VW of America CEO confirms company considering Polo, Space Up for U.S.
02/11/2008, 3:51 PM
By Drew Johnson
Volkswagen of America CEO Stefan Jacoby has reiterated the possibility of the Polo hatchback coming to the United States, characterizing it as “very interesting.” The comment comes less than a month after Volkswagen AG CEO Martin Winterkorn discussed the same idea. Jacoby said other small vehicles might also be imported.
The new bound-for-the-U.S. models would use Volkswagen’s 1.4L turbo four-cylinder powerplant and sticker for about $13,000.
“Small cars like the Polo could be very, very interesting,” Stefan Jacoby, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, told Automotive News. VW has already indicated that the U.S. would receive a model based on the Space Up concept that first debuted at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show.
VW is also reportedly considering a small crossover that would combine the features of an SUV and a van.
Jacoby said the vehicles would be offered at a price point between $13,000 and $14,000, but not below that target. “We are not a cheap make in this market,” Jacoby said. “[VW vehicles] will not start at $9,000 or $10,000.” Volkswagen vehicles generally command a 10% to 20% premium over similar vehicles in the market.
However, Jacoby told Automotive News that turbocharged engines still have some hurdles to overcome in the U.S. “Turbocharging is not easy to market. The U.S. customer thinks it is expensive; it is not reliable,” he said. But Jacoby is confident that turbocharged engine will become a trend in the industry, especially with stricter CAFE standards on the horizon. “It is the future,” he said.
02/11, 3:56 PM
posted by:
GIUGIK1
Well,if it’s the freaking future, how about making them last, VW ? Brilliant idea, ain’t it?
02/11, 4:47 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Perhaps someone with some engineering expertise can enlighten me on why turbos as opposed to superchargers are apparently the direction many automakrs are choosing to go. One’s exhaust driven and the other’s mechanical, but isn’t the end result much the same? Or is cost and/or reliability the issue here?
02/11, 5:20 PM
posted by:
SwerveEarly
In general Turbo is more efficient then Super charger. It uses wasted energy while S.C. steals power from motor directly that it must more then compensate for. Most importantly Variable Valve timing and direct injection have greatly improved the performance and efficiency of the Turbo in recent years. Direct injection is also behind the recent huge improvements in Diesel motors. Variable turbos and twin turbos are also a help in eliminating Turbo systems main weaknesses which are lag and a narrow and peaky power band. Notice how VW Turbo DI engine has nearly identical HP and Torque figures which was impossible 10 years ago. Volvo uses low-pressure turbos to avoid the classic lag and helps tune their motors more towards torque.
Turbos downside is heat (the high heat and extreme RPM in turbo housing is why early turbos reliability issues), higher compression requires premium fuel, as well as complexity and the costs associated with it.
02/11, 5:46 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Thanks SwerveEarly. Your explanation about TC using wasted energy as opposed to the SC having to compensate for itself is the piece I was looking for. Still, you have to think putting a turbo in something like a Polo- a city car- would be murder. If turbos are anything like aviation turbines it’s the number cycles on a component that cause more wear than hours of continuous use.
02/11, 5:53 PM
posted by:
alceuzito
Well, GIUGIK1, I have a 2003 Polo Sedan, and my mother loved it so she bought one to (2004). All I can say is that they are still perfect (and they are built here in Brazil). Much better than my sister’s Honda Fit and my father-in-law’s Corolla. And this is not an opinion. It’s a fact. VW’s cars reliability here in Brazil was never an issue, and Brazilian roads are terrible.
02/11, 6:07 PM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
^ Well that’s interesting, cuz up in Canada VWs are plagued with electrical issues. It’s almost a rule up here.
02/11, 7:13 PM
posted by:
acura_el2000
I’ll take a Polo GTI please!
02/11, 9:48 PM
posted by:
Madcapp
A ‘Space Up” with a VR6 sounds like a great commuter car.
02/12, 7:39 AM
posted by:
livelyjay
I’ll take a Polo TDI 5 speed please, in blue.
02/12, 9:07 AM
posted by:
richt62167
I wont hold my breath because we dont get fun cool stuff like that. we ge a rebadged Dodge and call it a VW
02/12, 9:21 AM
posted by:
Renton
They confirm they are considering….WTF does that mean?
One of VW’s problems here in the US is they don’t give us all the good stuff. the stuf that says wow, VW makes some cool cars. I’m gonna check them out.
02/16, 1:43 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
renton:I agree,confirmation of consideration is not news.