Volkswagen Pointer
Encyclopedia
The Volkswagen Pointer was a small family car sold by Volkswagen do Brasil
in South America
from 1994 to 1997. The Pointer was available as a five-door hatchback
, and the two-door coupé
version, called the Volkswagen Logus, was sold from 1993 till 1996.
It was based on the Europe
an version of the Ford Escort, being the result of Volkswagen Group
's AutoLatina
joint venture
with Ford Motor Company
, which also saw the Volkswagen Santana
rebadged as the Ford Versailles
. Although there were sheet metal differences between the Pointer and the Escort, the styling cues (including the door handles) were still noticeably those of Ford rather than Volkswagen.
The last Pointer produced, a hatchback GTI model, was sent to Volkswagen
's factory museum in Wolfsburg
, Germany
.
and Volkswagen do Brasil
joint venture in South America
called AutoLatina, Volkswagen launched a rebadged Ford Escort MkV as the Volkswagen Logus in a two-door coupé configuration. The Logus was designed in the Ghia Studios
in Italy
under the stewardship of Luiz Alberto Veiga from Volkswagen do Brasil
.
The Logus was launched in March 1993 with four versions: CL 1.6, CL 1.8, GL 1.8 and GLS 1.8. All engines were able to use either ethanol
or gasoline
. It was assembled in São Bernardo do Campo
, Brazil
, alongside its rebadged cousin the Ford Escort MkV.
Logus Highlights
The nameplate remains in use, as the Brazilian made Volkswagen Gol
is named Volkswagen Pointer in Mexico.
was developed on the same Ford Escort MkV
platform as the Volkswagen Logus, presented in 1993 in October. Offered in four versions: CLI 1.8, GLI 1.8, GLI 2.0 and GTI 2.0.
Pointer Highlights
in Mexico
, Russia
and Ukraine
.
Volkswagen do Brasil
Volkswagen do Brasil Ltda. is a subsidiary arm of Volkswagen Group, established in 1953.-Brazilian developed Volkswagens:Many of its models were designed especially for Brazil:*Brasilia*SP1 & SP2*1500/Variant/Variant II*Karmann Ghia TC...
in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
from 1994 to 1997. The Pointer was available as a five-door hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
, and the two-door coupé
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
version, called the Volkswagen Logus, was sold from 1993 till 1996.
It was based on the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an version of the Ford Escort, being the result of Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group is a German multinational automobile manufacturing group. , Volkswagen was ranked as the world’s third largest motor vehicle manufacturer and Europe's largest....
's AutoLatina
Autolatina
AutoLatina was the name of a joint venture between Volkswagen Group subsidiary Volkswagen do Brasil and Ford Motor Company subsidiary Ford do Brasil in South America...
joint venture
Joint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...
with Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
, which also saw the Volkswagen Santana
Volkswagen Santana
The Volkswagen Santana is a three-box sedan, based on the second generation Volkswagen Passat . It was first introduced in 1981 and is scheduled to remain in production until 2012....
rebadged as the Ford Versailles
Ford Versailles
The Ford Versailles is an automobile. Two different vehicles have been sold as the Ford Versailles:* 1954-1957 in France* 1992-1996 in Brazil-France:...
. Although there were sheet metal differences between the Pointer and the Escort, the styling cues (including the door handles) were still noticeably those of Ford rather than Volkswagen.
The last Pointer produced, a hatchback GTI model, was sent to Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
's factory museum in Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located on the River Aller northeast of Braunschweig , and is mainly notable as the headquarters of Volkswagen AG...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
AutoLatina VW Logus history
In March 1993, as part of the Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
and Volkswagen do Brasil
Volkswagen do Brasil
Volkswagen do Brasil Ltda. is a subsidiary arm of Volkswagen Group, established in 1953.-Brazilian developed Volkswagens:Many of its models were designed especially for Brazil:*Brasilia*SP1 & SP2*1500/Variant/Variant II*Karmann Ghia TC...
joint venture in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
called AutoLatina, Volkswagen launched a rebadged Ford Escort MkV as the Volkswagen Logus in a two-door coupé configuration. The Logus was designed in the Ghia Studios
Carrozzeria Ghia
Carrozzeria Ghia SpA is one of the most famous Italian automobile design and coachbuilding firms, established by Giacinto Ghia and Gariglio as Carrozzeria Ghia & Gariglio, located at 4 Corso Valentino in Turin....
