[goacom]

Prices have come down because of many factors such as reduced taxes, reduced duties, increased localization and volume. Profit margins in the auto industry are quite small - typically less than 3% of gross. Obviously they are not overcharging now and have not been overcharging in the past.

Prices in India still continue to be higher than much of the rest of the world because taxes are still high and barriers to free trade still exist. Steel for example, continues to be more expensive in India because of import restrictions.

For such a small market, one cannot have the the level of customer customization options that exist in larger markets, for it increases overall costs by increasing the complexity of the supply chain.

Originally Posted by -NUT-case

@vnk77 The points you have mentioned are the ones people look for in a car in ANY country .

In regards to FE we are a little idiotic in that we want a powerful engine at the same time want it to be frugal . I grant you that.

But why do we find excuses for the big conglomerates. In mature markets the competition is very high . The choices they have is numerous and hence the manufacturers do not dare give a sub par product or an overpriced one . In india only the small car market has reached that level of competition and we are seeing competitive prices.

When a company localize 80% production the import duty doesn't come into play at all. Yes the tax system sucks.

But take the Fabia for example .. Could you even imagine buying a fabia for 4.5 something Lakhs a year back .. Well it is possible now . HOW? Do you think they are selling it for a loss? They must be making a profit , a little less that's all. What it shows is how much they were overcharging in the first place.

[Asifgrkhan]

Guys. I realize that this might be a "International Auto Scene" forum Post but wanted to post it in the "Indian Car Scene" because this car has resonance for us and might be coming soon to the Indian market.

Quick Spin: 2010 Volkswagen Polo TSI 1.2 could preview what's to come — Autoblog



At last year's Geneva Motor Show, we got our first in-person look at the all-new fifth-generation Volkswagen Polo, the brand's popular B-segment model that slots in below the ever-expanding Golf and Jetta range. While subcompact vehicles like the Polo have been a staple in Europe for decades where fuel prices hover around $8/gallon, in the last few years, Americans have finally started to take a serious look at cars of this size. With the Honda Fit and Mini Cooper well established, the Ford Fiesta and Mazda2 twins on the way and an all-new Chevrolet Aveo coming late in 2010, the market for subcompact runabouts is picking up steam in the States – and VW is taking a long, hard look at adding the Polo to its North American lineup in the next few years.

With that in mind, VW trotted out a fleet of Polos for us to sample on its home turf near Wolfsburg, Germany recently – and while the automaker has yet to make a firm decision about importing the Polo to the U.S., they clearly wanted our feedback. Here's what we told VW of America CEO Stefan Jacoby and his staff.

The new Polo is a handsome little hatchback with a very attractive implementation of Volkswagen's latest design language. The front fascia shares a lot with the new Golf, including the slim, black, horizontal grille above the bumper and the primary air intake and fog-lamp mounts down below. Along the sides, the pronounced wheel arches work nicely with the chiseled character lines just below the windows and along the rocker panels to give the Polo a pleasantly aggressive stance. For such a small car, it looks quite stocky, especially on the 17-inch, five-spoke alloys fitted to our tester.

All of the Polos on hand were powered by one of VW's newest engines: the 1.2-liter TSI four-cylinder. As its TSI designation implies, the 1.2 includes both a turbocharger and direct fuel injection, with a different cylinder head configuration than current TSI mills. Larger displacement versions from this engine familly all feature dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder, while the 1.2 uses a single cam and only two valves per cylinder. While this might seem like a step backwards, there's some solid reasoning behind it.



The first and most obvious is cost. A single cam, two-valve head is considerably less expensive to build, along with being notably lighter. Both of these elements are important in an engine for an entry-level car. However, there is also a functional reason that could make the two-valve layout advantageous for a direct-injected engine. Four smaller valves take more space in the combustion chamber, and they don't leave much space to locate the spark plug and injector. This usually creates a situation where the spark plug is located in the center and the injector is off to one side. With only two valves, both the plug and the injector can be located closer to the middle, so fuel is distributed more evenly. The pressurized intake air from the turbocharger also helps to offset some of the four-valve configuration's breathing advantage. Overall, this results in a reasonable compromise for a subcompact vehicle and a rather impressive amount of power.

