By George Guimarães | Translated by Jorge Meditsch

Volkswagen officialized December as the last month of production of the Gol. The most longevous Brazilian vehicle will be discontinued after 42 years, and 8 million units produced together with its variant, the Voyage sedan. Both models will give up their place at the Taubaté plant to another hatch, the Polo Track.

AutoIndústria could see Volkswagen’s new car in the assembly line this week, still in pre-production. Vilque Rojas, director of the plant, confirmed the commercial production will start before the end of the year, but will be accelerated only in January, after a two-week collective vacation.

The dealer net will receive the Track a little later, in mid-February. Working two shifts, Taubaté can produce 714 vehicles a day. “We want to reach maximum production in eight weeks”, says the executive.

The Track already has its price defined: its single version, with an 84 cv 1.0 aspirated engine and manual transmission, will cost R$ 79,990.00, the same as the Gol with similar equipment.

Besides the largest dimensions, modernity and price similar to the Gol’s, Volkswagen sees in the standard items list a strong sales argument for the new model. It will leave the plant with four airbags, hill start assist, electronic stability control, air-conditioned, electric steering, electric front windows, and electronic remote door locking.

A sound system with Bluetooth, a multifunctional steering wheel, onboard computer, USB ports and roof antenna are also included in the launch price. At least for now, Volkswagen does not intend to produce the hatch without them.

It may seem curious, but this strategy opens a possibility for, in a not so far future, the Track to get an even cheaper version without this equipment, maybe for fleet operators.

Ciro Possobom, Volkswagen do Brasil’s CEO, asserts that to offer a larger car based on a more modern platform, the modular MQB – which is also used in the Brazilian Nivus and T-Cross and the Argentinian Taos – various actions were needed.

He mentions in special the reduction of the company’s production complexity, with the elimination of three other national hatches over the last three years: the Fox, the up! and now the Gol. This way, VW gains in scale with a single platform for all models produced locally – the only exception, right now, is the Saveiro pickup, made in São Bernardo do Campo, SP, which will certainly be replaced ahead.

Taubaté went through diverse process improvements and updates to receive the MQB. The changes are part of the R$ 7 billion investment plan for Latin America that will end in 2026.  The Track is just the first in a family of compact vehicles for the entry segment.

The plant received more than 80 new robots in the Body Shop and, therefore, improved the area’s production capacity by nearly one-third. It was also acquired a trifocal laser welding system, which can weld parts (such as roofs and side panels) made with different materials.

Discreet changes 

Besides the modernization of the plant, the cost reduction process is certainly helped by the simplification of the vehicle’s portfolio, which has a single version and few optional items, such as a 9-inch multimedia screen, only four colors and a simpler internal finishing, nonetheless good-looking and with good quality for the segment, as well as seats with headrests incorporated.

Outside, there are various items in black plastic, dispensing paint, and 15-inch steel wheels covered by also black hubcaps. Other than this, the Track is different from the entry Polo, which costs only R$ 3 thousand more, for the redesigned bumpers, a slightly larger front grille and, especially, the headlights, which lose the Led signature seen in the model made in São Bernardo do Campo, SP.

But there is nothing to avoid even less attentive consumers see in the Track “a Polo”.  Especially at the rear, which kept the darkened lights and, as the Polo, has the name Track placed at the center of the trunk lid.

The Gol says farewell with the Last Edition

Launched in 1980 and after three generations and many aesthetic updates, the Gol enters history as the most produced, sold and exported Brazilian car. To mark the end of this trajectory, Volkswagen will repeat the formula used at the end of the also historical Kombi (VW Bus), launching a special Last Edition series.

Limited to 1 thousand numbered units, the series will be launched in two weeks. Roger Corassa, VW Sales and Marketing vice-president, who still keeps secret the price of these last units, produced exclusively in red and with aesthetic items and graphics emphasizing sportiveness.

 

George Guimarães
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