Pick Your Polo Poison

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Before you choose, remember, this Polo GTI won’t be coming to the United States when the nameplate arrives sometime next year. In fact, no three-door hatch is planned for America at all, since VW has decided to go the Echo route and only sell sedan-bodied Polos stateside. Well, with one exception…

A “Polo Plus” for plus-sized Americans is planned. “It’s more like a cross between a compact minivan and a hatchback. In other words, it’s more like the Honda Fit,” says VWoA’s Stephan Jacoby. This 2011 Cross Polo, which will take a bow at the upcoming Geneva Auto Show, could just be a preview of the model VW has in mind. You know, without all the expensive, high-tech European engines.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • ButterflyJack ButterflyJack on Feb 20, 2010

    I read somewhere, in the last day or two that this Polo GTI will be equipped with a 1.4 liter part supercharged/part turbocharged, 180 HP engine...which sounds really great...Then, to take all the wind out of those sails...it will be available only with the slam-bang, 7 speed VW automatic(automated manual)..No standard shift...Hmmm nothing sporty about a little tiny car with an automatic tranny to me... dragonfly

  • Buckshot Buckshot on Feb 21, 2010

    I never understood why small sedans sells in the usa, and not hatchbacks. The only ones that buys small sedans here are cheap/poor senior citizens. Younger people buy hatchbacks.

  • Zipper69 "At least Lincoln finally learned to do a better job of not appearing to have raided the Ford parts bin"But they differentiate by being bland and unadventurous and lacking a clear brand image.
  • Zipper69 "The worry is that vehicles could collect and share Americans' data with the Chinese government"Presumably, via your cellphone connection? Does the average Joe in the gig economy really have "data" that will change the balance of power?
  • Zipper69 Honda seem to have a comprehensive range of sedans that sell well.
  • Oberkanone How long do I have to stay in this job before I get a golden parachute?I'd lower the price of the V-Series models. Improve the quality of interiors across the entire line. I'd add a sedan larger then CT5. I'd require a financial review of Celestiq. If it's not a profit center it's gone. Styling updates in the vision of the XLR to existing models. 2+2 sports coupe woutd be added. Performance in the class of AMG GT and Porsche 911 at a price just under $100k. EV models would NOT be subsidized by ICE revenue.
  • NJRide Let Cadillac be Cadillac, but in the context of 2024. As a new XT5 owner (the Emerald Green got me to buy an old design) I would have happy preferred a Lyriq hybrid. Some who really like the Lyriq's package but don't want an EV will buy another model. Most will go elsewhere. I love the V6 and good but easy to use infotainment. But I know my next car will probably be more electrified w more tech.I don't think anyone is confusing my car for a Blazer but i agree the XT6 is too derivative. Frankly the Enclave looks more prestigious. The Escalade still has got it, though I would love to see the ESV make a comeback. I still think GM missed the boat by not making a Colorado based mini-Blazer and Escalade. I don't get the 2 sedans. I feel a slightly larger and more distinctly Cadillac sedan would sell better. They also need to advertise beyond the Lyriq. I don't feel other luxury players are exactly hitting it out of the park right now so a strengthened Cadillac could regain share.
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