Having made its presence in the mass market space with the Polo, Vento and more recently the Ameo, Volkswagen India is now looking to introduce a host of models in the premium end of the domestic car market. For starters, there will be a much anticipated SUV from VW, followed by plug-in hybrid premium sedan. Then, there is the all-new hatchback that will arrive in the country over the next couple of months. Promising line-up then? Yes it is and here is a look at the upcoming Volkswagen cars in India that you should know about.
The Volkswagen Tiguan will go on sale in a few weeks
With the growing demand for SUVs, Volkswagen is all set to introduce Tiguan full size SUV in the country in the following weeks. The SUV is based on the same MQB platform that underpins other popular models like the Skoda Octavia and Skoda Superb, making for an agile offering. Exterior styling is inspired from Golf and Passat featuring an aggressive front end and sharp character lines. The new Tiguan also offers ample space inside the cabin and a generous boot capacity. We drove the Tiguan last year in Germany and came back quite impressed with what the model had to offer.
Competing with the likes of the Toyota Fortuner, Isuzu MU-X and the likes, the new Tiguan will be loaded on features when it arrives in India while quality levels like all VW products will be top notch. The SUV will also come with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity along with MirrorLink as some of its salient bits.
Under the hood, the 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine will be powering the new Volkswagen Tiguan developing 147 bhp of power while transmission duties will be handled by a 6-speed manual and a seven-speed DSG unit. Four-Wheel Drive is likely to be offered later in the timeline. Dealer training for the new Tiguan has already commenced and the launch is slated to be just few weeks away. Make sure to watch out for our launch story coming up soon.
Expected Launch: June 2017
Expected Price: Rs 25 lakh to Rs 30 lakh
Competition: Ford Endeavour, Toyota Fortuner, Isuzu MU-X
The Passat GTE rivals the Honda Accord Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid
With the recent attention towards electric vehicles and hybrids by the government, automakers are looking forward to introducing more EVs and Hybrid cars in the country. After Toyota and Honda, the latest automaker to introduce a Hybrid sedan in the country will be Volkswagen with the all-new Passat GTE. We have already driven the new Passat GTE and can tell you that the model is eco friendly without compromising on power. The model is based on on the new generation Passat B8 and carries over the styling cues from the standard model, but gets distinctive new elements as well.
Much like its competition, Volkswagen is likely to bring the model as a CBU or Semi-Knocked Down kit (SKD), which means the powertrain setup will be identical to the international version. Expect to see a 1.4-litre petrol motor under the hood along with an electric motor. Both units combined churn out 215 bhp of power and 400 Nm of peak torque. Volkswagen India will be introducing the new Passat GTE later this year and the model will be catering to a niche customer base.
Expected Launch: Second half of 2017
Expected Price: Rs. 30 lakh to Rs. 35 lakh
Competition: Toyota Camry Hybrid, Honda Accord Hybrid
New-Generation Volkswagen Polo
The next generation Volkswagen Polo is in its advanced stages of development and was also recently caught testing undisguised. The premium hatchback is slated to be revealed in Europe later this year and is likely to make it to the Indian shores by 2018. Moving to its sixth generation, the Volkswagen Polo is an extremely important product for the carmaker and will be receiving an evolutionary new design language. The hatchback will get a longer wheelbase extended by 90 mm, while the model will also be lighter underpinned by VW's versatile MQB platform.
The German auto giant aims to offer improved cabin space on the new Polo, especially at the rear while the feature list will also a comprehensive upgrade. Expect to see a new touchscreen infotainment system now supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with the MirrorLink system. Engine options will also see a revision globally with the line-up ranging from the 1-litre naturally aspirated three-cylinder motor to a 1.8-litre engine. Reports also suggest a new 1.5-litre petrol unit churning out between 140-160 bhp. Meanwhile, diesel engines will include the 1.5-litre oil burner available in different states of tune.
The new generation Volkswagen Polo will be heading to the Indian market sometime in 2018 and could possibly be showcased at the upcoming Auto Expo as well. The all-new model will also serve base for the new generation Vento sedan and eventually the next generation Ameo. A subcompact SUV is also said to be in the works, based on the new generation Polo platform.
Expected Launch: Second half of 2018
Expected Price: Rs. 5.5 lakh to Rs. 10.5 lakh
Competition: Honda Jazz, Maruti Suzuki Baleno, Hyundai i20
