REPORT: Volkswagen to sell two versions of Polo in U.S. in 2011
2010 Volkswagen Polo - Click above for a high-res gallery
Volkswagen has every intention of selling its compact Polo in the States, but we won't be getting the 2010 model that debut at last month's Geneva Motor Show. Volkswagen of America CEO, Stefan Jacoby, says the fifth-generation Polo is still too small for the American market, so instead, VW is developing two versions for the U.S. – a small sedan and a five-door version – each featuring a longer wheelbase and a slightly taller roofline.
The sedan variant will be smaller than the current Jetta, while the four-door wagon will take aim at the Honda Fit. According to Jacoby, "It's more like a cross between a compact minivan and a hatchback." Sounds like a Fit competitor to us.
Pricing is still a long way off, but Jacoby admitted that the "sweet spot" is somewhere between $13,000 and $15,000. If VW wants to hit that price point, the U.S.-market Polo will need to be built in North America, likely at V-Dub's factory in Puebla, Mexico. Expect the Polo to hit the States in 2011, equipped with a variation of the 1.2-liter inline four due to go on sale in Europe this June.
Gallery: 2010 Volkswagen Polo
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
ronEbear 10:07AM (3/16/2009)
BOOOOOOOO!!
To hell with adding bloat to the Polo for lard-arsed citizens of the United States.
(is mad because he lives in Canada whilst Volkswagen caters to U.S. "tastes" (99cent hamburgers))
Reply
nardvark 10:11AM (3/16/2009)
Hey, your obesity/overweight rate isn't that much lower, neighbor: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-620-m/2005001/article/adults-adultes/8060-eng.htm
Maybe you should lay off the 99-cent Mooseburgers.
I3ziko 10:14AM (3/16/2009)
+1 look to what mazda did to their 6 for NA, jdm model is such a nice looking car.
bigger than polo, smaller than golf. there is a VW product like that and its called GOL in south america.
ronEbear 10:20AM (3/16/2009)
@nardvark
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_obe-health-obesity
Check out that link. USA is number one!! (in obesity rates). Canada is number 11.
Whereas I was pointing out hard data to highlight my displeasure with the Polo gaining heft, you chose to pull out a stereotype about Canadians clear out of your digested beef with a sesame seed bun extractor.
If anything, auto manufacturers encourage United States citizens to fatten up by making cars bigger and bigger.
Red 10:27AM (3/16/2009)
@ronEbear,
Oh please...you act like Canada doesn't have a McDonald's. Your McDonald's sell hot dogs and pizza and all kinds of other crap. And poutine (cheese curds and gravy).
ronEbear 10:31AM (3/16/2009)
@Red
Hot dogs and pizza?
Maybe 10 years ago.
You must have been jealous of the inclusion of those items on the Canadian menu because they seem to be still very fresh in your mind.
Never once did I insist that Canada has no McDonald`s, simply that twice as many Unites States citizens enjoy eating there than Canadians do. The fact that U.S.A has twice as many cases of obesity dictates who`s ass auto manufacturers have to make their cars cater to.
Kumar 10:35AM (3/16/2009)
Instead of sniping about which country is the fattest, you can look at the smaller cars that Canada gets that the US doesn't. Not really based on a lard factor, but a perceived sense of security in a giant car. Like it will somehow compensate any lack of driving skills.
ronEbear 10:40AM (3/16/2009)
So what you`re saying is that Canadians have more self-confidence than United States citizens and that we don`t need bigger cars to compensate for something we lack.
James 10:57AM (3/16/2009)
"Volkswagen of America CEO, Stefan Jacoby, says the fifth-generation Polo is still too small for the American market.."
Yeah, and the Mini is a full size car, Stefan...duh!
Red 11:11AM (3/16/2009)
@ ronEbear,
I'm not sure how you figure I'm jealous at all, let alone of something that was only there, you claim, 10 years ago, but I was just in Quebec a few months ago and was shocked to see hot dogs, pizza and poutine on the outside menu. Now, the hot dogs and pizza may or may not be there anymore, but you can't argue the poutine isn't. And no, contrary to your ridiculous stereotype, I did not go in.
No point in arguing with someone who clearly has no idea what he/she speaks of...
