Volkswagen Vento Successor To Be Launched In Early 2022 | V3Cars

Mar 30, 2021, 01:00 PM IST
By Mahesh Yadav
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After launching the first-gen Vento almost a decade ago, Volkswagen is now gearing up to launch the second-gen sedan in India. It will go on sale in Q1 2022 and is likely to be called the Virtus.

For the uninitiated, the Virtus is a compact sedan that VW already offers in the Latin American market and the carmaker might launch the same sedan in India with some India-specific updates. It will be based on the new MQB A0 IN platform which also underpins upcoming VW groups SUVs like the Skoda Kushaq and Volkswagen Taigun.

Being based on the new indigenous platform, the next-gen Vento or Virtus will be bigger than the current model. Here is a comparison:

	Volkswagen Vento	Volkswagen Virtus (Brazil-spec)
Length	4390mm	4482mm (+92mm)
Width	1699mm	1751mm (+52mm)
Height	1467mm	1472mm (+5mm)
Wheelbase	2553mm	2651mm (+98mm)

The Virtus has a wheelbase of 2651mm which is not only longer than the Vento but is identical to that of the Kushaq SUV. This further implies that Virtus could be the Vento successor in India.

The Virtus will not only share its platform with the Kushaq and Taigun but will get similar engines too. The lower variants are expected to be powered by a 1.0-litre TSI turbo petrol engine making 115PS and 175Nm paired to either a 6-speed MT or a 6-speed AT. The higher variants, on the other hand, will get a 1.5-litre TSI turbo petrol engine making 150PS and 250Nm making the Virtus the most powerful sedan in the class. Transmission options on offer will include a 6-speed MT and a 7-speed DSG. Skoda might offer the same set of engines on the Rapid successor as well.

Virtus

VW’s upcoming sedan should be loaded on features front as well. It is expected to get features like 6 airbags, electronic stability control, hill launch assist, traction control, auto AC with rear AC vents, auto-dimming IRVM, auto LED headlamps, sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, connected car tech and touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Prices of the Vento successor are likely to range from Rs 10 lakh to 16 lakh making it considerable pricier than the current model which retails from Rs 9.09 lakh to Rs 13.68 lakh (ex-showroom). It will take on likes of the fifth-gen Honda City, Maruti Ciaz, Hyundai Verna, Toyota Yaris and the upcoming Skoda Rapid successor. Volkswagen might continue to offer the current-gen Vento alongside the new sedan as an affordable alternative like Honda has done with the fourth-gen City.