The latest spy video of the Volkswagen Virtus shows us a heavily camouflaged prototype of the upcoming sedan undergoing road testing. We can figure out parts of some of the features such as the decent-size headlamps, clean and elegant front grille, neatly designed front bumper, alloy wheels, and taillamps.

Also Read: New VW Taigun Entry-level Trim Spied Testing

Just like in the previous spy shots, the Volkswagen Virtus prototype in the latest spy video is also a left-hand drive vehicle suggesting that it might have been an imported model. However, the test mule spied in the past did not have any camouflage and revealed most of the design and features of the VW Vento replacement.

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The forthcoming Volkswagen Virtus is expected to be powered by a 1.5L turbo petrol engine that would produce 150 horsepower and 250 Nm of twisting force. Another engine option that’d be available with the new sedan would be a 1.0L turbo petrol motor churning out 110 PS and 175 Nm. This is the same mill that we’ve experienced in the current-gen VW Vento. For the transmission, there would be a 6-speed MT, 6-speed torque converter, and a 7-speed DSG depending on the engine option.

Some of the other features of the Volkswagen Virtus would include Connected Car tech, driver fatigue monitor, and 10.25-in touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay wireless connectivity options. The new car will also be longer, taller, and wider than the VW Vento.

Also Read: Mahindra XUV700 X-Shaped Taillights Revealed in Latest Spy Shots

Volkswagen India remains tight-lipped about the launch of the new Virtus. However, it is being anticipated that the upcoming sedan, that shares its platform with the VW Taigun and Skoda Kushaq, will make it to the dealerships sometime next year.

Source - Powerdrift on Instagram

Also Read: Upcoming Skoda Mid-size Sedan to be Revealed Soon

VW Virtus has been snapped several times in the past while getting tested on our roads. We think that the automaker might have delayed its plans to launch the all-new Virtus in our market due to the ongoing pandemic. The test mule of the sedan spied recently was also a left-hand drive model. The prototype model is likely to be an imported unit for component testing. VW Virtus underpins the MQB AO platform, which is similar to that of the MQB AO IN platform designed for India, which will be utilized by several upcoming VW and Skoda models for the Indian market. This platform will underpin the upcoming VW Taigun and Skoda Kushaq. The VW Vitrus will be bigger than the outgoing Vento. In terms of dimensions, the new VW sedan will be 4,482mm long, 1,715mm wide and 1,472 mm tall, which means that the Virtus will be 92mm longer, 52mm wider and 5mm taller compared to Vento. Moreover, the VW Virtus will offer a wheelbase of 2,651mm, which makes it 98mm longer than Vento.

Furthermore, it will also come loaded with a lot of convenience features. It is likely to feature a ‘VW Play’ touchscreen infotainment unit, keyless entry, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, automatic climate control, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and so on. The upcoming sedan will also get some advanced safety features like front and rear parking sensors along with a driver fatigue monitor. It is expected to derive power from a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which currently does duties in Vento. It develops power and torque outputs of 110 PS and 175 Nm. The engine will come paired with a 6-speed MT or a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. The new VW Virtus may also get propelled by a more potent 1.5-litre turbo petrol mill, which shreds out 150bhp of power and 250 Nm of peak torque. Transmission duties will be done by a 7-speed DSG.

On the exterior, the new Turbo Edition models get a few distinctive elements. That includes new designs for the 15-inch alloy wheels, a glossy black appliqué on the spoiler and wing mirrors, and a 'Turbo' badge on the front fenders. The interiors of both the models have also been updated with new black seat covers with red inserts. The Polo additionally benefits from an automatic climate control system, which was earlier limited to the Highline Plus and GT variants. Interestingly, the Polo Turbo Edition is INR 3,000 more expensive than the Polo Comfortline variant. The Vento Turbo Edition, on the other hand, is INR 1.3 lakh more affordable than the standard Comfortline variant.

Also Read : The Five-Seater Volkswagen Tiguan Will Make A Comeback In Facelifted Guise

Under the hood, the Polo and Vento Turbo Edition models are powered by the 1.0L TSI three-cylinder turbo petrol engine. This engine produces 110hp and 175NM of peak torque, and comes mated to a 6-speed manual transmission only. The automatic transmission has been kept reserved for higher variants. It must also be noted that the Polo Comfortline variant comes with the 1.0L MPI engine as standard, but has been upgraded with the 1.0L TSI engine in this Turbo Edition variant.

