Volkswagen Polo GT TSI and TDI discontinued to make way for facelifted model

Volkswagen India will launch the facelifted, 2014 Polo hatchback next month. The 2014 Polo Facelift was first showcased at this year’s Geneva Motor Show and has been spotted testing in India with minor changes to suit market and road conditions here. Ahead of the facelifted model’s launch, Volkswagen has discontinued the GT TSI and GT TDI variants. Notably, Volkswagen dealers whom CarToq spoke to report that stocks of the GT TSI model have not been available for the past few months, adding that a waiting period of 6 months is in force for the GT TSI model.

Also, fresh orders for the Polo GT TSI and TDI models have been suspended until the facelifted version bows in. The major change on the 2014 Polo Facelift concerns its turbo diesel engine. The 1.2 liter-3 cylinder TDI motor is expected to be replaced by a 1.5 liter-4 cylinder unit, a downsized version of the 1.6 liter diesel engine that currently powers the likes of the Vento sedan and the Polo GT TDI hatchback. The 1.5 liter TDI diesel motor is expected to be offered in two states of tune, 89 Bhp-220 Nm and 103 Bhp-250 Nm.

In its lower state of tune, the engine is expected to be standard on the facelifted Polo Diesel variants while the engine’s higher state of tune will be reserved for the GT TDI model. The GT TDI version of the Polo could get cheaper considering the excise duty concessions that the variant will gain due to the downsized, 1.5 liter turbo diesel motor. Also, rumours suggest that Volkswagen India will add a dual clutch DSG automatic gearbox to the GT TDI version of the Polo, bringing the diesel powered car in sync with the GT TSI model, which features a 7 speed DSG automatic transmission as standard fitment. 

The 1.2 liter-3 cylinder MPI and 1.2 liter-4 cylinder TSI petrol engines are likely to continue unchanged in the regular Polo Petrol and Polo GT TSI models respectively. Stylistic changes on the facelifted 2014 Polo include a refreshed front end with a new bumper and headlamps. The rear of the car will get a mild tweak in the form of a re-profiled bumper. The interiors will see a new three spoke steering, satin inserts for the center console and a refreshed instrumentation console. All in all, the 2014 Polo Facelift is a minor makeover for the car, apart from the new turbo diesel engine.