VW Vento exported to Argentina; awarded five stars in Latin NCAP crash tests
The Indian-made VW Vento is to be exported to Argentina and sold as the Polo, Volkswagen India has announced. The car will be exported from the Chakan plant in Pune to South America in a move which is another export milestone for the Indian factory which prides itself on its commitment to quality products for global markets. The Argentinian Polo made its debut at the Buenos Aires motor show in June.
Saloon-shaped
The notchback Polo for Argentina is powered by a 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine, mated to five-speed manual and six-speed automatic gearboxes. As with the US in general, the South American market prefers saloon-shaped cars, hence the reason to export the Vento (which itself is based on the current fifth-generation Polo 6R/6C) rather than the hatchback version which is also manufactured in Pune.
The first cars were exported from the Volkswagen India factory in 2011 to South Africa. The plant now sends both left-hand and right-hand drive Volkswagens to 35 countries across four continents (Africa, Asia, North and South America). In Argentina, VW has has been the market leader for 12 consecutive years with a market share of almost 22 per cent.
Five-star rating
In related news, the Vento has achieved a five-star rating for adult occupant protection in Latin NCAP crash tests. As standard, the car comes with twin front airbags, seat belt pre-tensioners, ABS, ISOFIX as well as a robust vehicle body structure. Latin NCAP also awarded the Vento three stars in the child occupant protection category – markdowns included the positioning of the ISOFIX anchorage points as well as the lack of a warning marking for the installation of a child restraint on the front passenger seat.
