Volkswagen discontinues Turbo edition of Polo, Vento

igemini · 5th April 2021, 14:34

This was very much expected. As far as I understood the strategy of VW India, they do announce these low priced special editions only to attract customers to their showrooms or to generate interest on the cost-conscious mass-market customers and mostly not eying on the VW fan base.

To my knowledge, even if you are genuinely interested to purchase one of these special editions, the chances that you would get one will be very minimal. There could be waiting periods and probably towards the end of the waiting period, this edition will be no more. Eventually, the customer may opt for a higher variant next to that.

This is the strategy even when they introduce these variants. They announce it at a very low price with a superb VFM package. Generate interest and once they get hold of the prospective buyers, they push the higher variants which may look even better for the customer at that point of time due to various factors.

No denial that certain customers will move away, but those who come to purchase VW Polo at this stage mostly shall be a well-informed customer and who want only a Polo probably due to the way it drives, handling, build, looks and not very keen on fancy features. But they might have been confused about the pricing. But with such lucrative prices on these special editions, VW might have won to bring those category buyers to their showroom and convert those to Highline Plus buyers.

It's a good plan but considering most VW Sales executives lacks flair for sales, this idea might not have worked well as they were expecting. But these occasional special editions will create some needed hype here and there. I reckon that's why they introduce these many special editions from time to time. This is a good business strategy if implemeted well.

TheLizardKing · 5th April 2021, 15:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhanushs

I wonder if the VW Polo is being mentioned anywhere except in Team-BHP and may be some hard core WhatsApp groups!

I am a self-confessed VW fanboi (owning not one but two of them), and this thread is the first time I even heard of this edition.

AKSarkar1 · 5th April 2021, 15:13

Over the years they have had much more absurd editions, at least this one was half decent. I remember back in 2012-12 they had launched a 'Konnect' and even one which was IPL based. Looked absolutely horrid.

On a positive note, at least the new Matt edition Polo has something unique to offer.

kedar_GT · 5th April 2021, 15:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by igemini

It's a good plan but considering most VW Sales executives lacks flair for sales, this idea might not have worked well as they were expecting. But these occasional special editions will create some needed hype here and there. I reckon that's why they introduce these many special editions from time to time. This is a good business strategy if implemeted well.

That is a very interesting observation and something that I concur with.
Also - I would not really blame them for it. They typically need to deal with customers who are a lot more informed about their cars than they themselves. :-)

gururajrv · 5th April 2021, 19:12

That’s ok - VW made way for Tata Altroz to eat into their whatever share was left in the segment. I am sure Altroz will now make sense for other buyers which has similar strong build quality compared to polo with marginal compromise on overall performance.

Guite · 5th April 2021, 22:02

I bought Vento 1.2 TSI five years back. Doesn't matter that it was not called Turbo edition. What's important is that it has turbo engine. It's so effortless to drive, its a pleasure, in traffic jams and on expressways. Does this news mean no more TSI engine for Polo and Vento?

JithinR · 5th April 2021, 22:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guite

Does this news mean no more TSI engine for Polo and Vento?

This thread is in reference to only the Turbo edition variant (with 1.0 TSI) for both Polo and Vento being discontinued.

Latheesh · 5th April 2021, 22:53

I pushed Polo& Vento Turbo editions to few people in my circle, which delayed their booking of other cars. They are now asking me..

Volkswagen discontinues Turbo edition of Polo, Vento-maxresdefault.jpg

I have not cancelled my booking yet. Most probably dealer is going to charge some cancellation charges. What an easy way for making money!

S15 · 5th April 2021, 22:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by gururajrv

That’s ok - VW made way for Tata Altroz to eat into their whatever share was left in the segment. I am sure Altroz will now make sense for other buyers which has similar strong build quality compared to polo with marginal compromise on overall performance.

Polo 0-100 9.97 seconds
Altroz 0-100 12.68 seconds

Not sure if over two and a half seconds is "marginal".

Just to put the Altroz numbers in perspective, The Magnite CVT does 0-100 in 12.8 seconds. (and this is a power sapping CVT for crying out loud)
Venue DCT does it in 11.9 seconds. i20 Turbo petrol in 11.2 seconds.

EDIT: More numbers
Nios turbo 9.92 seconds
Rapid 10.09
Vento 10.42
Magnite manual: 11.19

The Altroz Turbo is a slow car. No matter how much people try to hide it.

igemini · 6th April 2021, 01:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by gururajrv

That’s ok - VW made way for Tata Altroz to eat into their whatever share was left in the segment. I am sure Altroz will now make sense for other buyers which has similar strong build quality compared to polo with marginal compromise on overall performance.

Somehow I strongly disagree. I drove both cars and I think Altroz is no match for Polo even today. Not because of safety or build quality. But as a driver's delight Polo with TSI engines are still miles ahead of Altroz and most other petrol turbo on offer. Not just the numbers but the way it responds.

Altroz is indeed a very good car but when you sit on the driver seat, the Polo it is without a question.

TSI engines are the benchmark for petrol turbo engines pretty much all around the world. Don't underestimate that 1.0 TSI.

COMMUTER · 6th April 2021, 07:25

The non-GT TSI manual Polo is still available. It has been slotted in to two manual TSI models.

