Volkswagen is looking to enter a variety of segment over the next two years with the new generation Passat, Vento based compact sedan and the Tiguan SUV while the Beetle will also make a comeback.
World’s second largest automaker in terms of sales, Volkswagen may not have had the best time in the Indian market, but that hasn’t kept the company away from making plans for the future. Looking to gain a sizeable chunk, the German auto giant spoke about its plans at a recent press conference and conveyed that it intends to launch four new products by 2017 including the B8 Passat, new generation Beetle, Tiguan SUV along with a new compact sedan in the country. Here is what you need to expect on each of the upcoming models.
New Generation Passat B8 – The eighth generation Volkswagen Passat B8 made its debut last year and is based on the automaker’s new MQB platform that underpins a host of offerings in the German brand’s umbrella. Wearing a sharp new styling, the new Passat has grown in dimensions with an extremely luxurious cabin with several segment-first features on offer. In terms of powertrain, the new 2.0-litre Bi-Turbo diesel engine will be found under the hood of the D+ segment sedan churning out around 190 PS and 400 Nm of torque, paired to a 7-speed DSG gearbox. The new Passat will be locking horns against a host of offerings including the Mercedes CLA, Audi A3, recently facelifted Toyota Camry and its own sibling the Skoda Superb (new generation model) that will be launched in the third quarter of the year. Prices will see a significant increase over the previous generation model and due to the costs, it has been delayed from 2015 to late next year.
Vento Based Compact Sedan – Volkswagen will be stepping into the mass market space next year with the yet-to-be-named compact sedan that is based on the Polo hatchback. With the company planning to enter a highly competitive segment against rivals like the Maruti DZire, Hyundai Xcent, Tata Zest and the upcoming Ford Figo Aspire, the new compact sedan is expected to offer better quality over competition and will be powered by the same 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engine options that are currently found on the Polo and Vento. Volkswagen could go a step further and also offer the 7-speed DSG gearbox on the compact sedan, making it a spirited performer.
New Generation Beetle – While the previous generation Beetle was discontinued owing to poor sales, the people’s car of Germany will be making a comeback to the Indian market in its latest avatar. The new generation Volkswagen Beetle has seen a host of changes with the most prominent being the sportier design that appeals to either genders while power will most likely come from the 1.4-litre TSI and 2.0-litre TDI engine options that are available internationally. While Volkswagen does not expect many numbers from the new Beetle, it will surely be a brand builder for the automaker.
New Tiguan Premium SUV – The Volkswagen Tiguan in its all new avatar will be coming to Indian shores by 2017 and is a 5-seater mid-size SUV that will compete against the Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Pajero, new generation Ford Endeavour along with the Mercedes GLA, Audi Q3 and the likes. The Tiguan will also come with a 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine under the hood that is expected to produce around 150 HP of power as well as 350 Nm of torque and will be equipped with all-wheel drive apart from the other bells and whistles. The SUV though is said to be inclined towards the premium side with prices being between Rs. 25-40 lakhs. Volkswagen India could add a third row of seats to make it more relevant for the Indian market that will help the company sell better.
Apart from the four new models, the German auto major has also been working to improve its dealership network and has been strategically expanding across the country. The automaker is also employing programs to improve the dealership experience for customers and improve the overall quality of service. The entire process though will take some time to show results, the company said. Meanwhile, Volkswagen’s latest offering will be the Vento facelift that will be launched around the festive season.
Source – Overdrive.in
