[swiftnfurious]

Originally Posted by Rajeevraj

Curious. Is a dealer allowed to do this? changing the grill seems borderline ok. But adding a GTI emblem seems illegal. Can understand it being done outside, but I assume a dealer who is a representative of the brand, doing something like this will be a violation.

Any change to a factory finished product is 'illegal'; stickers or a different grill.

I know dealers even upgrading tyres & alloy wheels, but as per the customer demand.

[hybridpetrol]

IMHO, such changes, even make the product void of warranty, if the warranty conditions are followed by letter. If the customer visits any other dealership to claim the warranty they may refuse to honour, citing such changes. However, the same dealership where such changes were made, might adjust and handle it internally.

[Rajeevraj]

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

Any change to a factory finished product is 'illegal'; stickers or a different grill.

I know dealers even upgrading tyres & alloy wheels, but as per the customer demand.

Agree. But a dealer making changes to make it look like another car- especially adding the badge and that too one of VW's Halo products not sold in India seems to be a little too much. Am sure this 'upgrade' is not something VW will appreciate if they come to know.

Or maybe they don't care.

[shefiu]

Looks like more dealers are capitalising on the consumers itch to modify.

After my previous post I've been thinking about this car.. a lot..

I've begun to realise that CBU at 18-20 lakhs is quite possibly stupid to consider. Local assembly would bring down the cost considerably - but would this be something that VW would consider? If they go the CKD route then they definitely could go for a localisation for a variety of components, again, is this something feasible in their eyes?

Breaking down the differences between the GT TSi and the GTI:

Mechanical
1. 1.8 TSi 189bhp 250nM (if DSG)
2. xds+ electronic differential
3. Stiffer suspension and lower by 10mm*
4. 16" (17"?) alloys
5. Beefier disc brakes all round

Lighting & Body
1. LED headlamps
2. Euro-Style tail lamps
3. GTi body kit + spoiler with badging all around
4. Twin exhaust

(assuming the TSi refresh gets auto-folding ORVMs with integrated blinkers)

Features & Interior
1. Sunroof
2. mk7 GTI MFSW with paddle shifter (if DSG)
3. Updated touchscreen system with navigation (if same as spy shots)
4. Alcantara upholstery
5. Updated Euro-style instrument cluster
6. Auto headlights / rain-sensing wipers*
7. Reduced boot space due to battery being positioned in the rear
8. 40/60 folding seats*

(assuming the TSi refresh gets cruise control)

* are my assumptions based on features available in UK / Australia GTis

Funny though - after doing some closer inspection the imported GTi did not have headlight washers (there isn't any rule stating they are compulsory here for HIDs I would assume) and no front/rear parking sensors.

On the international brochures the GTI has a shorter wheelbase by 2mm and is slightly longer (probably because of the body kit). I wonder how much of an issue that wheelbase would make in case we are talking about local assembly.

I'm pretty sure I may have missed some additional differences, please feel free to chip in. The (two) million rupee question is do all these warrant double the ex-showroom price of the TSi as speculated by many on here?

For me, the further south of the 20 lakh mark it gets, the juicier the deal, even if some of the features are omitted!

[Chrome6Boy]

I expect VW will be looking very closely at the upcoming release of the Punto Abarth. The Punto's price is expected to be a very reasonable 10 Lakhs, and the engine is expected to put out 140 BHP with loads of torque.

Performancewise this car will right between the Polo GT TSI and the Polo GTI at the price of the GT TSI (without the DSG of course).

If the Punto Abarth sells well, it will definitely push VW towards a lower price point for the GTI. Lets hope the Punto sells!

[BlueEyes]

VW today unveiled new Polo GTI globally at Indonesia International Auto Show. India Today reports that VW is planning to launch it in India by end of this year but it's sad that it will be a CBU. Obviously VW is not looking to top the sales charts with this one. But again if someone really want a GTI he would buy it any way. India built GTI would have given VW a definite edge over Upcoming Punto Abarth on pricing, and also given that VW sales/service is well spread out then Fiat's. I really think VW missed out a good opportunity here. Perhaps VW is taking very cautious move towards Indian market for this hot hatch.

