Volkswagen India introduces updated Polo

Volkswagen India has rolled out the face-lifted Polo hatchback with prices starting at Rs 4.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The new Polo sees a host of cosmetic updates, a striking new orange colour and an all-new 1.5-litre diesel motor.

On the styling front, the Polo’s front bumper has a new design and a thick chrome strip on the air-dam. The grille uses less chrome and gets a smart single strip instead of three. There are new-design alloys and the headlights and tail-lights get refreshed styling as well, but LED day-time running lights are missing on the updated car. The rear bumper has also been redesigned. 

On the inside, the car gets a new three-spoke steering wheel, a two-tone option on the dashboard and silver finishing on the centre console.

The new Polo, equipped with a five-speed manual gearbox, continues to be powered by the existing 1.2-litre and 1.2-litre TSI petrol units but the big news is the all-new 1.5-litre diesel motor available in two states of tune — 89bhp and 104bhp.

Prices for the car start from Rs 4.99 lakh to Rs 6.07 lakh for the 1.2-litre petrol and Rs 6.27 lakh to Rs 7.37 lakh for the 1.5 TDI (ex-Delhi introductory prices).

By end-August, Volkswagen India says it will introduce the new CrossPolo (Rs 7.90 lakh), GT TSI (Rs 7.99 lakh) and GT TDI (Rs 7.99 lakh)

Speaking at the launch of the face-lifted Polo, Michael Mayer, director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, said: “Our clear objective is to improve our market position in the next few years.”

Volkswagen India saw sold 3,079 units in June 2014, down 42.51 percent over sales a year ago. In Q1 (April-June 2014) of the current fiscal, the company has sold  8,769 units, down 41 percent YoY. 

Photograph (L-R): Mahesh Kodumudi, Chief Representative Volkswagen Group India and president and MD, Volkswagen India, and Michael Mayer, director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, at the launch of the face-lifted Polo in New Delhi today.