TDI turbo diesel, a torquey motor borrowed from the Vento Diesel sedan. Along with the higher ground clearance, butch styling and tall wheels, the 1.6 Liter TDI turbo diesel motor outputting 105 Bhp-250 Nm should give the Polo Cross some serious poke.



While other technical details and specifications about the Volkswagen Polo Cross remain under wraps at this point in time, we'll do our customary digging around until we glean out more dough about the new Polo variant. For those of you remember the soon-to-be-discontinued Skoda Fabia Scout, a rarity on Indian roads, the Polo Cross is Volkswagen's version of the Fabia Scout with the Polo's body shell. While the Fabia Scout was as underpowered as ever with a 1.2 Liter-3 cylinder MPI/TDI motor under its hood, the Polo Cross promises to be pretty perky. There's been some talk about a hatch lid mounted spare wheel for the Polo Cross.



Team-BHP's sources state that such a feature might not make it to the Polo Cross due to the complications of redesigning the hatch lid to accommodate the spare tyre and the associated paraphernalia. Also, considering the fact that the Volkswagen Polo was designed in Europe, where tail gate mounted spare wheels aren't very popular, it'll be highly unlikely that Volkswagen would actually go to the extent of customizing such a part specifically for the Indian car market, especially considering the engineering costs involved. Notably, the Polo Cross sold in Europe doesn't feature a spare wheel on the hatch lid.



Visual changes on the Volkswagen Polo Cross includes smoked headlamps, silver colour wing mirrors, body cladding, roof rails, Cross Polo Decals, alloys wheel design borrowed from the Polo hatchback, restyled front and rear bumpers and a noticeably taller stance.

[2000rpm]

I think the Polo in its original design has much more appeal compared to this. This will be identified by an average Indian buyer as a lower variant compared to Polo owing to the back cladding (as was the case with some of the earlier SUV models in India)

[sudeepg]

Originally Posted by Scorcher

No, it wasn't a disaster as much as the Kizashi or Aria, still it just couldn't appeal the masses (it was never meant to be, still) as well and was limited to a the odd petrolhead here and there.

Like the S10 and Baleno, the Polo and Fabia 1.6 are sureshot future classics, the Kizashi, GV, Aria are all excllent pre-used buys, but getting it out of showrooms in the first place isn't gonna be that easy.

So true! I agree with both points you mentioned here. Take the case of Honda Jazz - It was such a good hatch, but it didn't do well when it was introduced in the market.

[21Archer84]

Spotted the cross polo at Rajgurunagar and followed until Chakan. Had an impression that the car was being enjoyed to the fullest by the test driver and he appeared to be not much impressed with us clicking the pics.

The torque it generated was immense as it didn't struggle overtaking the vehicles. However, need to see how VW prices it and considering the fabia scout out of roads this should be priced well to have decent sales figures.

[JayPrashanth]

Link to News Section

While uncamouflaged test mules of the Polo Cross hatchback have been spotted in India, a launch time frame for this butch looking hatchback isn't forthcoming from Volkswagen India. Now though, we might be able to piece together some information from a report appearing on Nepal's eKantipur, to predict a launch time frame and other possible details of the Polo Cross. The car is slated to be launched in Nepal before September 2013.



Given that the Polo hatchback and the Vento sedan sold in Nepal are built in India, with similar levels of trim and technical specifications, and are exported to the Himalayan kingdom as completely built units(CBUs), the Polo Cross could follow a similar route. In that light, there's a fat chance of a pre-September 2013 launch for the Polo Cross in India. This is following the trend that made-in-India cars launched in Nepal arrive into the Indian car market first.

Also, the Nepal-spec Polo Cross is said to feature a 1.2 Liter TDI turbo diesel engine, the same motor that powers the Polo diesel hatchback. This three cylinder motor outputs 75 Bhp-180 Nm and is mated to a 5 speed manual gearbox. If this engine will indeed be used on the Polo Cross, the hatchback will be no different from the Skoda Fabia Scout model, in that it will essentially be a variant that comes with different styling rather than any real changes on the engine and transmission front.