Other features on both the Polo and Vento have been carried forward from their respective Comfortline trims. As such, the Polo Turbo Edition comes with front and rear fog lights, remote central locking, driver’s seat height adjust, tilt and telescopic steering adjust, power adjust for the wing mirrors, cooled glovebox, ambient lighting and a 2-DIN Bluetooth-enabled audio system with four speakers.

Meanwhile, the Vento Turbo Edition comes with features such as front fog lights with a static bending function, rear fog lights, remote central locking, halogen headlights, leather-wrapped steering and gear knob, cooled glovebox, a 2-DIN Bluetooth-enabled audio system with four speakers, cruise control, automatic climate control with rear AC vents and more. Currently, the Polo is priced from INR 6.01 to INR 9.92 lakh* and the Vento from INR 9.09 to INR 13.68 lakh*. The VW Polo Turbo Edition is also the most affordable turbo-petrol hatchback in the country right now, undercutting the price of all its rivals.

Stay tuned to IndianAutosBlog.com for more Volkswagen updates and other four-wheeler news.

*Prices, ex-showroom, Delhi

The current-gen Vento and Rapid are similar under the skin, and the same will be true for the successors of both the cars. If Skoda has said that the replacement for the Rapid will be a brand new car, its safe to assume the same from Volkswagen as well. Now, the Volkswagen Virtus has been spotted testing in our country undisguised. While the Virtus itself is unlikely to come to India, it does give us a few clues on what we could expect for the VW's India-specific Vento’s successor. Incidentally, the Virtus too is based on the global-spec MQB-AO platform and debuted in 2017 in South America.

Also Read : Volkswagen Polo and Vento Prices To Go UP From January 2021

So Volkswagen could be testing the Virtus in India to see how the platform responds to Indian driving conditions or it could even be testing certain India-specific components. There is a possibility that some bits from the Virtus could make it to the India-specific sedan as well. In terms of design, the Virtus is borrows bits from a variety of other Volkswagen models. For example, the front-end seems inspired the sixth-gen Polo sold abroad while the rear-end resembles the Passat.

The Virtus is also quite a bit longer than the Vento with a length of 4480mm and a wheelbase of 2650mm. The India-specific Vento replacement will thus definitely be larger than the current Vento. The Virtus also comes well equipped with features such as  a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, automatic climate control, auto-dimming rearview mirrors and more. Under the hood, the upcoming Vento successor will be powered by the 110hp/175Nm 1.0L TSI engine with a 6-speed manual and 6-speed torque converter gearbox.

The MQB-AO platform is also capable of handling the larger 1.5L TSI petrol engine from VW's stable and that too could be thrown in on higher-spec variants or for a more performance focused model. The Volkswagen Vento successor is expected to debut around Diwali 2021, and that's the same time we are expecting the Rapid replacement as well. Expect a premium over the Vento’s current INR 8.93 lakh to 13.39 lakh (ex-showroom) price range. It will continue its rivalry with the likes of the Honda City, Hyundai Verna and the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz.

Stay tuned to IndianAutosBlog.com for more Volkswagen updates and other four-wheeler news.

[Image Source - Rushlane]

Price revisions towards the end of the year has almost become a norm in the automotive industry. Almost every manufacturer marginally increases the price of their vehicles at this time of the year or by the first month of the coming year. This price hike will be applicable only for the Polo and Vento, both of which are locally-made cars. Meanwhile, the T-Roc and the Tiguan AllSpace are unaffected by this price hike as they are come in as CBUs.

Also Read : Volkswagen Teases Taigun SUV In New Video Ahead Of Mid-2021 Launch

This price hike comes about due to increasing input costs across the spectrum, including input costs for steel, aluminum, plastics and other affiliated cost increases during the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, prices anyway saw a strong uptick due to the transition to the BS6 norms. The lockdown and the pandemic also caused supply-chain disruptions for components and raw materials, which further contributed the uptick in prices of vehicles.

Although it has not been announced officially yet, we expect a similar price hike for VW's sister company in India. Skoda could also be increasing the price of the locally-made Rapid sedan by a similar margin. Earlier in November, VW Group's luxury brand Audi also announced a price hike across its range.