Snippet from the article:

The new Volkswagen Polo GTI comes in AWD with all new sports suspension and disc brakes. The car also comes with engine drag torque control, vehicle dynamics function XDS+ and electronic differential lock, say reports.
According to reports, the Volkswagen Polo GTI will come via the CKD-route, reports say. Although, design-wise, the Polo GTI is similar to the previous model, but there are several major changes with the styling of the car. The Polo GTI will come with LED headlights, honeycomb mesh grille, red brake calipers, re-designed bumper and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Source: http://goo.gl/MyTmbO

[shefiu]

Originally Posted by BlueEyes

VW today unveiled new Polo GTI globally at Indonesia International Auto Show. India Today reports that VW is planning to launch it in India by end of this year but it's sad that it will be a CBU.

Snippet from the article:

Source: http://goo.gl/MyTmbO

The article mentions CKD, not CBU. Though they have got some facts right, very questionable reporting. The Polo GTi was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show almost a year ago, its definitely not AWD unless they mean the rumoured Polo R. The kicker is they have used a Golf GTi image for their "scoop"

[vinya_jag]

I saw one yesterday. A dark grey Polo GTI in Bangalore.
It had no exterior changes, other than the GTI badge in the front. And it had normal registration.
Or, was it just a badge Job? Im not sure

[lamborghini]

Originally Posted by vinya_jag

I saw one yesterday. A dark grey Polo GTI in Bangalore.
It had no exterior changes, other than the GTI badge in the front. And it had normal registration.
Or, was it just a badge Job? Im not sure

The car being tested sports quite a few additions such as Bi-Xenons with Projectors and LED DRL's, panoramic sunroof, etc.
Unless these were present (and a lot of Polo's running around have these after market fitments including painting the roof black) - it is most likely a normal Polo / GT.

[vinya_jag]

The car was travelling in the opposite direction, so could not spot all of them. But am mostly sure, the headlamps were the same as our Polo

[amvj]

I too spotted one red Polo near EON IT park in Kharadi, Pune with GTI badge in the left side of the grill. I thought some one simply added a GTI badge to a polo.

There are no sporty body work and it had a normal headlights only.

[sweetvar26]

They need to come out or announce this car soon, need to buy a replacement for Vento and I'd rather have this than any other car out there. Hopefully the launch isn't too far away.

[volkman10]

VW is likely to bring the Polo GTI to India in early 2016.

Detuned to 168hp and mated to a 6 speed MT, VW is testing this on 1.8-litre turbo petrol engine .

http://motoroctane.com/news/21045-16...oming-to-india

[Vik0728]

Originally Posted by volkman10

VW is likely to bring the Polo GTI to India in early 2016.

Detuned to 168hp and mated to a 6 speed MT, VW is testing this on 1.8-litre turbo petrol engine.

This had to happen and who else than the German Giant to offer a hot hatch

What I hope does not materialize is:

The pricing of this hatchback will be in excess of INR 13 lakhs

- 168 BHP Hot Hatch - Check
- 6 Speed MT - Check
- Goodies - Check

- Global Cheats - Yep
- Horrendous Service backup - Yep
- Pathetic Logistics - Oh Hell Yeah baby

So Abarth EVO has quite a few months head start to establish the brand, support and reliability. If it does by the time GTI comes around, at 13+ lakhs, VW you better give the engine with Gold Plating !!

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by volkman10

VW is likely to bring the Polo GTI to India in early 2016.

Detuned to 168hp and mated to a 6 speed MT, VW is testing this on 1.8-litre turbo petrol engine .

http://motoroctane.com/news/21045-16...oming-to-india

13L puts it 3 lakh above the Punto Abarth, but I'm not complaining. It's almost drool worthy to have a 145bhp hatchback at 9.95L and if that is still not enough- a 168 bhp hatchback at 13L.

Hope they also upgrade the suspension, steering feedback and the brakes.

PS- VW purists will now cry foul at it not being a pure GTI. However, it's better than a pure GTI in my opinion if they can manage to price it sensibly as per our market demands.