Volkswagen shows off its new products for India at the Auto Expo

Volkswagen today unveiled four new products comprising the Ameo compact sedan, the eighth-generation Passat, the premium Tiguan SUV and the Beetle at the Auto Expo.

Addressing the press conference, Jürgen Stackmann, Board Member for Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, said, “The Delhi Motor Show is a great opportunity for us to showcase our enhanced product portfolio of segment-leading carlines to customers in this dynamic and growing market. Volkswagen wants to play a key role in India not only in terms of sales and market share, but also in terms of safety, quality and innovation. That is why we are strengthening our efforts here. We are expanding our product portfolio in India with the made-for-India Ameo, our first compact sedan, the latest edition Tiguan, which marks our debut in India’s SUV segment and the new Passat which will be launched in this fiscal.”

Michael Mayer, director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, said, “We truly believe in the potential that each of these carlines holds, for the Indian market. The Volkswagen Ameo, our made-in-India and made-for-India carline and the premium SUV, Tiguan, are among the most important carlines for us at this Motor Show. This gives us an opportunity to break into new customer segments and offer them the best Volkswagen cars. Additionally, through the showcase of Passat GTE, we have an opportunity to highlight Volkswagen’s environmentally responsible plug-in hybrid technology. Our recently launched products – 21^st Century Beetle, new Vento, new Jetta and new Polo have garnered a positive response from customers across the country.”

Taking centre-stage at the Volkswagen pavilion is the Ameo, which made its global debut at the Auto Expo yesterday. The new compact sedan has been designed specifically for the Indian market, and is expected to be a game changer for Volkswagen. There has been an overwhelming response to the sub 4-metre category in India, and with its superior technology, class-leading features and high safety standards the Ameo is expected to raise the bar in the sub-4-metre sedan segment with first-in-segment features like cruise control and rain sensing wipers along with static cornering lights and the dynamic Touchscreen multimedia music system with Mirror link, I-pod connectivity, phonebook / SMS viewer. The Ameo will be available with two fuel options: 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder MPI and 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder TDI engines.

After having made a debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2015, the Tiguan is set to make a mark as the first ever Volkswagen SUV to be based on the path-breaking MQB (modular transverse matrix) platform. Already making waves in Europe, the second-generation Tiguan is the undisputed best-selling compact SUV in its class. The sporty SUV is powered by a 2.0-litre TSI engine mated to a 7-speed DSG gearbox, giving a power output of 132 kW / 180 PS and capable of meeting EU 6 emission norms.

The Passat GTE is a plug-in hybrid powered by an electric motor and a TSI engine. It comes with a petrol-electric hybrid powertrain mated with a 6-speed DSG gearbox and has a combined power (engine + electric motor) output of approximately 218 PS. The 1.4-litre TSI engine develops a power of 115 kW / 156 PS; the electric motor produces 85 kW / 115 PS, while the maximum combined torque is 400 Nm. Like the Tiguan, the Passat’s engine will meet EU 6 emission norms.

The newest Beetle, which was launched recently in India, sold 55 units in December. It comes with a 1395cc, 1.4-litre turbocharged TSI engine and is mated to a 7-speed DSG gearbox, developing 150 PS and 250 Nm of torque. Fuel economy is an ARAI-certified 17.68kpl.