Going ahead into 2021, both Volkswagen and Skoda will be going into a product offensive strategy. The first model to come out of VW Group's India 2.0 Project will be the production-spec Skoda Vision IN which will then be followed by the Volkswagen Taigun. These two are very important products for both the brands in India. The later half of 2021 will also see the next-gen Vento from Volkswagen and the next-gen Rapid from Skoda in India.

Stay tuned to IndianAutosBlog.com for more Volkswagen updates and other four-wheeler news.

The Hyundai Verna was given a comprehensive facelift earlier this year with tons of cosmetic upgrades inside and out, along with a new turbo-petrol engine. Meanwhile, Volkswagen too updated the Vento with a new smaller 1.0L TSI engine which has now become the new benchmark among turbo-petrol engines with respect to performance. This however is not a battle of turbo-petrol sedans. Here are are comparing the acceleration of Hyundai Verna vs Volkswagen Vento, but with a twist. We have the naturally aspirated 1.5L petrol Verna with a CVT gearbox alongside the Vento with the 1.0L TSI engine with a manual gearbox. Let's see who's faster.

Also Read : Honda City vs Volkswagen Vento - Petrol-Manual Acceleration Comparison

Hyundai Verna vs Volkswagen Vento - Specifications

Both the sedans have a completely different powertrain here. While Volkswagen takes the modern, downsized turbo-petrol approach with a 1.0L 3-cylinder engine, the Hyundai Verna adopts a good old 1.5L, naturally aspirated, 4-cylinder engine. The Hyundai is actually more powerful than the Volkswagen but the latter has more torque and by quite a margin. There's another major point of difference. The Vento here comes with a 6-speed manual gearbox while the Verna gets a 6-speed CVT transmission.

Hyundai Verna vs Volkswagen Vento - Acceleration Test

Seems like a modern turbo-petrol engine clearly outshines a good old naturally aspirated engine here. The VW Vento managed a sub-10 second time in each of the three sprints with a best of 9.39 seconds. The Hyundai Verna on the other hand managed a best time of 13.12 seconds. That's a gap of 3.73 seconds between the best run of both the cars. The Vento is the clear winner here and that's solely because of the TSI engine which revs way more freely than the one on the Verna. The manual gearbox also had its part to play as a CVT gearbox is not the best when it comes to outright acceleration.

The Vento is also the better handler of the two, with a fine balance of ride and handling and good steering precision. Meanwhile, the Hyundai Verna makes for a very good family car with a very comfortable ride quality, lots of interior space, tons of features, and arguably the better looking of the two. Both the cars have quite a different character and it really depends on what you are looking for. If you want a fast, fun-to-drive car, the VW Vento is an easy choice. On the other hand, if you want a all-rounder family sedan, the Hyundai Verna makes for a compelling buy.

Stay tuned to IndianAutosBlog.com for more Hyundai and Volkswagen updates and other four-wheeler news.

The Honda City however remains a legend and a benchmark in this segment. The 2020 Honda City gets an all-new 1.5L petrol engine and like every other iVTEC engine before this, the new engine lives up the standards of performance and refinement we have come to expect from Honda. Speaking of performance, the true benchmark in this segment is probably VW Group's 1.0L TSI engine that's found in the Vento and Rapid. So here we have a good old drag race of the Honda City vs Volkswagen Vento, testing their 0-100kph sprint time. And for fun's sake, we had both of them in their manual guises. But first, the specifications..

Also Read : Hyundai Creta vs Tata Harrier Diesel Acceleration - Can You Guess The Winner?

Honda City vs Volkswagen Vento - Specifications

The Honda City and Volkswagen Vento use completely different specs of engines. While Volkswagen takes the modern, downsized turbo-petrol approach with a 1.0L 3-cylinder engine, the Honda City adopts a good old 1.5L, naturally aspirated, 4-cylinder engine. While the Honda has the advantage of power with 10hp more, the VW has 30Nm more torque. That could really come handy in acceleration. Both cars get a 6-speed manual gearbox and their weights are very comparable as well.

