Reference Auto

General Motors India, in order to give a fillip to the somewhat stagnating sales of the Chevrolet Cruze, has rolled out a refurbished version, which has better styling as well as additional safety features, the price of which starts from Rs 13.75 lakh but the Volkswagen new Jetta may be a dampener.

The Cruze comes with a 2.0-litre VCDi engine, which belts out 166 PS and 380 Nm torque. The Cruze gives a choice of either a 6-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual gearbox version.

The new Chevrolet Cruze is offered with a new dual-port front grille that sports a neatly tucked ‘Gold Bowtie’ logo of the brand, a redesigned front and rear bumper and new dual bezel headlamps.

The new Cruze also comes with a set of newly designed alloy wheels and chrome bezels around the fog lamps. The new styling makes the Cruze wear a ‘sporty’ look.

On the interior, the Cruze has features such as blue ambient lighting along with a set of black leather inside.

The Cruze has an integrated infotainment system and premium speakers. This, along with three spoke steering wheel with steering mounted audio controls, give a luxury edge to the car.

The Cruze also comes with a push-button start along with an auto-dimming inside the rear view mirror. On the safety side, the Cruze has two front and two side airbags, beefing up safety in case the car collides.

Chevrolet Cruze LT (MT):                                             Rs 13.75 lakh

Chevrolet Cruze LTZ (MT):                                           Rs 15.25 lakh

Chevrolet Cruze LTZ (AT):                                           Rs 16.15 lakh

Volkswagen Jetta’s refurbished version is set to hit the Indian roads soon. Unfortunately, even after two years, VW could bring in minor changes compared to the existing Jetta.

The new Jetta may have new headlights, which are ditto to the ones offered with the Passat, with LED daytime-running lamps along with new alloy wheels.

On the inside, all versions of the Jetta will be equipped with automatic climate control, which is one of the USPs of the new car as the current model doesn’t have this feature, even in the top variant.

Unfortunately, there would be no change on the mechanical front and the new car will also come with the same 2.0-litre TDI engine diesel and the 1.4-litre TSI petrol engines. Both would be mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, while the diesel engine also has an automatic option.

The new Jetta is set to vie with the new Skoda Octavia and the Hyundai Elantra, which leads the segment, along with the new Chevrolet Cruze.

So, even as the Chevrolet Cruze can buoy sales of General Motors, the new Jetta may be a disappointment for Volkswagen.

Volkswagen has brought in India’s most-powerful hatchback, the new Polo GT TSI for a steep price of Rs 7.99 lakh, but can it wean away sedan buyers or will the steep-priced Polo variant fade away like the Honda Jazz?

The GT TSI comes with a 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged direct injection 105 PS/170 Nm engine, which is offered with a seven-speed DSG box. Volkswagen says the Polo TSI will give an ARAI fuel efficiency of 17.2 km per litre, which is commendable for a high-end hatch.

The USP of the new Polo is the seven-speed DSG twin clutch gearbox, which provides lightening quick gear changes.

What is also new is the standard manual gear stick, which has been replaced with an automatic drive selector with tiptronic controls for the DSG gearbox. But inside the foot well, the clutch pedal is missing.

The auto major claims the TSI is capable of achieving a speed of 100 km per hour in 9.7 seconds and will come with a top speed of 190 km per hour.

The Polo GT TSI will replace the 1.6-litre variant and comes with ESP, ABS, hill-hold function and twin airbags, which is among the top safety features offered in any hatchback in India.

Visually, the Polo GT TSI is far superior to its peers and comes with a GT badge on the grille and GT TSI stickers at the back and sides. Inside the cabin, there are seats in a black and grey contrast, which come with red stitches.

Besides the GT badge on the front grille and boot, a TSI badge at the rear and GT TSI stickers on the C-pillars, there is virtually nothing that Volkswagen can claim is different from any regular model of Polo.

The steering wheel, gear selector lever as well as the handbrake are all wrapped in good quality leather.

The new seat cover design, which is a kind of a two-tone treatment, not only looks great, but is also made of textile instead of leather.

