A quick look at the history of Volkswagen in India is enough to tell you how important the Polo is for VW. After all, it almost singlehandedly made the brand a household name in India. Launched with much fanfare, and a snazzy advertising campaign – something that continues till date – the Polo introduced Indian customers to many industry firsts.
The Polo not only set a new benchmark for the hatchback segment in terms of build quality, but also for ride and handling standards. Now, over the years, the Polo has evolved, giving Indian customers a chance to sample a truly genuine hot hatch.
Redefining the segment
The transition from India-specific hatchbacks – built to different standards (read: inferior) than models sold in developed markets – to a cutting-edge global product began in 2009 with the introduction of the Polo. For the first time, Indian customers were able to experience a small car built to exacting German standards.
Continuing the trend, Volkswagen introduced India’s first proper hot hatch – the Polo GT TSI. With its dual-clutch transmission and its 1.2 TSI engine, the GT TSI set the Indian market on fire. Even today, people across India wait patiently for their turn to own a GT TSI.
This story is from the September 2019 edition of autoX.
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This story is from the September 2019 edition of autoX.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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