Volkswagen India to launch Polo Cross before September 2013?

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 Polo Cross 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.