Volkswagen India launches new Cross Polo at Rs 7.75 lakh

Mumbai, August 22, 2013: Volkswagen India has launched the new Cross Polo hatchback at a sticker price of Rs 7.75 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), Rs 24,000 less than the Polo GT TSI model.

The Cross Polo is basically a Polo hatchback with additional body cladding. The ride height has been slightly increased and a thick, matte plastic band extends across the chin, the flanks and around the rear. The wheel arches get the same treatment and there’s a scuff plate with a dull silver finish.

The Cross Polo also gets a different grille with a single slat and silver anodised roof rails where up to 75kg of luggage can be mounted and secured. The car comes with a silver diffuser at the rear and 16-inch alloy wheels, similar to the ones seen on the Jetta.

The Cross Polo is powered by the same 1.2-litre three-cylinder diesel engine as in the Polo and is equipped with a five-speed manual gearbox. It comes in only one trim and has similar equipment levels as the top-end Highline diesel variant, the only change being that the interiors come in an all-black theme.

Commenting on the launch of the new car, Arvind Saxena, managing director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Group Sales India, said: “The Polo is an important carline in the Indian portfolio and with ongoing updates we keep it relevant and exciting for our customers. The CrossPolo has been created for those looking at a premium hatchback in a sporty ‘crossover’ style.”

Volkswagen India is also working on bringing another variant of the Cross Polo later, touted to be a more upmarket variant with a spare wheel at the back and VW's new 1.5-litre diesel engine. This could be set for a 2014 launch.

Between April-July 2013, Volkswagen India sold 19,777 cars, down 5.39 percent year on year, and currently has a market share of 2.49 percent. In July 2013, the carmaker sold 4,339 cars, down 11.54 percent.

Earlier this month, on August 5, the company’s Pune plant rolled out its 300,000th car, a Vento export model. The landmark was reached a little after four years when the 130,000 units per annum capacity plant began operations in May 2009.