This bit of buzz also puts the speculation about the 1.6 Liter TDI engine being made available on the Polo Cross on thin ice. From the looks of it, the Polo Cross is more of a cosmetic job on the Polo hatchback, with the car getting new front and rear bumpers, body cladding, revised ground clearance and taller wheels. Apart from the butch looks, higher ground clearance and a bigger price tag, there might be little to distinguish the Polo Cross from the Polo hatchback.

Considering the dismal sales of the Fabia Scout in India, Volkswagen India will have to price the Polo Cross very competitively if the German car maker intends to garner meaningful volumes through the new variant.

[Vid6639]

Actually it makes a lot of sense to get the CrossPolo with the 1.6L TDI engine and keep the normal Polo hatch with the 1.2L P and D engines.

A smart option would be not bring the GT TDI Polo hatch at all with 1.6L engine. It would not get tax subsidy and would push the Diesel hatch past 10L.

Getting the 1.6L in the CrossPolo can be justified as it gives you something extra in terms of styling over the regular Polo.

[volkman10]

The VW Cross Polo is the next awaited launch from the German car maker. The Cross Polo is basically a Polo with a rough road package, made to look like a crossover.
VW India has completed all the necessary ARAI formalities for the Cross Polo. It has also received the ARAI approval certificate.Dates to be announced shortly.

Cross Polo would be launched only in the diesel variant.

The overall length, width and height of the Cross Polo sees an increase from the normal Polo thanks to the new bumpers, side body plastic moldings and roof rails, with 10 kg heavier than the Highline TDI.

Overall length increases from 3970---> 3987 mm
width increases from 1682---> 1698
Height increases from 1453--->1474
Kerb weight increses from 1145 --->1155

Wheel base remains the same @ 2456 mm

After this release VW would be readying the 1.5 Polo TDI next.

Cheers!

http://indianautosblog.com/2013/07/v...approval-85870

[mukeshgoel]

In fact I saw it on Saturday (06-July-2013) in Delhi (Deepali Chowk) but forgot to update.

[stringbh]

cool, that is good news ! any idea on the pricing? Is this the answer to discontinued Fabia?

[Marauder]

Why bother VW?Just putting on body-cladding and roof rails doesn't make the Polo an SUV especially with the same old 3-pot 1.2 diesel engine.Are they hoping to compete with the Ecosport with this?
It would have been better if they had waited for the 1.5TDI and launch this with that engine.

Originally Posted by stringbh

cool, that is good news ! any idea on the pricing? Is this the answer to discontinued Fabia?

No,this is the answer to the discontinued Fabia Scout.
Hopefully the price won't be more than 50k above the regular Polo.

[Vid6639]

If this is going to come with the same 1.2L TDI engine then VW shouldn't bother. Just call it a limited edition and be done with it. Probably add the kit to Polo lying in the yard and clear them off.

If they are serious about it then plonk in the 1.6TDI from the Vento and sell it at a small premium.

[shashank.nk]

If this car is going to be launched with 1.2D engine,IMHO VW shouldn't bother at all. The 1.2 TDi feels under-powered in the regular version,with 10kgs additional weight it just goes from bad to really bad!

If they've shelved plans of a 1.6TDI engine in the Vento its a smart move,considering the 1.6D Polo would've costed 10+ lakhs. The 1.5TDI is a much better option for the Polo

[1100D]

Originally Posted by volkman10

After this release VW would be readying the 1.5 Polo TDI next.

Are you sure that there would be a 1.5 TDI? Last we knew, Polo GT TDI was slated to be launched with Vento's 1.6 TDI, which would not qualify for the tax break. Indeed if VW has reworked the swept volume its good news as the price would be competitive.

[volkman10]

Originally Posted by 1100D

Are you sure that there would be a 1.5 TDI?

Recent ( 4th July) tweet from Hormazd Sorabjee(ACI) indicates as 1.5 TDI with an expected launch early 2014.

Cheers!