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
under the stewardship of Luiz Alberto Veiga from Volkswagen do Brasil
Volkswagen do Brasil
Volkswagen do Brasil Ltda. is a subsidiary arm of Volkswagen Group, established in 1953.-Brazilian developed Volkswagens:Many of its models were designed especially for Brazil:*Brasilia*SP1 & SP2*1500/Variant/Variant II*Karmann Ghia TC...
.
The Logus was launched in March 1993 with four versions: CL 1.6, CL 1.8, GL 1.8 and GLS 1.8. All engines were able to use either ethanol
Ethanol fuel
Ethanol fuel is ethanol , the same type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. It is most often used as a motor fuel, mainly as a biofuel additive for gasoline. World ethanol production for transport fuel tripled between 2000 and 2007 from 17 billion to more than 52 billion litres...
or gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
. It was assembled in São Bernardo do Campo
São Bernardo do Campo
São Bernardo do Campo is a municipality in the state of São Paulo, in southern Metropolitan São Paulo and São Paulo microregion. The municipality's total area is 408.45 km ² and a population estimated at 1 July 2009, according to the IBGE, was 810,979 inhabitants, which results in a population...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, alongside its rebadged cousin the Ford Escort MkV.
Logus Highlights
- The Logus had an aerodynamic rating of Cd 0.33.
- 1.8 litre engines had an electronic carburetorCarburetorA carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
. - In 1994, the GLS engine was upgraded to a 2.0 litre engine.
- In 1996, the Wolfsburg Edition was released.
- The final production year was 1997, as the AutoLatina partnership had been dissolved.
The nameplate remains in use, as the Brazilian made Volkswagen Gol
Volkswagen Gol
The Volkswagen Gol is a subcompact car manufactured by Volkswagen do Brasil since 1980 as Volkswagen's entry-level car in the South American market—where it succeeded the South American VW Beetle ...
is named Volkswagen Pointer in Mexico.
AutoLatina VW Pointer history
The Volkswagen Pointer five-door hatchbackHatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
was developed on the same Ford Escort MkV
Ford Escort (European)
The Mark I Ford Escort was introduced in the United Kingdom at the end of 1967, making its show debut at Brussels Motor Show in January 1968. It replaced the successful long running Anglia. The car was presented in continental Europe as a product of Ford's European operation...
platform as the Volkswagen Logus, presented in 1993 in October. Offered in four versions: CLI 1.8, GLI 1.8, GLI 2.0 and GTI 2.0.
Pointer Highlights
- 1994 Digital Multipoint Injection Ford EEC-IV on GTI improved performance, level of noise and fuel consumption.
- 1995 offered option of coloured bumpers.
- 1996 GTI had new roadwheelsWheelA wheel is a device that allows heavy objects to be moved easily through rotating on an axle through its center, facilitating movement or transportation while supporting a load, or performing labor in machines. Common examples found in transport applications. A wheel, together with an axle,...
and interior upholstery. - 1996 was also the last year of production, due to the AutoLatina partnership had fallen apart.
Current Pointer
The Pointer nameplate has been used by Volkswagen for the GolVolkswagen Gol
The Volkswagen Gol is a subcompact car manufactured by Volkswagen do Brasil since 1980 as Volkswagen's entry-level car in the South American market—where it succeeded the South American VW Beetle ...
in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
.
External links
- / Club Pointer Net Mexico (in Spanish)
- Club del VW Pointer Argentina (in Spanish)
- Guides and tutorials about VW Pointer Argentina (in Spanish)
- Logus & Pointer Club (in Portuguese)
- Autolatina Club (in Portuguese)
- Best Car Website Brazil reviews Logus & Pointer (in Portuguese)