[CARtoday]
With rising emissions and safety laws, as well as greater customer expectations at the lower end of the new car market, VW’s Gol could sound the death-knell for the likes of the CitiGolf?
The Gol (‘Goal’ in English) has been a presence on the Brazilian market since 1980 being traded under the name ‘Pointer’ since 1994. The two previous generations were Spartan affairs purely marketed as affordable transport for the masses, but the latest version appears to synthesize the quality of the European Golf in a compact, wallet-friendly package.The Gol borrows a number of styling cues from the Touareg and Scirocco, and sits upon the same PQ24 platform as the present VW Polo. It does, however, lift its front suspension and the steering column from the PQ25 platform, already used by the new Seat Ibiza.
Three transversely-mounted engines are available; a 1,0-litre, a 1,6-litre EA-111, with Brazilian specifications named VHT (Volkswagen High Torque) and a 1,6-litre ‘Power’ unit similar to the engine used in the European Polo. The 1,6-litre VHT unit develops 54 kW and 95 N.m of torque, while the ‘Power’ serves up a respectable 75 kW at 5 250 r/min and 154 N.m of twist. All of these engines are mated with an Argentinean- manufactured five-speed gearbox with shorter ratios in the lower gears for rapid responses in traffic-riddled conditions. Considering the Gol’s 934 kg kerb weight, performance should be sprightly.
The Gol can be heavily specified at extra cost to include such extras as air conditioning, electric windows, sound system, ABS, airbags and an onboard computer.With its 3,90 m in length, 1,66 m in width, 1,45 m height and a wheelbase of 2,47 m, the Gol is comparable in size to the existing Polo – a factor that could well mean that it will probably not find its way onto our market. Its similarity to the popular Polo and its (admittedly pre-duty) price of roughly R 100 000 are further barriers to this model’s appearance on our shores, due to its potential to cannibalise Polo sales.
VW has, however, stated that the Gol is being considered for a number of emerging markets worldwide. We’ll have to see what market pressures will eventually do to the CitiGolf before we can determine whether the Gol could be its viable successor.
