You read it first on MotorBeam. Volkswagen will launch the Polo GT TDI in India on the 13th of September 2013. The Polo GT TDI is the performance version of the Polo which will sit alongside the Polo GT TSI in Volkswagen’s portfolio. Bookings for the car are now open and one can book their pocket-rocket oil burner for Rs. 50,000/-. Deliveries will start in full swing post the launch and many dealers have already received their display vehicle. The Volkswagen Polo GT TDI is priced at around Rs. 9.40 lakhs (on-road, Mumbai) which is almost the same price as the GT TSI (Rs. 5000/- more). The ex-showroom Mumbai price is around Rs. 8.25 lakhs.
Thus the Volkswagen Polo GT TDI is priced Rs. 1 lakh more than the regular Polo 1.2 TDI Highline model, which is a significant premium. The price difference between the 1.2-litre petrol Highline and 1.2-litre TSI is even larger, at Rs. 2.23 lakhs. However you not only get a turbocharged engine but state of the art 7-speed DSG transmission for the additional amount you pay for the GT TSI over the regular Polo. With the 1.6 TDI under the hood of the Polo GT, the real advantage you get is a more powerful engine.
Volkswagen will give the GT TDI almost the same levels of equipment as the GT TSI, which means GT badges, sporty black seats, GT TDI scuff plates, sport pedals and rear spoiler will be standard. However the GT TDI will not get ESP and hill hold assist. Powering the car is a 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder diesel engine which is the only justification for the high price. The 1.6-litre engine doesn’t fit into small car regulations and thus the Polo GT TDI attracts a higher excise duty. Volkswagen is working on a 1.5-litre TDI diesel engine to attract lower duties. The said engine will debut in the next generation Polo next year.
The 1.6-litre TDI mill comes from the Vento and produces 105 BHP of power and 250 Nm of torque, coupled to a 5-speed manual gearbox. This motor makes the Polo GT TDI the most powerful hatchback in our country (A-Class, 1-Series and V40 aside). The high performance diesel Polo will compete against the Tata Vista D90, Fiat Punto 90HP and Hyundai i20 diesel, all of which produce around 90 BHP of power, coupled to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The Polo GT TDI is the costliest among its peers but it’s by far the most powerful too, with the 0-100 km/hr sprint coming up in around 10 seconds.
