The Skoda Rapid sedan, based on the Volkswagen Vento and Polo sedan, will soon get to market in India and these spy shots show it in testing phase. While the same VW platform is being used, apparently the Skoda model could prove to be quite different, with restyled body panels and styling cues from the Skoda VisionD concept being used to give it a new look.

The Skoda Rapid is set to have the same engine line-up, though, with the Vento’s 1.6-litre petrol and diesel powertrains matched to manual and automatic transmission. It will cost less on the Indian market than the VW and should contribute to expanding the Skoda presence in other markets as part of Volkswagen’s bid to become the world’s biggest car manufacturer.

In fact, Asia has been cited as a source of significant growth for brands like Seat and Skoda and we assume that the new Skoda citycar model will also debut eventually in a market like India. The low-cost Skoda sedan demonstrates the potential that VAG has to expand right across its brands and we won’t be surprised in the future if Volkswagen makes its world domination target, offering both luxury and low-cost ranges.

Source | Indianautosblog

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Given that the US is currently undergoing a love-affair with the newly released Volkswagen Jetta, there probably won’t be too much disappointment that the Volkswagen Polo sedan will unlikely get a stateside debut. Volkswagen is steadily shoring-up its US market presence with the new Jetta and future models of the NMS (New Midsize Sedan) and the New Beetle. Not only is the new product that’s on its way appealing, the Jetta itself is winning hearts in the US.

With good German build technology, an attractive and competitive price-tag, good design and a fancy launch, the Volkswagen Jetta in the US can’t get any better. It looks like it will be the one to beat in this popular and competitive segment. So why worry about whether the Volkswagen Polo sedan, initially intended for emerging markets, will ever make it to the US?

The Volkswagen Polo sedan, or Volkswagen Vento, will first make its debut in Russia before being rolled out to other European and Asian markets. It represents a dubious choice for the US market, though, especially in terms of appeal and cost. Volkswagen has stated it would prefer to invest in a quirkier downmarket choice and would prefer to dedicate production at its Tenessee and Mexican plants to “more profitable models”.

Source | Car and Driver

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This Volkswagen Polo is headed for the Russian market and will be presented at the upcoming Moscow motor show. Sold as a Polo sedan in Russia, it will head to other markets as the Volkswagen Vento model, which we saw recently in some Vento spy shots. In Russia, it will represent the only Polo model, as the Jetta and Passat models are already market leaders, and this additional sedan rounds out an attractive offering in that market.

This Volkswagen Polo will be produced in Russia and will be launched at an equivalent price of about 10,000 euros. It will have a 16V 1.6-litre engine with 105 hp, and can be ordered with either a five-speed manual gearbox, or a six-speed Tiptronic transmission. The Polo comes with three kits: Trendline, Comfortline with ABS or the more luxury Highline, complete with ESP and side airbags.

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Off the base of the Polo, Volkswagen has created this Vento sedan model for the Brazilian and Indian car market. It has a wheel base of five centimetres longer than the Volkswagen Polo and has both petrol and diesel engines: 1.6 litres and 105 hp.

The Volkswagen Vento will be presented at the Moscow Motor Show in June this year and will be available from September at a reported price of between 12,000 and 15,500 euros. While possibly a hefty sum for many in these markets, the sedan is not displeasing and includes a 500-litre boot with a rear vaguely resembling the Volkswagen Bora. We can only imagine Volkswagen will continue its success in these emerging markets…

Source | Automocionblog

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