Volkswagen claims that the new Polo is “substance of a higher class.”
Yesterday’s sixth-generation Polo was unveiled to great fanfare at a glittery event in Berlin, where Automotive News got a chance to chat with Juergen Stackmann, Volkswagen’s global sales manager. The supermini will be again a forbidden fruit for Americans.
He stated that it would not be a smart business decision to bring the Polo 2018 to the U.S. The overhauled subcompact hatchback would be too costly compared to some of its main competitors, which are “ridiculously high,” according to Stackmann.
The Polo will be available in Europe starting October. It will cost EUR12,975 in Europe (roughly $14,500 in Germany). Customers will be able to order the 200-hp GTI range topper starting in January 2018.
Although the Polo is not being made available in the U.S., VoA has some models in development. Stackmann confirmed that the company will be launching two SUVs. The TRoc, which is smaller than the Polo, will be one of them. It is expected to make its European debut later in the year. A U.S. launch is planned for 2019. The production of the compact SUV has been confirmed for Euro markets at a Palmela factory.
VW will not only push SUVs, but also emphasize sedans. Stackmann believes these models make “volume and business sense” in the U.S.
The global sales manager for VW Brand added that the Golf will continue to be the entry-level model in the U.S., where the 25,595 GTI generates half the sales.