Honda City vs Volkswagen Vento - Acceleration Test

Seems like a modern turbo-petrol engine clearly outshines a good old naturally aspirated engine here. The VW Vento managed a sub-10 second time in each of the three sprints with a best of 9.12 seconds. The Honda City on the other hand managed a best time of 10.16 seconds, not going below 10 seconds in any of the three runs. The Vento manages to maintain at least a gap of 1 second in each of those three runs. There's nothing quite beating the torque boost from the TSI engine as its truly exhilarating. The Honda City on the other hand delivers its power more linearly when compared to the Vento.

Both engines however are quite refined and have a rev-happy nature. You'd really enjoy pushing both the cars to their limits. Where the Honda City truly has an upper hand over the Vento is that it is a much newer car. While styling may still be subjective, the Honda City is significantly better appointed on the inside with a genuinely premium feeling cabin. The Volkswagen too is quite premium but it does not match the Honda and feels a little dated. It however still remains one of the best driver's car in this segment along with the Skoda Rapid. For everything else, the Honda City is simply great.

Stay tuned to IndianAutosBlog.com for more Honda and Volkswagen updates and other four-wheeler news.

Tata Nexon

The Nexon is one of the most popular offerings in the compact SUV space. Among the most affordable, the car has also earned its name among the safest cars in India with a 5-star NCAP rating.

Its turbo variant comes with a 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine that produces 120hp and 170Nm of torque. Transmission options for the car include a 6-speed manual transmission and an AMT. The engine is available in 5 variants across its lineup including the XE, XM, XMA, XZ, and XZ+. Prices for the same starts at Rs 6.95 lakh and goes up to Rs 9.50 lakh (all prices ex-showroom).

Skoda Rapid

The Skoda Rapid truly embodies the Czech charm with a subtle cabin that comes with ample features. A few weeks back, the company had to temporarily halt bookings for the recently-launched Rider variant due to overwhelming demand.

Two of the variants of the car are powered by a 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine that delivers 110hp and 175Nm of torque. The engine comes with a single transmission option – a 6-speed manual unit. The price for the car starts at Rs 7.49 lakh (ex-showroom) for the Rider variant and goes up to Rs 9.99 lakh (ex-showroom) for the Ambition variant.

Hyundai Grand i10 Nios

The Grand i10 has been an ever-popular badge in the hatchback segment in India and for its latest iteration, Hyundai has made the package a lot more attractive with modern features and laudable powertrain options. In its Sportz variant, the car gets a 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine that outputs 100hp and 172Nm of torque through a 5-speed manual transmission. The variant is priced at Rs 7.70 lakh (ex-showroom).

The i10 Nios offers first-in-segment features like a wireless phone charger, 7.9-inch touch screen infotainment system - a multi-media system equipped with smartphone connectivity - Android Auto, Apple Car Play, voice recognition function along with i-Blue smartphone app support. It also features Arkamys Premium Sound System with four modes to choose from – Natural, Live, Lounge, and Club.

Volkswagen Polo

The Volkswagen Polo has been a potent contender in the premium hatchback segment in India. In its latest update, Volkswagen ditched the olf 1.2-litre TSI petrol engine for a new 1.0-litre unit. Quite impressive that contrary to the expected drop in output, the new unit produces 5hp more than the outgoing version.

Powering three variants including the Highline Plus, Highline Plus AT and the GT are the same 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine that puts out 110hp and 175Nm of torque. The engine can be availed in two transmission options including a 6-speed manual transmission or an automatic transmission. Prices for the variants begin at Rs 8.02 lakh (ex-showroom) for the Highline Plus variant and goes up to Rs 9.60 lakh (ex-showroom) for the GT variant.

Mahindra XUV 300

The Mahindra XUV 300 is an impressive offering in the compact SUV segment and a worthy competitor to offerings like the Hyundai Venue and the Maruti Suzuki Vitara Brezza.

The car is powered by Mahindra’s first ever 1.2-litre turbo petrol unit that delivers 110hp and 200Nm of torque via a 6-speed manual transmission unit. Two variants including the W4 and the W6 are available with the turbo-petrol engine. Prices for the variants begin at Rs 8.30 lakh (ex-showroom) and goes up to Rs 9.15 lakh (ex-showroom).

Hyundai Venue

Hyundai’s bet on the compact SUV paid off with the Venue. Since its launch, the Venue has garnered an impressive response in the domestic market and has seen a major chunk of sales for its turbo-petrol engine.

