The Volkswagen Vento is set to get an all-new 1.5-litre diesel engine and an automatic gearbox to take on the Hyundai Verna (automatic variants). The diesel engine will make its Indian debut on the Volkswagen Polo first, which will get a midlife facelift in May. The new diesel will be replacing the 1.2-litre 3-cylinder TDI and the 1.6-litre TDI in the Polo and the Vento. The updated Vento could also see a new set of features added to the list.
The 1.5-litre diesel engine will be available in two states of tune of 89 BHP and 104 BHP on the Polo, but the Vento saloon will only get the 104 BHP version with variable-geometry turbo (VGT). The new diesel engine will be mated to an all-new 6-speed DSG automatic transmission. The Vento was updated with the 1.2-litre TSI mill with a 7-speed DSG automatic last year, seen on the Polo GTI as well. The move comes to counter the sales of the only diesel automatic sedan in the segment, the Hyundai Verna, which comes with a 4-speed automatic transmission.
The all new 2014 Honda City has also posed a grave threat to the Vento. The City managed over 7000 units every month ever since its launch in January, 2014, while the Vento got just over 1100 units during the same period. The Vento 1.5-litre diesel will go on sale in the second half of this year after the Polo facelift has been launched and will be priced around Rs. 90,000/- more than the petrol version.
