Launching the A-Class luxury hatchback in India turned out to be one of the best decisions made by Mercedes-Benz. Not only is the hatchback a success internationally, the A-Class met with aggressive demand in India as well post launch in 2013. The demand has been so overwhelming that Mercedes is having a hard time keeping up with deliveries, due to the limited number of CKD kits allocated for India. Now, taking a page from Mercedes’ success story, German auto giant Volkswagen too is planning to launch the Golf premium hatchback in the country.
The Volkswagen Golf has been caught on test in the country on a number of occasions in the past without any camouflage. While Volkswagen never really intended to bring the premium hatchback to India anytime soon, the automaker is now looking forward to use it as a brand builder for the company. One of the best selling models internationally, the Golf will be brought in as a CBU in the country, so do expect a premium price tag on the hatchback upon launch.
Despite being one of the largest automakers globally, Volkswagen has been struggling to find a foothold in India. The Polo and Vento have been its bread and butter models; however, the company needs to launch more products across different segments to make its business more viable. Moreover, the German automaker is also criticised for its shoddy service network that has been pushing customers away towards other manufacturers. With several enthusiasts of the Golf, the model could turn out to be a success, despite being a CBU product.
The seventh generation Volkswagen Golf made its debut in 2012 and is based on the same MQB platform that underpins the Skoda Octavia and the Audi A3 sedan. With a range of petrol and diesel engine options available, expect the India spec Golf to come in the GT avatar with the 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine with BlueMotion technology producing 150 PS of power, while the 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine with BlueMotion technology producing 150 PS of power could also be on offer. Volkswagen also has a Golf R version with 256 HP on tap, a true hot hatch in all its might.
While the Golf is available in 3-door and 5-door body styles overseas, the Indian model will be the 5-door version. 0-100 km/hr comes up in 8.2 seconds on the GT TSI and 8.6 seconds on the GT TDI models. The premium hatchback will be competing against the Mercedes A-Class, BMW 1-Series, Volvo V40 Cross Country and the likes in the segment. While a timeline has not been decided for the launch of the Golf in the country, we could expect the vehicle to make inroads by late next year.
Further Reading –
Volkswagen Golf Ice Review
Volkswagen Golf R Review
Should Volkswagen Launch Golf In India
