PoloDriver

Volkswagen India has launched a new Polo special model, the Polo Black & White Edition. Based on the range-topping Polo Highline Plus model and only available in Deep Black or Candy White paint finishes, the special edition features a range of equipment and unique features.

Also available in Vento Polo-based saloon and Ameo Polo-based compact saloon models, too, the Polo, Vento and Ameo Black & White Editions incur no additional cost when compared to the versions on which they are based. Special kit includes grey lower body graphics, 16-inch ‘Portago’ alloy wheels, gloss black rear roof spoiler (Polo), gloss black rear boot spoiler (Vento and Ameo), a black-painted roof, black wing mirror cappings, a ‘Black & White’ wing badge, as well as ‘Black & White’ leatherette seat covers. The app-based Volkswagen Connect system is also standard.

‘Dash of style’
Steffen Knapp, Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars said: ‘We constantly enhance our product offerings in line with evolving consumer aspirations. The Polo and Vento have been strong contenders within their segments. Adding a dash of style, these enhanced feature models make an attractive value proposition for our discerning customers’.

For the Indian market, the Polo is currently offered with 74bhp 1.0 MPI petrol and 88bhp 1.5 TDI engines. The Vento offers more choice with 103bhp 1.2 TSI and 103bhp 1.6 MPI petrol engines, in addition to a 107bhp 1.2 TDI unit. The Ameo meanwhile comes with the same 74bhp 1.0 MPI petrol engine as the Polo and a more powerful 107bhp 1.5 TDI unit. From 1 January 2019, all Volkswagen India cars are also offered with a four-year/1 lakh standard warranty, four-year free roadside assistance and also a scheme which offers three free services in one year, or up to 15,000 km.

The Volkswagen India Polo range currently starts at RS 5.75 lakh, with the Vento beginning at Rs 8.68 lakh. The smaller Ameo range is priced from 5.87 lakh. For more information on the Polo, Vento and Ameo Black & White Editions and the rest of the ranges, visit the Volkswagen India website.

Continue Reading

Following in the tyre tracks of the Polo GT Sedan announced by Volkswagen Russia this week, Volkswagen India has unveiled new special editions of its Polo hatchback and Vento saloon models. The Polo Select and Vento Celeste special editions offer an enhanced appearance and upgraded equipment count when compared to the Highline models on which they are based.

Extra kit
Similar to last year’s Polo Exquisite and Vento Highline Plus limited edition cars, the Polo Select and Vento Celeste can be specified with a distinctive black roof wrap, black side mouldings, and fake carbonfibre mirror caps. The Polo Select also offers a roof spoiler and sill plates for all four of its doors, while the Vento Celeste can count a rear boot spoiler and a Blaupunkt audio/navigation system among its extra kit.

Inside, both cars receive a carbonfibre-look centre console, branded seat covers, detachable sun blinds, as well as floor mats. The latest Indian special editions are fitted with the same engine and transmission choices as the regular Polo and Vento. The Polo Select comes with 74bhp 1.2-litre petrol or an 89bhp 1.5-litre TDI engines, while the Vento Celeste is only fitted with the 1.5-litre TDI mated to a seven-speed DSG gearbox.

[Source: Indian Autos Blog]

Continue Reading

Volkswagen Russia has introduced a sports-orientated variant of its Polo Sedan. Based on the face-lifted model introduced in 2015, the Polo GT Sedan takes styling cues from both the current Polo GTI as well as the UK-market Scirocco GTS. The striking four-door is powered by a 123bhp version of Volkswagen’s 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine, mated to either a six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG transmission.

Polo GTI styling cues
Externally, the Polo GT Sedan borrows the Polo GTI’s front bumper, fog lights, and honeycomb grille, as well as the UK Polo SE Design’s 16-inch alloy wheels. Other exterior differences over the standard car include a gloss black-painted roof and mirrors, a rear boot spoiler, and a pair of chrome-tipped exhaust pipes. The black and red stripes seen in the released press images are limited to the first 300 cars which are finished in white or silver.

Inside, more sporty touches lift the standard Polo Sedan’s interior. ‘GT’ badges feature on the sill strips, a three-spoke leather steering wheel also wears logo denoting the car’s stature in the Polo Sedan range, while tartan seat upholstery and aluminium sports pedals also bring correlation to the Polo GTI hatchback. Climate control, electric windows all round, and headed front seats are all standard equipment.

