Year of Volkswagen Pointer

The Volkswagen Pointer was a small family car sold by Volkswagen in South America from 1994 to 1997. The Pointer was available as a five-door hatchback, and the two-door sedan version, called the Volkswagen Logus, was sold from 1993 till 1996.

It was based on the Ford Escort, being the result of Volkswagen'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. But they also sell one in Galeana Mexico, near the Modelo factory in Zacapetec.

In March 1993 as part of the Ford-Volkswagen joint venture in South America called Autolatina, VW launched a rebadged Ford Escort Mark V as the VW Logus in 2 door sedan configuration. The Logus was designed in the Ghia Studios in Italy under the stewardship of Luiz Alberto Veiga from Brazilian VW.

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 Mark V.

Logus Highlights

• The Logus had an aerodynamic rating of Cd 0.33.

• 1.8L engines had an electronic carburetor

• In 1994, the GLS engine was upgraded to a 2 litre engine.

• In 1996, the Wolfsburg Edition was released.

• The final production year was 1997 as the Autolatina partnership had been dissolved.

The Brazilian made Volkswagen Gol, is named Volkswagen Pointer in Mexico.

The Pointer five door hatchback was developed on the same Ford Escort Mark V platform as the VW 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 wheels and interior upholstry

• 1996 was also the last year of production due to the Autolatina partnership had fallen apart.

The Pointer nameplate is has been used by VW for the Gol in Mexico, Russia and Ukraine.