Volkswagen may be preparing a new three-door version of its 2010 Polo hatchback, but a reported coupe version due late next year may be even more attractive. That car would fit into VW’s lineup as a smaller sibling to the Scirocco coupe, and will share most of its styling, and there may even be some influence from the recently unveiled Bluesport roadster concept.

As a more aggressive version to the Polo family, this coupe will be getting the auto maker’s splendid 1.4L supercharged and turbocharged engine. According to AutoExpress, the compact engine will be putting out close to 180hp (140kW) in the Polo coupe, and this should provide for some high-spirited performance, particularly when paired with VW’s new 7-speed DSG. This same engine will also be seen in the Polo GTI, which was recently previewed as a concept at the 2009 Worthersee tuner show.

Tags: Coupe, Hatchback, polo, three-door, volkswagen, VW

Continue reading...

For the U.S. market Volkswagen plans to sell two versions of its Polo compact car- a sedan smaller than the Jetta and a four-door hatchback. “Both versions would be designed especially for the United States”, said Volkswagen Group of America CEO Stefan Jacoby. He also said that sales could start in 2011. The U.S. version of the four-door hatchback would be taller and sit on a longer wheelbase than the European model which is still considered too small for the American market.

“It’s more like a cross between a compact minivan and a hatchback. In other words, it’s more like the Honda Fit,” Jacoby said. Jacoby also stated that the Polo will be priced between $13,000 and $15,000 in the United States. To obtain that price point VW will have to produce the car in North America, likely at VW’s factory in Puebla, Mexico.

Tags: polo, VW

Continue reading...

Lidl, known for selling low-priced groceries and household goods expanded into new territory Monday by selling cars on its Web site. The German discount supermarket will reportedly offer the Opel Corsa for just under euro11,000 ($14,000) and the Volkswagen Cross Polo for euro14,000, ($17,700) — a discount of about 25 percent off the suggested retail price.

Germany’s economy is in recession and unemployment is at 8.3 percent, but Lidl believes it can turn a profit in an industry that is bucking the economic downturn. New car sales were up 21 percent in February year-on-year, largely because of a euro50 billion ($67 billion) government stimulus plan that pays citizens euro2,500 ($3,250) to replace cars at least nine years old with new ones.

But Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer, the director of the Center for Automotive Research in Gelsenkirchen, said previous efforts to sell cars online and through supermarkets have faltered.

“I think it will be very difficult for Lidl,” Dudenhoeffer said. “People don’t want to buy high-value products from a discount grocery store.”

(Source) AP

Tags: automotive research, discount grocery, groceries, new car sales, opel corsa, polo, recession, selling cars, suggested retail price, supermarket, supermarkets, volkswagen

Continue reading...

Volkswagen’s new MK VI Polo isn’t set to make it’s official debut until the Geneva Motor Show but that doesn’t mean we can’t know a few details, right?

VW issued a press release that stated a few things about the new Polo. For starters, its a full 7.5 percent lighter than the MK V. That’s not it though as the Polo will come in 7 different models some touting turbochargers and direct injection and others sporting diesel sipping engines. Hell, the most fuel efficient model will get a full 62 mpg. 

The MK VI Polo will go on sale in Germany this June and the rest of Europe a few weeks after. What about the US? Let’s hope it appears soon.

Press release after the break. (more…)

Tags: 6, mk vi, polo

Continue reading...

Volkswagen has announced it has decided to sell its subcompact Polo in the United States. The Polo, which is before the official announcement has only been available in Europe, features a clean-diesel engine that allows the Polo to get an astonishing 70 MPG.  Although no details on the American Polo have been released yet, in Europe a new Volkswagen Polo sells for less than $20,000.

The U.S. Polo will most likely be produced in Volkswagen’s plant in Puebla, Mexico, so the car won’t bring a lot of new jobs to the country, but if fossil fuel worries continue (and it seems likely they will), the little car is sure to be a big hit with customers who can’t quite cough up the money for a hybrid. According to VW chief of development Ulrich Hackenberg, “The small-car segment is the fastest growing segment in the U.S. Oil prices will rise again and that will drive small car sales up further.” Are you listening, Detroit?

Tags: polo, sub-compact, volkswagen

Continue reading...