The GT TSI comes with all the top-end kit, which is a two DIN audio system with Bluetooth telephone connectivity, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, electrically adjustable mirrors and automatic climate control.

So far as the exteriors go, the Polo GT TSI doesn’t really look any different from the standard Polo, which is available in the market currently.

It comes with the same blackened headlight surrounds from the Polo makeover and has the ditto 15-inch alloy wheels, which is a standard offering on the high-end model.

With the steep pricing, can the Volkswagen GT TSI attract high-end hatch buyers or will it go into oblivion like the Honda Jazz?

Volkswagen is not launching too many car models in India but is only banking upon upgrading its cars, and for the first time, it has given its Polo a makeover, pricing it between Rs 4.99 lakh and Rs 7.99 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

Volkswagen or VW new XL1 Super Efficient Vehicle is said to be the most fuel efficient car in the world: it reportedly can travel up to 313 miles on a gallon of diesel or a mind blowing 111 km with just one ltr of fuel!

If these claims of VW turn out to be true, it would indeed be a revolution in car technology. Consider this: The XL1’s fuel efficiency will be almost four-fold higher than Toyota Prius.

Also, the XL1 could get a thumbs up from environment activists as it is believed to emit only 38 gms of carbon dioxide per mile.

According to Volkswagen chairman Martin Winterhorn, the XL1 will go on sale in Britain and Germany initially (in two years) and will be priced affordably.

The XL1 is two-seater car propelled by a 800 cc TDI two-cylinder diesel engine that is linked to an electric motor. The car was rolled out at the Qatar Motor Show during the week and is likely to hit the roads in 2013.

The car is nearly four metres in lengh, almost the same size as the Volkswagen Polo and weighs only 795 kgs as it is built around a carbon fibre reinforced polymer exterior.

The XL1 can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 11.9 seconds and the top speed of the car is 99 mph. The XL1 runs on diesel, which is around 25 per cent cheaper than petrol and even comprises an electric motor.

The incredible fuel efficiency has been achieved via a combination of aerodynamic slipperiness, drive-train efficiency and its light weight. The vehicle’s footprint is like that of Volkswagen Polo.

The Volkswagen XL1 produces around 75 hp, which is almost the same as Korean compact cars and the two-cylinder TDI engine generates around 48 horsepower (hp) and the electric motor around 27 horsepower.

A striking feature is that the XL1 comes with winged doors, which, according to Volkswagen, will make it easier to enter or exit the car. The two doors open upward and a tad forward.

VW is likely to test waters first with a limited rollout but if it finds many takers for its XL1, it could moot the option of launching the car globally.

Volkswagen chairman Winterkorn, who was present at the Qatar Motor Show to launch the car, said if the world wants to target a two degree centigrade cut in global temperatures by the year 2050, then average consumption of the world car fleet needs to be about 0.9 ltrs per 100 km or 313 miles per gallon (similar to the XL1).

A breakthrough has been achieved with the launch of the Volkswagen XL1. Not only that. Along with fuel efficiency comes another plus: a diesel engine which will help save costs even further (as it is cheaper than petrol).

The design is also a highly futuristic one with incredible winged doors, and if Volkswagen can price the XL1 reasonably, the 111-km a ltr car will not only see enthusiasts in Europe swarming for it, but could become a trendsetter and an icon in the world of cars.

Volkswagen has finally come out with the Polo GT TDI at Rs 8.08 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) but the steep pricing, even for a diesel car, isn’t going to augur well for Volkswagen and the company is also banking on the ‘crossbreed’ of a hatch and sports car, terming it the Cross Polo.

The Polo GT TDI is propelled by a powerful 1.6 litre TDI engine, which is offered with the Vento and Skoda Rapid.

The Volkswagen Polo GT TDI offers 105 PS power and 250 Nm torque, making it arguably the most powerful diesel hatchback in the country.

The diesel engine is mated with a five-speed manual gearbox, which is similar to the one offered in the Rapid and Vento.

The Polo GT TDI is believed to have an ARAI-certified mileage figure of 19.78 km per hour. The GT TDI is likely to reach from zero to 100 in a matter of 10 seconds and can achieve a top speed of 178 km per hour.

