Volkswagen could bring back its much-loved Polo brand in India but in a different avatar altogether.
The Polo has been their most affordable hatchback which Volkswagen had discontinued years back but the sportier variants of the Polo still have a sizable fan following even today amongst enthusiasts.
In an interview with Rushlane at the VW Annual Brand Conference 2024, Volkswagen Brand Director, Ashish Gupta, hinted at the potential revival of the iconic Polo. While confirming that there are presently no immediate plans for its relaunch, Gupta acknowledged the possibility for its return in the future, but with a transformative twist.
As per reports, Volkswagen could look at importing the new generation Polo but in GTI form to India via the CBU imported route. The Polo might not be made here but brought in limited numbers as a CBU.
The new generation Polo GTI is a fast-hot hatchback and remember that Volkswagen also brought the previous Polo GTI in limited numbers two years back in three-door form. The previous Polo GTI was launched in 2016 and was sold here in very limited numbers. The new Polo GTI could be the same while the new generation version comes with a 2.0l turbo petrol developing over 200bhp. This would be the first time that the Polo in its new generation avatar would come if Volkswagen decides to launch the GTI here.
It is pertinent to mention here that Volkswagen had earlier explicitly stated its disinterest in reintroducing the Non-GTi Polo to the Indian market, preferring to concentrate on the burgeoning popularity of C-SUVs. Notably, the new Polo exceeds the 4-meter mark at 4.053 meters, necessitating substantial re-engineering to meet regulatory standards, a move deemed economically unviable by the German automaker.
In essence, while the revival of the Polo holds promise, Volkswagen's strategic focus on innovative automotive solutions and evolving market trends underscores the complexity of its future plans, leaving enthusiasts eagerly anticipating further developments.