10 Years Of Polo
The Polo’s production started in 2009 and multiple variants of the hatchback have been launched over the years
The Volkswagen Polo was launched in the Indian market way back in 2010 and the vehicle’s production started in 2009 at the company’s Chakan plant. Volkswagen is now celebrating the completion of 10 years of the Polo in India. We drove down to a beautiful vine village in Nasik for the occasion and also got a chance to drive the Polo Cup and Polo RX race cars.
Volkswagen showcased the Polo Mk II at the occasion
In its initial days, the Volkswagen Polo was available with 1.2-litre MPI and 1.2-litre TDI engines in 3 trims. Later on, the automaker introduced new variants like the GT TSI and GT TDI, followed by the introduction of the new 1.5-litre diesel engine. Volkswagen then launched the elusive GTI which is a 2-door Polo powered by a 1.8-litre TSI engine. Currently, the hatchback is available with 3 engine options – 1.0-litre MPI, 1.2-litre TSI and 1.5-litre TDI (in 2 states of tune).
VW had launched the Cross Polo in 2013 in India
The Volkswagen Polo competes in the premium hatchback segment in the Indian market. It rivals the Hyundai Elite i20, Maruti Baleno and Honda Jazz. While the Polo has been the highest selling car for VW in India, it sure is facing some heat from its rivals because all of its competitors have seen generation changes and have evolved over the years.
The GT TSI comes with a 1.2-litre TSI engine with a 7-speed DSG
However, Volkswagen has been updating the Polo with equipment additions and minor cosmetic enhancements to keep the product looking fresh and up to present day standards. But things like the limited rear seat space can now only be rectified with a generation change.
Volkswagen Motorsport is very active in India’s motorsports scene
We drove down to Nasik in the Volkswagen Passat and drove the Polo Cup and Polo RX cars on a compact track. I drove the Cup car first which had a 1.4-litre TSI engine with a DSG. The interior was completely stripped off and just had a roll cage, race seats, race steering and the necessary buttons. Getting in and out of the car was quite tricky because the seats aren’t adjustable.
The tight racetrack meant we had to be a bit careful at corners
Once seated and geared up, it was time to gun the throttle. Before that, I drove around slowly for a lap to get a feel of the track and then gradually increased my speed. The race car sure is very responsive and blasts through the tarmac. It feels super agile and much different from the regular Polo that we have been driving over the years.
The Polo RX was titled the “Winter Project”
Next up was the Polo RX. Now this is an entirely beast and comes with a mid-engine layout. The engine is a 1.8-litre TSI unit putting out more than 200 HP and about 320 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels which makes the RX quite tail-happy. This car has a sequential gearbox and comes fitted with a race clutch. The clutch is used while rolling from standstill and then later cogs can be changed with the paddle-shifters. The RX has very lively performance and I look forward to driving it again on a bigger and proper track.
The Polo GTI was launched as a CBU in 2017
The next generation of the Polo is already on sale in the global market and we do know for a fact that VW is readying an Indian version of the hatchback too. It will be a sub-4-metre car based on the MQB AO IN platform but isn’t likely to be launched before 2021.