Its turbo-petrol engine comes in the form of a 1.0-litre unit that puts out 120hp and 172Nm of torque. The company is offering the car with two transmission options including a 6-speed manual unit and a 7-speed DCT. Prices for the same begins at Rs 8.46 lakh (ex-showroom) for the S variant with manual transmission and goes up to Rs 9.79 lakh (ex-showroom) for the SX variant with manual transmission.

Hyundai Aura

The Hyundai Aura came as a successor for the Xcent. Being derivative of the Grand i10 Nios, the car derives the same set of features and powertrain options from the latter.

The turbo-petrol engine is the same 1.0-litre unit that delivers 100hp and 172Nm of torque through a 5-speed manual transmission. The engine is available in the SX+ variant that is priced at Rs 8.55 lakh (ex-showroom).

Volkswagen Vento

The Vento shares its engine with the uprated Polo and Skoda Rapid. Only two of the six variants of the new Vento is priced under Rs 10 lakh, both of which can be availed with a 6-speed manual transmission. With a design and underpinnings that is almost a decade-old, the Vento remains to be among the most sensible options in its segment.

Its turbo-petrol engine comprises a 1.0-litre unit that outputs 110hp and 175Nm of torque. The Trendline variant kicks things off at Rs 8.86 lakh (ex-showroom) while the Comfortline Plus can be bought at Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom).

VW Polo Cup Edition

The VW Polo Cup Edition comes painted in Flash Red colour and sports 15-inch Razor diamond-cut alloy wheels. It features body side graphics, chrome fender 'Cup Edition' badge and 'Cup Edition' leatherette seat covers as well. Under the hood, there's the familiar 1.0L MPI naturally aspirated petrol engine (76 PS/95 Nm) teamed with a 5-speed manual transmission.

VW Ameo Cup Edition

The VW Ameo Cup Edition will be sold in only the Candy White colour. It along with the same goodies from the aforementioned hatchback - body side graphics, chrome fender 'Cup Edition' badge and 'Cup Edition' leatherette seat covers - it packs the rather simplistic 15-inch Tosa alloy wheels. As in the hatchback, the 1.0L MPI naturally aspirated petrol engine (76 PS/95 Nm) coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission will be standard.

VW Vento Cup Edition

The VW Vento Cup Edition is painted in the Reflex Silver paint and flaunts the elegantly designed 15-inch Linas diamond-cut alloy wheels. The other bits are the same as the other two Cup Edition models - body side graphics, chrome fender 'Cup Edition' badge and 'Cup Edition' leatherette seat covers. Under the hood, there's the 1.6-litre MPI naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine good for 105 PS and 153 Nm. This engine is linked to a 5-speed manual transmission.

Also Read: VW Tiguan Allspace headed to India this year - Report

Since Volkswagen India doesn't have any fresh product to offer anytime soon, special editions are the brand's formula to spice up things and keep the ball rolling.

The pleasant surprise is that the cars get additional features and yet a very significant slash in their price.

VW India is clearly determined to pump up the sales volumes of the Polo and Vento. The move couldn't have come at a better time because the sales had been showing a downward trajectory in the past few months.

Even though the company has not released the official pictures yet, in a statement to media, they announced that both the cars now get smoked headlamps, new alloy wheels and optional bluetooth connectivity as part of the package.

In addition, the Vento highline gets 4 speakers and a navigation system with reverse parking camera.

The Polo highline benefits the maximum in this update. Along with the above mentioned features, it also packs in goodies like leather wrapper steering, hand-brake lever and gear knob, new music system with USB connectivity, speed sensing volume control and steering wheel mounted audio controls.

The updated line-up is expected to go on sale later this month. The Polo highline diesel will cost Rs. 6.94 lakhs (cheaper by Rs. 42000) and the Vento highline diesel will retail at Rs. 9.89 lakhs (cheaper by Rs. 31000). The prices quoted are ex-showroom New Delhi.

On the sidelines, Arvind also told the media that the company will increase its dealerships to 150 from the current 108 by the end of the year.

With the refreshed products, VW has already blown the conch shell to announce the commencement of festive season war!

[Source: Timesofindia.indiatimes.com]

Now, the VW Vento is headed for Malaysia to repeat the successful story that it wrote in India. Paul Tan reports that a huge consignment of VW Ventos have landed on the Malaysian port and will be on sale shortly.

