By Martin Schwoerer
August 5, 2008 -
When we reviewed the VW Polo, we noted that it's a good and useful car let down by staid styling and a high price. VW is addressing… the former. According to Autobild [print version of July 31], the 2009 VW Polo will finally ditch the slab sides and become more stylish. Since the Polo already has similar interior space as the MK3 Golf, this means the Polo might well become a lot more important for VW– to the detriment of the Golf, which suffers from what you could call generational bloat. For the Polo, VW plans to offer double-clutch automatic transmissions and a wide arrange of engines. Popular Mechanics reports that VW will also create a hovercraft hybrid version– just kidding. The mag reports (prays?) that VW may bring a clean-diesel, 70mpg Polo stateside. We say currency exchange rates mean VW can't make a dime on that deal unless they build the new Polo in Mexico, which they won't do because of the aforementioned cannibalism.
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August 5th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
You know, the City Golf and Jetta (basically a restyled MkIV) sold in Canada (alongside the Rabbit and MkV) aren’t bad cars. With a better powertrain they’d be viable B-segment cars.
Of course, with a better powertrain, they wouldn’t be cheap as dirt.
August 5th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
The Golf and the Polo get along fine in other markets. Why not here? The Golf isn’t really a small car anymore, and VW could use something in that segment, assuming they’re able to price it reasonably.
August 5th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
We should have been asking “Is Fit a worthy competitor to Polo?” 5 years ago.
I still think it’ll be a good addition to the VW stable, but like so much else, VW is either way ahead of themselves (Phaeton) or way behind.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
VW has sales to canabalize?
I’m stunned.
Seriously they should stop worrying about canablizing and worry about trying to bring a car here that people want to buy.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Marco
August 5th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Polo
August 5th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
The Polo should have been the new Rabbit. I can see where VW could build the Polo in the dollar zone and sell it in the US as a Rabbit, then import only the Golf GTI (or maybe Scirocco) from Europe, with a premium price.
August 5th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
If that’s actually the new Polo, I’ll take one with a TDI, 6 gears, and 3 pedals. Will they call it the Polf or the Golo? Actually, maybe they should sell the Gol/Pointer in North America as well.
August 5th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I parked my 2007 Fusion next to a 2007 Golf today. I thought, gee, if I would have bought that car instead, it would have COST MORE yet LOOKED CHEAPER than my Fusion. Not a good combination.
VW has lots of problems. A cheap good car like the Polo could fix a lot of them.
August 5th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
I beleive Polos, Pointers and Golf are availlable in the “Dollar” zone given that they are “hechos en Mexico”.
All 3 models have been available for years south of the border without cannibalizing each other.
August 5th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
What if VW built them in that new factory they’re planning in NA?
August 5th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
I agree that a TDI would be a great addition to the US.
August 6th, 2008 at 4:27 am
Popular Mechanics reports that VW will also create a hovercraft hybrid version– just kidding.
Drat! Drat! And Double-Drat! You trifle with my hopes and dreams for a flying car, only to dash them, yet again. Curse you, Martin Schwoerer!