This is the very first undisguised picture of the Volkswagen Ameo, the German automaker’s compact sedan set to go on sale next month. It is basically a sub 4-metre Vento.
You read it first on MotorBeam. Volkswagen is all set to hit the compact sedan market in India by launching their new product, the Ameo. The Ameo is going to be slotted between the Polo and Vento. MotorBeam reader Tejas Bora spotted the car in what looks like a stockyard and the car pictured here is the diesel model because the TDI badging is clearly visible. It is also clearly evident that the Ameo is nothing but a shortened Vento with some tweaks to the styling.
The front of the Volkswagen Ameo is very similar to the Polo but the bumper gets a mild change in design. With the clean and sophisticated design, the side profile looks very clean and well-proportioned. There are no DRLs though (rival Tata Zest has it). On the inside, the vehicle gets rear AC vents, front centre armrest, touchscreen audio system that can also mirror an Android phone using MirrorLink, auto-dimming IRVM, turn indicators on ORVMs and a very small antenna on the rear of the roof.
The interiors get a black and beige colour theme which is similar to the Polo. The centre console also gets a silver coloured finish. The Volkswagen Ameo also gets a cooled glovebox, reverse parking sensors with a rearview camera, height adjustable driver’s seat and one touch up-down on all four power windows which is a trademark feature of every Volkswagen. The tyre size is 185/60/R15 and the Ameo will be sharing its engines and transmissions with the Polo.
The petrol engine will be a 1.2-litre naturally aspirated 3-cylinder engine, mated to a 5-speed manual transmission while the diesel engine is a 1.5-litre TDI oil-burner with a 5-speed gearbox. The 1.2-litre TSI engine that comes with the 7-speed DSG gearbox might also be offered. The variant line-up will be similar to the Polo and Vento, a la Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. The vehicle is going to be launched just prior to the upcoming 2016 Auto Expo.
The compact sedan market in India is a very desirable and aspiring one (pun intended) and many major automakers have tried their luck in this segment with their products. Volkswagen is showing its seriousness for the Indian auto market by launching vehicles in new segments. The Ameo is specifically designed for the Indian market and its public showcase at the Auto Expo is going to attract a lot of potential buyers. We can expect the car to be priced between Rs. 5.5-8.7 lakhs considering the fact that it’ll compete with the Maruti Swift DZire, Ford Figo Aspire, Hyundai Xcent, Tata Zest and Honda Amaze.