Back on topic, I'd take a Polo. I had kind of been waiting for this to come to the states for a little while now, but I'm not entirely sure how a larger version fits into the lineup without encroaching, as many of these subcompacts seem to (particularly the Fit).
why not the LS2LS7? 11:32AM (3/16/2009)
Come on, any American who has been outside the US knows McDonald's is very popular overseas. They were quite common in Europe when I went. Although they weren't quite as common as they are in the US, their strategy seemed to be working just fine because the stores were more packed than they are in the US.
James 11:33AM (3/16/2009)
I3ziko, the Gol? Are you kidding?
Have you been to Brazil and driven one of those things? Complete POS. There's a reason that thing isn't sold outside of Latin America.
ronEbear 11:48AM (3/16/2009)
@Red
I never did argue that poutine was/was not on the menu. Hot Dogs have not been sold since 1999 in Canada, so I was off by 1 year. Pizza has not been sold since 1997, so you owe me a year. Source: Wikipedia.
The truth is, that USA has an obesity rate of approx. 30%, Canada`s is at approx. 14%. Clearly, USA has twice as many fatties as Canada. Taking the per-fatty-ratio into account, it surprises me 0% that the Polo will gain heft in order to become "competitive in the land of 99cent burgers" .
nardvark 12:24PM (3/16/2009)
@ron
You obviously didn't read the link I provided you with statistics from your own government. While the Canadian obesity rate used to be measured at 14%, that was based on self-reported data. The actual rate, based on measurements at doctor's visits, is 23%, with another 36% of your population "overweight." It turns out that if you ask people if they are obese, they lie about it!
So your obesity rate is not 1/2 of ours, it is 3/4 of ours. So settle down, we're all fat together.
why not the LS2LS7? 12:49PM (3/16/2009)
Yo mamma's so fat she has her own version of the VW Polo...
The Luigiian 2:32PM (3/16/2009)
"So what you`re saying is that Canadians have more self-confidence than United States citizens and that we don`t need bigger cars to compensate for something we lack."
RonEBear,
Look back to your nation's past. Look at Rush. You remember that song where they were talking about outrunning two metal air cars in a screaming red barchetta by taking it through a one-lane bridge that the air cars were too big to get through? Yeah. That's Canadians for you. They're tough like lumberjacks and aren't afraid of anything. If they get chased down by Arnold Schwarzenegger in his Hummer H1 they can always take their Smart Fortwo through a narrow bridge (which I'm guessing are as abundant as Quebec's petitions to secede up North) and leave his Teutonic ass on the other side.
Contrast that with the Americans. All our bridges are big and wide, to the point that tanks can fit inside them. If we were to try to outrun, say, a Mercedes-Benz Gelandewagen, what narrow one-lane bridge could we find that the truck couldn't fit through? We couldn't, and so we'd wind up in a scary "Mad Max" style death race in which we surely could not get back to dream with our uncle by the fireside. So instead we buy massive death racers that we know will still be running after nuclear apocalypse.
(Incidentally, the dreaded "Mad Max deathrace" scenario is why they buy big V-8 RWD cars in Australia, too.)
I hope this post has enlightened you on American culture, RonEBear. I understand that our lard-arsed ways can be hard to understand sometimes, but we're just preparing for nuclear winter. Our blubber will protect us from the bitter cold, while in Canada it may be even colder, and all of your skinny citizens will freeze to death. And all our SUVs will be able to withstand it, too. And so America will survive.
friko 6:31PM (3/16/2009)
@james
Have you driven the new one? Or just talking ignorant bs? The new Gol drives well, and the interiors are much better than last gen's.
GOT 9:18AM (3/17/2009)
Damn VW!!! We want the POLO, not some pos derivative! If we wanted a bigger car we would buy a Golf!
thenoggin 10:11AM (3/16/2009)
there's no such thing as too small for the american market. The smart car is selling here and selling rather well. The mini has been selling like hotcakes here for a long time.This whole mentality espoused by Jacoby is outdated and entirely incorrect. Go ahead and make it bigger, heavier, add cupholders and other useless features that you THINK americans will want..then complain when it doesn't sell. Stop americanizing your models and start selling THE SAME CAR you sell elsewhere(with different bumpers, etc.). Stop treating this market as a bastard child afterthought.
Reply
Pengwin 10:17AM (3/16/2009)
the MINI is by no means a "small" car. Its pretty big and roomy for a two seater...yes it has 2 back seats but they're useless.