Unlike India, the Vento will be called Polo in Malaysia, like its Russian counterpart. It will be powered by the same 1.6L MPI engine that does its duty in India. The 1.6 liter petrol engine makes 105 PS and 153Nm of torque at 3,800rpm. Diesels not being so popular in Malaysia, the 1.6L TDi is not heading to Malaysia.

We wonder if these cars were shipped from Chakan, Maharashtra. The two production centers for the Vento are India and Russia. We can't single out a reason to ship Ventos from ten thousand miles away when it is available right across the street.

Source: Paultan.org

Performance is improved lower down the rev range, with an additional 47Nm of torque. This takes the grand total to 297Nm (range of the Sumo Grande/Scorpio). The mountain of torque improves acceleration times as 0.6 seconds is shaved off in the 0-60mph sprint.

Oettinger isn't a roadside mechanic shop who isn't entirely certain of the nature of work. They've been in the tuning parts business for 50 years and they offer two years' guarantee on engine, gearbox and drivetrain upgrades. The 1.6 TDI engine features on many VW Group vehicles in Europe (VW, SEAT, Skoda and Audi models) and it can be installed in any of them.

If you are looking to beef up your Vento with Oettinger's product, be ready to shell out 1090 Euros (about 70k rupees). This of course is independent of the costs incurred in transporting your Vento to one of Oettinger’s 150 Performance Centers in Europe.

Source - PoloDriver.com via Oettinger.de

In 2010, Volkwagen told IAB the Vento is exclusive to India and Russia (where it is sold as Polo) but that doesn't hold good in 2011 as in the last six months we have seen the Vento testing in China and Malaysia, two markets expecting the Vento in following months.

Volkswagen offers the Polo Sedan with two types of headlight, the “Trendline” has single headlights and “Comfortline” has twin headlights (on each corner, that is).

Coming to the interesting bit now, the Polo sedan' engine line-up is different compared to Vento. The starting variant has a pro-fuel economy 1.4-liter petrol engine producing 84hp and 132Nm of torque. It is paired to a 5-speed manual transmission while the bigger 1.6ltr can be bought with a 6-speed Tiptronic transmission in the Comfortline trim. The 1.6 TDI Comfortline variant is the range-topper with ABS, ESP and EBD.

Motoroids.com speculated last year on VW India planning a 1.4-liter petrol motor for Vento. This variant helps VW price the Vento better and grant them the liberty to position the Vento as an alternative to top-end variants of the Indigo Manza, Swift Dzire, Toyota Etios, etc.

To read further about the Polo Sedan visit the VW South Africa website.

This then is the latest generation Volkswagen Jetta India will receive later this year with petrol and diesel engines. It is manufactured in Mexico with 2.0-, 2.5-liter turbo petrol engines producing 170hp and 200 hp, and 2.0-liter diesel engine producing 110hp and 140hp.

The luxury version, available with 170 hp 2.5-liter petrol engine an 140 hp 2.0-liter TDI, comes loaded with features like 16-inch alloy wheels, leather upholstery, steering-mounted controls, touchscreen and curtain airbags.

The "Vento Variant" in Argentina is the VW Golf estate while the Vento is called Polo is Russia. While advising VW cars to foreign colleagues, you better be careful!

VW Vento Argentina TV Commercial

Source - Autoblog.com.ar

Apart from China, we now know Malaysia could be in that list as the new Passat and Vento were caught testing in Port Dickson. The Vento (known as Polo in Russia) is based on an extended Polo hatchback platform and comes with a pair of 1.6-liter engines.

Power-loving markets like China and Malaysia might gain access to the racy TSI engine from under the Polo' hood.

Indian Autos Blog has learned that Volkswagen is averse to the idea of executing a sub-4 meter Vento even in the future as the customers in India believe "they have arrived" with the purchase of this German sedan. A sub 4-meter variant would dilute the Vento's image.

Volkswagen India's celebrating on reaching the milestone of 50,000 cars at its Chakan production facility in less than two years of its inauguration. The milestone car was a white VW Vento that posed with members of the VW's management and employees at the plant.

VW Group manufactures three vehicles at Chakan - VW Polo, VW Vento and Skoda Fabia.

