VW Virtus teased ahead of March 8 India reveal
Volkswagen India teased the impending Vento replacement – which is expected to be dubbed Virtus – ahead of its March 8 debut.
This sedan, which is scheduled to launch in May, will be the second Volkswagen to be built on the MQB-A0-IN platform. It is the sister model of the soon to be launched Skoda Slavia.
To be clear, there is a VW Virtus that is already on sale in global markets. However, that car is based on the sixth-generation Polo which was never launched in India. The Indian Virtus may share some components with the international model but will be a different sedan underneath.
From the teaser pic, the fascia of this car seems to be reminiscent of other VW cars. The Virtus will be a long sedan with a 2,651mm wheelbase, which is over 90mm longer than the Vento. The split LED taillights complete the look.
To keep costs down, interior components like the steering wheel, digital driver’s display, touch temperature control panel, infotainment system, and gear lever will be shared with the Taigun. Again, expect a lot of cross-component sharing with the Taigun, Kushaq and Slavia.
In India, the forthcoming sedan will likely have ventilated front seats, ambient lighting, wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, linked car technology, a wireless phone charger, cruise control, and keyless entry with push-button start.
Passenger safety will be ensured by up to six airbags, an anti-lock braking system with electronic brake distribution, rear parking sensors, and electronic stability control.
The Virtus will be a petrol-only vehicle as the Volkswagen Group has bid adieu to diesel engines in India. It will be available with two turbo-petrol engines: a 1.0-litre turbo with 115PS/178Nm and a 1.5-litre turbo with 150PS/250Nm. The latter achieves class-leading fuel efficiency and has cylinder deactivation technology. A 6-speed manual transmission will be standard, however, a 6-speed torque converter (1.0-litre engine) and a 7-speed DCT for the bigger engine will be optional.
VW Virtus is projected to start at Rs 10.5 lakh (ex-showroom) and will compete against the Honda City, Hyundai Verna, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, and its mechanical twin, the yet-to-be-launched Skoda Slavia.
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