The Comfortline TSI and Highline TSI.

My friend has just taken the quote for Comfortline TSI at Chennai for 8.5L.

This model is priced 50k higher than the turbo edition which had got axed.

kkr2k2 · 7th April 2021, 16:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by COMMUTER

The non-GT TSI manual Polo is still available. It has been slotted in to two manual TSI models.

The Comfortline TSI and Highline TSI.
....

Oh! Good know Volkswagen launched Comfortline with the TSI engine. They should have done that to begin with. And as before, looks like Volkswagen did not update their website.

arvindmanju · 7th April 2021, 16:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by COMMUTER

This model is priced 50k higher than the turbo edition which had got axed.

Thanks for the information.
Wanted to know what extra is offered for 50k price difference compared to Turbo edition.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kkr2k2

looks like Volkswagen did not update their website.

I think their web developers are also confused with the ever changing variant

Latheesh · 10th April 2021, 21:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Latheesh

I booked it in February and they are not honouring the booking. Such a stupid company!

I cancelled my booking today and company like VW don't deserve our money. I have not received my booking amount yet, dealer said it may take few days. They launched the turbo edition on 15th Feb and I had booked it on 27th Feb. I decided to extend my budget and go for Kushaq.

Benoit · 10th April 2021, 22:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by COMMUTER

The non-GT TSI manual Polo is still available. It has been slotted in to two manual TSI models.

The Comfortline TSI and Highline TSI.

VW India website does not list a comfortline TSI variant. Could not find with a Google search either. Can you share any brochure for the variant?

5th April 2021, 14:34	#16
igemini BHPian Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Kochi Posts: 184 Thanked: 430 Times	Re: Volkswagen discontinues Turbo edition of Polo, Vento This was very much expected. As far as I understood the strategy of VW India, they do announce these low priced special editions only to attract customers to their showrooms or to generate interest on the cost-conscious mass-market customers and mostly not eying on the VW fan base. To my knowledge, even if you are genuinely interested to purchase one of these special editions, the chances that you would get one will be very minimal. There could be waiting periods and probably towards the end of the waiting period, this edition will be no more. Eventually, the customer may opt for a higher variant next to that. This is the strategy even when they introduce these variants. They announce it at a very low price with a superb VFM package. Generate interest and once they get hold of the prospective buyers, they push the higher variants which may look even better for the customer at that point of time due to various factors. No denial that certain customers will move away, but those who come to purchase VW Polo at this stage mostly shall be a well-informed customer and who want only a Polo probably due to the way it drives, handling, build, looks and not very keen on fancy features. But they might have been confused about the pricing. But with such lucrative prices on these special editions, VW might have won to bring those category buyers to their showroom and convert those to Highline Plus buyers. It's a good plan but considering most VW Sales executives lacks flair for sales, this idea might not have worked well as they were expecting. But these occasional special editions will create some needed hype here and there. I reckon that's why they introduce these many special editions from time to time. This is a good business strategy if implemeted well.
	() Thanks

5th April 2021, 15:13	#18
AKSarkar1 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Mumbai Posts: 504 Thanked: 1,260 Times	Re: Volkswagen discontinues Turbo edition of Polo, Vento Over the years they have had much more absurd editions, at least this one was half decent. I remember back in 2012-12 they had launched a 'Konnect' and even one which was IPL based. Looked absolutely horrid. On a positive note, at least the new Matt edition Polo has something unique to offer.
	() Thanks

5th April 2021, 19:12	#20
gururajrv Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: KA 01-09 Posts: 1,280 Thanked: 2,508 Times	Re: Volkswagen discontinues Turbo edition of Polo, Vento That’s ok - VW made way for Tata Altroz to eat into their whatever share was left in the segment. I am sure Altroz will now make sense for other buyers which has similar strong build quality compared to polo with marginal compromise on overall performance.
	() Thanks

5th April 2021, 22:02	#21
Guite BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Noida, NCR Posts: 735 Thanked: 634 Times	Re: Volkswagen discontinues Turbo edition of Polo, Vento I bought Vento 1.2 TSI five years back. Doesn't matter that it was not called Turbo edition. What's important is that it has turbo engine. It's so effortless to drive, its a pleasure, in traffic jams and on expressways. Does this news mean no more TSI engine for Polo and Vento?
	() Thanks

5th April 2021, 22:53	#23
Latheesh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: CNN/BLR Posts: 4,274 Thanked: 10,231 Times	Re: Volkswagen discontinues Turbo edition of Polo, Vento I pushed Polo& Vento Turbo editions to few people in my circle, which delayed their booking of other cars. They are now asking me.. I have not cancelled my booking yet. Most probably dealer is going to charge some cancellation charges. What an easy way for making money! Last edited by Latheesh : 5th April 2021 at 22:55.
	() Thanks

6th April 2021, 07:25	#26
COMMUTER BANNED Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: India Posts: 573 Thanked: 1,037 Times View My Garage	Re: Volkswagen discontinues Turbo edition of Polo, Vento The non-GT TSI manual Polo is still available. It has been slotted in to two manual TSI models. The Comfortline TSI and Highline TSI. My friend has just taken the quote for Comfortline TSI at Chennai for 8.5L. This model is priced 50k higher than the turbo edition which had got axed.
	(1) Thanks