Spied - VW Golf in India

Regular follower of Indian Autos Blog Hrishikesh Kankokar is a test mule lover. Living around the Pune area, he gets to spot loads of test vehicles and angry test vehicle drivers, who can't stand a picture being taken.

But Hrishikesh isn't letting a frustrated driver stop him from taking snaps. Not yet. His latest catch is the current generation VW Golf in the streets of Pune.

The Golf is close to VW's heart, but the price is in all possibility, the only factor preventing them from bringing it to India. We have heard in the past that by 2013, VW will launch e-Golf in India. What Hrishikesh has caught here uses a petrol/diesel engine and thanks to the congested roads, the nature of the engine was impossible to ascertain.

VW could launch the current generation Golf in India, but don't expect it to be under 9 lakh rupees. We don't see a possibility of it starting at a lower price point even if the localization levels are extremely high. A diesel Golf could be around 11 lakh, and the top-end model could set you back by 13 lakh rupees.

Correct us if we're wrong.

Could the VW Golf hatch hit showrooms by beginning of 2012? We learn from sources that the next generation Golf debuts internationally by the end of 2012, so our question is why would VW launch a phased out car?