Volkswagen all-set to introduce Polo Track in Latin America

KUALA LUMPUR: Come 2023, and Volkswagen will roll out the Polo Observe in the Latin American market. The hatchback will act as an entry-level offering based on the auto giant’s MBQ platform.

Volkswagen Group plans to save costs by sharing Polo Track development with other models, including the Mk6 Polo, which this Polo Track appears based on. Unlike the regular Polo for this market, which is made at the Anchieta plant in São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, it will be produced at the automaker's plant in Taubaté, Brazil.

VW says that the new car will be the first in a new family of compact cars for the Latin American market when it debuts next year. It appears that the Polo Track has honeycomb air intakes that look similar to those on the Polo GTI. However, cost-driven differences will mean that more expensive options will most likely not be available on the regular Polo.

Because Polo Track is more budget-oriented, the engine option for the upcoming hatchback for the Latin American market could be the naturally aspirated 1.0-litre motor, which produces 80 horsepower and 93 Nm in base Polo form. This power is sent to the front wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission.

The automaker said that its operations in Latin America will also focus on decarbonisation, part of its Accelerate strategy. The company will be investing further in its Latin American biofuels research and development centre.

After a restructuring program and portfolio renewal and 20 new models in four years, Volkswagen's South American operations have achieved profitability for the first time since 2013. By 2050, VW aims to be carbon-neutral in South America through digitalisation and decarbonisation.

Volkswagen says CO2-neutral biofuels are the key to the future of electric vehicles, particularly in regions with low green energy supply levels. The infrastructure to charge electric vehicles is still in the early stages.

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