Russian-market model
The Polo GT Sedan appear to be a Russian-market only model, and, as far as we understand, there are no plans to introduce similarly-badged models in South Africa or India, where the car wears the Vento name. The GT adds to the already five-strong Polo Sedan range in Russia, which includes Allstar, Conceptline, Trendline, Comfortline, and Highline versions. At the time of writiing, there’s no word on pricing and availability.

[Source: Indian Autos Blog]

Continue Reading

Volkswagen India has today recalled 3,877 Vento TDI models due to ‘inconsistent emission issues’. All models affected feature manual gearboxes and the company’s recently-developed 103bhp four-cylinder 1.5-litre TDI engine. Variable carbon monoxide emissions are reported to have exceeded limits during conformity of production tests conducted by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI). There are no suspected links to the ongoing EA189-engine ‘dieselgate’ issue.

Temporarily suspended sales
Volkswagen India has also temporarily suspended sales of the 1.5 TDI manual Vento while the issue is investigated. The company will propose technical measures to ARAI as soon as it can. Once these measures have been approved by the relevant authorities, production and sales of the affected models will continue. Customer cars which have already been sold will be recalled and also have the remedial measures fitted.

Volkswagen India is keen to stress that only 1.5-litre TDI cars with a manual gearbox are affected, and that production and sales of all other Vento (including 1.5 TDI DSG variants) and Polo models will remain on sale and continue in production. In echoes of the ‘dieselgate’ issue, the manufacturer has also reassured drivers of the affected cars that their vehicles remain safe and roadworthy. The revised Volkswagen Vento was launched in the summer of 2015, and is a booted version of the fifth-generation Polo.

Continue Reading

Ahead of its Auto Expo 2016 motor show debut in Delhi this week, Volkswagen has launched its long-awaited sub-4m compact saloon, the Ameo. Based on the fifth-generation Polo made at the company’s Indian factory, the Ameo has a very similar appearance to the popular hatchback but with a severely truncated ‘three-box’ tail.

Designed and engineered for India
The Ameo has been designed and engineered specifically for the Indian market (the car’s marketing slogan is ‘German engineering with an Indian heart’), and will be built alongside the Polo – and its over-4m saloon sister, the Vento – at Volkswagen’s Pune plant. The new car looks almost identical to the Polo at the front, the only marked differences being the ‘folds’ at the bumper edges.

At the rear, bespoke tail lamps and creases mark out the Ameo, which will count the Ford Aspire, Honda Amaze, Hyundai Xcent, Swift Dire and Tata Zest as its key rivals. Two Polo engines feature in the Ameo’s make-up: a 74bhp 1.2-litre petrol and an 89bhp 1.5-litre TDI diesel. Five-speed gearboxes are standard, while a seven-speed DSG is available as an option on the TDI.

The Ameo has a wide range of safety kit, with anti-lock brakes and dual front airbags fitted as standard. Segment firsts include the options of automatic wipers and cruise control, while ‘Climatronic’ automatic air-conditioning, cruise control, rear view camera and parking sensors, static cornering fog lights, and a touchscreen multimedia infotainment system with MirrorLink technology can also be specified.

Volkswagen India has stated that the Ameo – which will hold 330 litres of luggage – will go on sale in the second half of 2016, while no prices have yet been released. It is expected that the Ameo will be priced in-between the Polo (Rs 5.32 lakh, ex-showroom Mumbai) and the Vento (Rs 7.70 lakh ex-showroom Mumbai) when it goes on sale.

REFRESHED 2016 POLO / VENTO
As well as the Ameo, Volkswagen India has also announced a gentle refreshing of both its Polo and Vento ranges. While there are no body or mechanical upgrades, models benefit from ‘luxury’ equipment, such as an auto-dimming rear view mirror, rain-sensing wipers and a similar touchscreen multimedia infotainment system like that of the Ameo. Prices for the new Indian-market Polo and Vento are as follows:

Polo

Rs 5.23 – 8.73 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai)

Rs 5.33 – 8.90 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

Vento

Rs 7.70 – 11.90 lakh (ex-showroom Mumbai)

Rs 7.85 – 12.13 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi)

Continue Reading