The 1.2-liter TSI churns out 103 horsepower and 129 pound-feet of torque, and while that doesn't sound like much, maximum twist is available between 1,500 and 3,500 rpm, making for excellent around town drivability. By comparison, the 1.5-liter, 16-valve normally aspirated engine in the North American-spec Honda Fit produces 117 hp, while maximum torque – a meager 106 lb-ft – peaks at 4,800 rpm. Mated to either a six-speed manual or new seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the Polo's demeanor is nearly unmatched by anything in the U.S., and the run to 62 miles per hour takes place in a perfectly adequate 9.7 seconds. Making things even more enticing is the Polo's fuel economy, up from 35.1 mpg (U.S.) to 42.8 mpg compared to the outgoing port-injected 1.6-liter four-cylinder in the previous Polo, with a drop in CO2 emissions to boot (159 g/km versus 129 g/km).



Inside, the Polo provides typical Volkswagen fare – well finished, high quality materials of the sort rarely found in Stateside subcompacts. The design is simple, clean and functional, with everything located exactly where it should be. Large, round gauges for the speedometer and tach flank an information display that keeps tabs on the clock, mileage, range and other useful info-tidbits. The overall design is very similar to the Golf, with a seamless surface across the top of the dashboard. Our tester came equipped with an optional in-dash navigation system, along with a large storage bin below the climate controls and cloth seats that proved comfortable while providing plenty of lateral support.

One aspect where the Polo loses out to the class-leading Honda Fit is interior volume. The Japanese hatch is about five inches longer and 2.5 inches taller than the Volkswagen, although the wheelbase is only about an inch longer. Most of the Fit's extra length is the result of its longer nose (something not found on non-North American variants), yet its extra size can be felt most clearly from the rear seat, where the extra height allows for a more upright position for passengers and room for four adults. The Polo is noticeably more snug, albeit easily on par with the forthcoming Ford Fiesta.




The five-door Polo we sampled was equipped with a DSG transmission but, unlike the Golf TDI, it didn't have paddle shifters. If you're hot to swap your own cogs, slotting the gear selector to the right from Drive allows you to tap-shift the transmission up or down. Around town, the torquey engine proved very responsive and the Polo never felt sluggish or strained, and shifts were quick and smooth whether commanded by the powertrain ECU or the driver.

Going around corners, the Polo's steering was quick and the electro-hydraulic assist had good feedback. Our drive loop south of the Oschersleben track included stretches through several small villages coated in cobblestones, and the Polo's poise and reasonably comfortable ride on such uneven surfaces bodes well for how the V-Dub will behave on pitted U.S. roads.

But will it make the trek?



Officials from Volkswagen of America seem intent on bringing the Polo to the States, but the big question seems to be what bodystyle U.S. consumers will get. While European VW dealers offer three- and five-door hatchback configurations, the thought seems to be that Americans would prefer a sedan. To our eyes, a hatchback and its attendant utility makes a lot more sense than an undersized trunk, but our position might not jibe with mainstream consumer tastes. From where we sit, the smarter choice may be something analogous to the Euro-only Golf Plus, which is a taller version of VW's C-segment hatch. A vertically stretched Polo Plus could match the space of the Fit on its existing footprint, negating our only serious ding with the Polo – a lack of interior space.

However, the more intractable problem is cost. With the euro trading at nearly $1.50, sourcing an inexpensive B-segment car from across The Pond is a non-starter. VWoA CEO Stefan Jacoby told us that the site of the new Chattanooga, TN assembly plant has space to double in size and could ultimately produce up to 500,000 vehicles annually. The Puebla, Mexico plant that builds the Jetta and New Beetle is also being expanded, so if the Polo is offered here, it will almost certainly be built in North America and offered throughout North, Central and South America.

VW will no doubt be closely watching how the all-new Ford Fiesta and Mazda2 fare to help determine its path. And if we were betting gentlemen – and we often are – our money would be on the Polo arriving on U.S. shores within the next three-to-four years. With the exemplary 1.2-liter TSI and an enlarged cabin, the Polo could easily find favor with Stateside consumers currently reassessing what they need in a vehicle, and with more subcompacts arriving each year, VW needs to strike while the iron is hot to solidify its place in a segment that's finally garnering some attention in America.

[zaks]

I can see the models on their India site. But anyone know the OTR prices of these 1.2 and 1.5 models?