Similar to the petrol GT model, the Polo GT TDI comes with a litany of equipment such as climate control, a multi-function vehicle info display for driver, remote central locking armed with engine immobiliser with floating code and anti-pinch power windows.

There are also lane change indicators, dual airbags, ABS, rear defogger and wash wipe, front and rear fog lamps, a double din Bluetooth, leather wrapped steering wheel, SD card and USB enabled stereo with steering mounted controls, gear knob and handbrake, 12V power outlet in centre console, chrome interior trim along with aluminium pedal cluster.

The Volkswagen Polo GT TDI will come in three shades – Candy White, Flash Red and Deep Black Pearl.

Despite the price being on the higher side, car buffs wanting a high-end hatch could find this most powerful hatchback suitable for their needs.

The hatchback Cross Polo carries a price tag of Rs 7.75 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

The Cross Polo would come in a 1.2 litre diesel engine and a five-speed manual gearbox. The Volkswagen Cross Polo is offered with a 75 PS 1.2 TDI engine from the diesel Polo. The car is mated with a 5-speed manual transmission.

It can reach from 0 to 100 km an hour in 16 seconds and has a top speed around 180 km per hour, which is the same as the diesel Polo.

The Cross Polo also has fresh bumpers, body cladding, silver painted mirrors, 15-inch alloy wheels along with silver roof rails. The Cross Polo sales have already started.

So, with a more powerful diesel Polo GT TDI (at a steep price though) and a crossover hatch (the Cross Polo), would buyers flock for these new category cars or would the price be a stumbling block in the Polo’s sales?

The new Jetta, which has a more contemporary form and sharper styling, is propelled by a 2-litre, 4-cylinder CRDi engine, which helps cut noise and emission substantially, with maximum power output at 140 PS. It also has LED day-time running lights and exterior rear fog lights, besides leather upholstery, rear AC vents and a touch-screen music system.

The new Jetta is 90 mm longer compared with the older model and comes with a complete design makeover so far as the interiors go.

Moreover, it has a lean look on the exterior.

The Jetta had a petrol version earlier but Volkswagen saw no point in keeping the variant, especially in the wake of petrol prices hitting the roof.

Jetta will have to slug it out with the likes of Honda Civic, Skoda Laura, Chevrolet Cruze and Toyota Corolla Altis.

The top variant of the Jetta, which comes with automatic transmission, will be available for Rs 18 lakh. The new sedan is more powerful compared with the previous model.

Neeraj Garg, member of board and director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen group sales India, said, “The Jetta has turned out to be a worldwide bestseller for Volkswagen, and with the sixth generation now, we are bullish that this will continue. The good news is that this new range will be available at an even better pricing than the previous Jetta.”

The company is bullish on ramping up sales in the premium sedan segment (which also includes the Passat), which has seen flat sales growth in the first seven months of this year compared with the previous year, Garg said.

Wary that a diesel price rise could spoil the party, Garg added that the market witnessed a shift towards diesel cars. However, in case there is any hike in price of the fuel or an additional duty, it could take a big toll on the car industry’s growth.

Volkswagen has had a good run with its diesel cars. For instance, 60 per cent of Polo’s sales and 70 per cent of entry-level sedan Vento’s sales came from diesel models. But during launch of these two cars, the petrol version had witnessed higher sales.

He said lack of growth in the premium sedan segment was mainly owing to surging interest rates and dearth of new models, which VW hopes to reverse by rolling out a litany of variants.

Nearly 3,000 cars are sold in the premium sedan segment in the country every year. But VW, which is also into compact cars, sold 32,500 cars last year, and so far this year, it managed to clock sales of 44,000 cars. At this rate, VW can almost hope to register over 100 per cent sales growth.

But how much the premium segment will contribute will be hard to say, especially in the wake of a slowdown in the domestic as well as the global car markets.

Moreover, with the US debt crisis weighing in, VW could find the going tough in India’s premium sedan segment, but if it continues to roll out a slew of models regularly, VW could hope to find many takers for its cars such as the Jetta as high-end car buyers would be seeking more variety.