Volkswagen is preparing to launch their second product under INDIA 2.0 Strategy. It will be a mid-size sedan which is expected to be called Virtus. The manufacturer will be unveiling the Virtus on 8th March globally. Launch in India will happen by the third week of May 2022. Once launched Virtus will replace the Vento. But the new sedan will be positioned higher than the Vento because Virtus is a larger and more premium sedan.
Till now, only spy shots of the Virtus have been spotted. But we expect the design to stay more or less Vollkswagen-like. So, expect sleek pair of headlamps, split tail lamps and clean lines. Having said that the we have not yet seen production-spec Virtus.
The Virtus will share its underpinnings with the Skoda Slavia. They will be based on the same platform, use the same engines and gearboxes. Some of the switchgear would also be shared. This helps in reducing the production cost and help Volkswagen in pricing the sedan competitively. The same underpinnings are also used on mid-size SUVs like Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq.
The platform is MQB-A0-IN which is a localized version of the global MQB-A0 platform. Volkswagen and its subsidiaries use the MQB-A0 platform for a lot of products in the global markets. Because of the localized platform, the wheelbase of the Virtus will be the same as the Slavia, it will be 2,651 mm which is very close to the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz.
Powertrains
There will be two petrol engines on offer, both will be turbocharged. There will be a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder TSI petrol engine and a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder TSI petrol engine. The 1.0 TSI produces 115 PS of max power and 178 Nm. The 1.5 TSI produces 150 PS of max power and 250 Nm of peak torque. This engine would also come with ACT or Active Cylinder Technology. So, it would be able to shut down some of its cylinders under less load to save fuel.
A 6-speed manual gearbox will be offered as standard on both engines. There will also be automatic gearboxes on offer with both engines. The 1.0 TSI will get a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission, whereas the 1.5 TSI will get a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Trims
With the Taigun, Volkswagen revealed new trims. It is expected that the manufacturer would use the same ones for the Virtus also. So, there could be two broad trims, Dynamic Line and Performance Line. The Dynamic Line would be further divided into three variants, Comfortline, Highline and Topline. The Performance Line will have two variants under it, GT and GT Plus. The GT Trim would be a more sportier trim and would be offered only with the 1.5-litre TSI engine. It would also cost more than the Dynamic Trim. Most of the people would opt for the Dynamic Trims.
Competitors
Volkswagen Virtus will go against Skoda Slavia, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, Hyundai Verna and Honda City.
Keyword: Volkswagen Virtus global premiere date revealed officially