Coming to America: VW Polo may come stateside
Click image for a hi-res gallery of VW Polos
"Do you need the Polo?" That's going to be Volkswagen chief Martin Winterkorn's query to US dealers when he meets with them this week. The answer could determine whether or not we see a sub-Golf sized VeeDub here in the United States. Rising fuel prices have made small cars big again, and VW's taking a hard look at capitalizing on that. The inrush of Volkswagen's competitors to smaller models also makes the segment hard to ignore. BMW's got the hotly anticipated 1-series, Daimler's trend-tastic Smart has been foisted upon us, Saturn's slick Astra is nearly here, and Ford's threatening to give us the Fiesta in a couple of years, too. If we were a VW dealer, our answer to Winterkorn would be a resounding "YES!"
[Source: Auto News - sub req]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
JohnZon 4:40PM (2/17/2008)
I've already decided my next car will be a Polo TDI--now I just need VW to bring it to the US.
John
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Tom Miller 11:16AM (3/21/2008)
It looks to be about the same size as my old 81 VW Rabbit Diesel LS! And can it be? A 1.9L TDI engine?? That is what I have in my Mk V Jetta TDI! Maybe it will be available with DSG. When will it be here in the USA? I also heard VW is coming back with a pick up. I hope it is available with 4x4 and beefy like Toyota Tacoma's but with a decent TDI motor! The future looks exciting.
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Bob McLaughlin 2:12PM (4/15/2008)
The US needs Polo diesel's and lots of them!
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Muriel Areno 1:30PM (6/20/2008)
I just got back from France where I drove a 5-door Polo TDI diesel. Nothing fancy,(it even had hubcaps, yuk) and a tad noisy, but the interior design was great, as was the fuel economy, and of course the manoeuverability and supersensitive brakes. I go every year, and get a different rental every year, and when I come back I get Euro-car withdrawal in my Nissan Sentra. I feel like I'm sitting on the ground, for one thing.
I love the Opels, also. If they brought the Polo here, I'd seriously consider buying one.
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RAS4915 11:41AM (11/01/2008)
If marketed right this car will do well. Use the 1.4T with 122hp as the base engine and 1.4TDI as the economy choice. A GTI with the 170hp 1.4 twincharger would be sweet. If the Golf/Rabbit GTI gets the 230hp version here in the USA as rumored and a GTI/R with the 265hp 2.0T then a Polo GTI will make sense if offered at the $18,000 to $20,000 range
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remusrm 6:39PM (1/15/2008)
where do i sign up
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Robert O 8:53PM (1/15/2008)
I want to sign up, too. The coolest daily driver I ever had was a first generation Jetta 2-door. Man, do I miss that simple, efficient, fun to drive car.
geo.stewart 12:56AM (1/16/2008)
so... what's the diff between the Polo and the Golf?
looks identical to me. if its like the others in the market, its 85% of the size for 95% of the price and 100% of the fuel ratings. and if its like VW's other offerings, it will have 150-200% of the service costs.
Don 1:40AM (1/16/2008)
Absolutely! I miss my '95 Civic hatchback...this would fill the gap splendidly!
Atomicbri 10:31PM (1/16/2008)
OK geo.stewart.... where do you come up with VWs being so expensive to service? I have had 4 VWs and 2 Hondas and the Hondas cost me way more to service than an of the VWs.... this must be a common myth among American consumers.... VWs are not any more expensive to service than Hondas....
Mulad 6:43PM (1/15/2008)
I'm pretty sure 80% of the folks over at tdiclub.com would want one, at least if they ever came with the diesel engine. But, folks there have wondered if the general population would be interested enough in fuel economy or the small size to support it (nevermind that the Polo is probably the same size as the Golf was 10 years ago or so...)
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Luis 6:44PM (1/15/2008)
How 'bout you keep your Polo and bring the Scirocco over instead? Hmmm
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Duncan 6:54PM (1/15/2008)
Bring them both over - or give us the five-door Polo for less image-conscious buyers (with a GTI option, though) and the three-door Scirocco to fill the sportier role.
Kumail 7:00PM (1/15/2008)
i agree. PLEASE BRING THE SCIROCCO STATESIDE!!!
Atomicbri 10:33PM (1/16/2008)
Bring em all!! Americans love choice! ; )
J M C 3 6:48PM (1/15/2008)
If You're a V Dub dealer tell him;"Yes,We need the Polo,especially the Polo GTI".
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Duncan 6:50PM (1/15/2008)
Give us the three- and five-door versions with FSI power, a GTI version of at least the three-door, and run ads telling Honda that they can keep the Fit - VW's got small cars that "fit better".
That should do it, methinks.
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Duncan 6:52PM (1/15/2008)
As I think about it again, though, I guarantee Ralph Lauren - who does love the finest of automobiles - might bitch about them using the "Polo" name in the US. Fine, whatever - call it the Fox if you have to, just bring it over!
Guenther 7:46PM (1/15/2008)
While it would certainly be a problem in Canada, in the US cross-market branding doesn't apply.
Maestro1 8:50PM (1/15/2008)
Duncan,
Have you ever ridden in a 5-door Polo? They are tiny with almost no leg-room. I should know since i've driven one and my friend had one as his first car when I lived in Europe. You definitely want the 3-door and the 5-door would be too small and too impractical for the US.