[Neil.Bhujbal]

Originally Posted by zaks

I can see the models on their India site. But anyone know the OTR prices of these 1.2 and 1.5 models?

There is no 1.5 model mentioned in their site. The three models are 1.2 Petrol,1.2 diesel & 1.6.

Well i don't know about the Price tag,nor do the dealerships here in Pune.
They said they will know the pricing in March 1st week.The bookings & deliveries will start at the same time.

[hpzone]

VW is being hush on the pricing front for POLO. One of the challenges is to mange the brands in the portfolio – Fabia and POLO. It looks like they initially thought of positioning POLO below fabia in India (hence the stripped down versions) and now seeing the way Fabia sales are going they are in a big dilemma.

Fabia is being re-positioned and that will be launched in April (http://www.vicky.in/straightfrmthehe...ions-of-fabia/) and that will make a big challenge for VW. How to position these two great cars in a competitive segment and more competition anticipated by end of the year.

My 2 cents, position Fabia close to SWIFT with similar features and place POLO between Punto and i20. Use the same engines (1.2 petrol and diesel, 1.6 petrol) in both cars are and that will be a killer combination for VW group, but bad for existing Fabiia owners!

[HammerHead]

Originally Posted by hpzone

My 2 cents, position Fabia close to SWIFT with similar features and place POLO between Punto and i20. Use the same engines (1.2 petrol and diesel, 1.6 petrol) in both cars are and that will be a killer combination for VW group, but bad for existing Fabiia owners!

Fabia & Polo on same platform, same engines and similar or exactly same other characteristics (build, ride, handling) but respectable difference in price. Will that do wonders for Polo (over Fabia)? I don't think so!

IMO with Polo they are going to target i20 rather then Punto/Swift.

[hpzone]

Originally Posted by HammerHead

IMO with Polo they are going to target i20 rather then Punto/Swift.

That is the dilemma for VW now, the space to position two hatches (stripped down fabia nd a POLO with minimum features) is very narrow (5 -7 lakhs for diesel) it will be interesting to watch as the storey unfolds

[Mpower]

So the first lot of cars will be 'trendline' only ...is that correct?

Is comfortline the one with beige/black interiors? and when is it expected?

[theEnd]

Originally Posted by Mpower

So the first lot of cars will be 'trendline' only ...is that correct?

Is comfortline the one with beige/black interiors? and when is it expected?

I think its the top-of-the-line Highline that has the beige/black combo. I think its going to be the 1.2 petrol first (offered in all 3 variants) followed by the 1.2 diesel (again all 3) and the 1.6 petrol last (only Highline).

Pity that the Polo Highline equipment level is inferior to the Jetta Trendline.

[Delta Wing]

Does VW have that kind of presence in A.S.S. in India to dent Hyundai or Maruti? I doubt. I know of people in semi-urban areas who own or regularly see i-10/20s, Swifts (even more so), but have never seen a VW in their entire life. VW might target the Punto and the (already beleaguered) Fabia with Polo. The car looks good on paper, let's see it on the road.

[shadow]

The Polo does seem outdated in the looks department, as pointed out by quite a few members. And given the build qualities of the Polo abroad, we can expect it be be quite heavy. A 4 cylinder should have been a bare minimum.

[shadow]

Nice gearshift and alloys on the version above.

[GTO]

11,111,111th Polo rolls off in Pune

Pretty cool thinking behind the number. No mistaking the stress on No.1!

German President Prof. Dr. Horst Koehler together with Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann, Member of Board of Volkswagen AG with responsibility of ‘Group Production’ roll out 11,111,111th Polo ever produced
Pune, February 4, 2010: German Federal President Prof. Dr. Horst Koehler together with Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann, Member of Board of Volkswagen AG with responsibility of ‘Group Production’ roll out the 11,111,111th Polo produced globally during his visit to Volkswagen India’s manufacturing plant at Pune. The Polo has been in production since 1975 and will be launched in the Indian market in its fifth generation version.

[Thad E Ginathom]

That's binary. They've only made 255 of them!

[theragingbull]

Nice! It's amazing to see that VW chose India to be the country where the 11,111,111th Polo would be produced. That shows how serious the German manufacturer is for their India plans.
Read in ET today that VW is gonna make the Pune plant an export hub. And that Polo will be launched here by month end.
Any news on the exact date of launch?