Mark-7 Volkswagen Golf Spied on Indian Streets; Is This the Abarth Punto Effect?

The Mark-7 Volkswagen Golf has been spotted in India, near the German Automaker’s manufacturing headquarters in Chakan, Pune. The test-mule spied, features a left-hand drive configuration and its sighting has invoked curiosity pertaining to a possible India launch slated for this hot-hatch in the coming future. If the company decides to act on this opportunity (as we suggested earlier), then there is a strong possibility that Indian variant of the car will be manufactured locally. Recent trends in the Indian automotive scene are hospitable to the introduction of such premium hot-hatches, case-in-point the positive response received by recently launched Fiat Abarth Punto Evo and Avventura.

In England, VW Golf prices start at around Rs. 17 lacs, which might be too steep for Indian buyers but Volkswagen can still tap the market’s sweet-spot by exercising effective cost cutting measures like localized production and implementing equipment limitations. In our opinion, company’s best bet for an Indian contender will be Volkswagen Golf’s American variant. The Mk7 VW Golf comes with a price tag of around Rs. 13.5 lakh in American markets and offers a single petrol wariat that incorporates a 1.8-litre TSI unit, which is capable of producing 170bhp of power. If the locally manufactured Golf is sold with similar price tag in India, then it would be able to hold its own against the 145bhp, 1.4-liter Abarth Punto. For now, all we can do is hope that Volkswagen seriously considers this idea, after all in light of all the recent controversies associated with the brand, this product might help the brand garner some goodwill.

Image Source: Powerdrift

Also Read:

• 389 Volkswagen Polos Recalled: Company Cites Faulty Handbrake and not 'Dieselgate' as the Reason
• Volkswagen Gets Solutions Ratified for Dieselgate Scandal
• VW's Compact Sedan Could be India's First Diesel Dual-Clutch Automatic