Two Versions of New Volkswagen Polo Headed to U.S.

We’d heard Volkswagen’s subcompact Polo was destined for North America, but speculation was rampant about just which Polo we’d receive. Would it be the all-new fifth-generation model shown at the 2009 Geneva motor show, or the leftover fourth-generation car that’s now out of production? According to a new report, we’re getting neither.

Automotive News says Volkswagen feels the new Polo is still too small for American tastes, so a new variant is being developed explicitly for North America. VW executives claim the car will be both taller and longer than the European Polo.

In addition, we’re slated to receive the new Polo in two different configurations. The first, a five-door hatchback, will supposedly resemble a compact minivan and stack up against the Honda Fit. The other, a four-door sedan, will compete with the likes of the Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, and Chevrolet Aveo.

VW is also cautious about pricing the Polo in the U.S. market. In an interview with Automotive News, Volkswagen Group of America CEO Stephan Jacoby indicated the Polo needs to be priced between $13,000 and $15,000, approximately even with the Fit. If prices creep any higher, the automaker runs the risk of competing against its own Jetta and Rabbit models.

In order to keep pricing on a competitive level, the Polo will have to be produced in North America, likely at VW’s plant in Puebla, Mexico. If all is completed to plan, the larger Polo could be on sale in the U.S. and Canada by 2011.

Source: Automotive News