Press Release

Volkswagen India rolls out the 50,000th car from its Chakan Plant

· 50,000th car rolled out of the Chakan plant in the presence of Dr. Arno Antlitz, Member of the Board of Management Volkswagen Brand and General Representative of Management Volkswagen Group

· Ramp-up phase of new Volkswagen Pune plant in line with strategy

· Dr. John Chacko, Volkswagen Group Chief Representative India and President & Managing Director, Volkswagen India Private Limited, expressed pride on announcing the success achieved by the company

Mumbai, February 15, 2011 – Volkswagen India commemorated the roll-out of the 50,000th car from its manufacturing plant in Chakan, Pune. Dr. Arno Antlitz Member of the Board of Management Volkswagen Brand and General Representative of Management Volkswagen Group and Dr. John Chacko, Volkswagen Group Chief Representative India and President & Managing Director, Volkswagen India Private Limited were present on the occasion along with Mr. Holger Nestler, Executive Director, Technical, Volkswagen India Private Limited.

With less than even two years having passed from the start of production at the Volkswagen plant in Chakan, the roll-out of the 50000th car off the production line marks another milestone in Volkswagen’s India journey and reiterates the fact that production at the plant is in line with scheduled ramp-up plans. The Chakan plant currently produces three models, the Volkswagen Polo, the Volkswagen Vento and the Skoda Fabia. The 50,000th car rolled out of the plant was a Volkswagen Vento.

“Touching the 50,000th car production landmark marks the beginning of Volkswagen’s next growth chapter in India. Realizing this target in just over a year’s time from the start of production is a testimony to the popularity Volkswagen cars enjoy in the Indian market. I wish the Volkswagen team great success for their future initiatives and I am confident that the team here will continue this momentum of growth,” expressed Dr. Arno Antlitz on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. John Chacko said, “It is a moment of great pride and satisfaction for all of us at Volkswagen on achieving this milestone in such a short span of time. Volkswagen has focused on introducing new products based on understanding of customer needs. The outstanding acceptance of all our products is a testimony to the success of that approach. The continuous support from our employees has made this possible today. I would like to thank the team at Chakan for their undying spirit and motivation and congratulate them for demonstrating how much can be achieved in a very short period of time.”

The Pune plant is one of the most modern in the Volkswagen Group which globally has 61 plants. It covers all stages in the production process from press shop through body shop and paint shop to final assembly. With a total financial commitment amounting to Rs. 3,800 crores (580 million Euros), the Volkswagen plant in Pune is the largest investment to date by a German company in India. With the investment coupled with the vertical integration of suppliers and the employment of people, Volkswagen India demonstrates its commitment to the new site.

Is the 1.6-liter diesel engine on your Volkswagen Vento insufficient? Is your Volkswagen Vento making you yawn everytime you look at it?

We have a potential fix to your problem.

Renowned Indian car performance expert Pete has come up with a package to spruce up the VW Vento. The modifications are both visual and mechanical.

Pete offers the following items as part of the Volkswagen Vento 130 package -

1) Pete's Tuning Box
2) Bilstein B14 height adjustable suspension
3) Tarox Front and Rear rotor + pads (Includes rear conversion to Rotors)
4) Stanley custom leather seating
5) 17” Forged Wheels

It is said that the Vento after Pete's treatment, produces 130bhp and with the new suspension in place will be able to handle corners better than the stock car.

Source - Motorbeam.com via Petes.in

The talking newspaper last week served as a morning jolt to me. It was a very novel idea however, triggering of an avalanche of bookings.

Indian Cars Bikes reports Volkswagen has registered 4,000 bookings for the Vento. The Polo's waiting period has stretched into months and the Vento's rush of bookings will put more pressure on Volkswagen. If anything, waiting periods are set to increase.

The Vento's segment has Maruti, Hyundai, Honda, Fiat and Ford battling it out with some fine products. The company has started the second shift at the Chakan facility and is hardly able to keep up with the demand. Till now, it has only managed to deliver 11,000 cars out of the 19,000 orders.

The Volkswagen Vento comes with a diesel engine that segment leader Honda City misses out. The reaction of the Indian customer to the Vento was expected and with such a brilliant marketing team working in the VW building, it's not hard to forsee more customers walking into their dealerships in the future.

Source - Indian Cars Bikes