Volkswagen India to bring 7th generation Passat by March

Volkswagen has recently stated to bring its much awaited 7th generation 1.8 TSI (Petrol) Passat, which was wrapped off in 2010 Paris Motor Show, to India. This long awaited new model has got sharper treatment in its lines alike its other Scirocco inspired models like Jetta, Vento and Polo.

The new grille has been beautified with loads of chrome, whereas the daytime LED lights on outer corners make it quite catchy. The rear of the vehicle too has been worked out well - the taillight too is LED and adorned angularly to give sharper lines to the new age Passat as compared to existing one.

The vehicle has been priced at Rs 19.20 Lakh (Ex-showroom, New Delhi). Mr. Neeraj Garag, Member of Board and Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars (Group Sales), Volkswagen India Pvt. Ltd said “The Passat TSI is well refined and not only will provide superior driving experience but also decrease fuel consumption and lower emissions.”

On the other end, Volkswagen is setting itself to launch new version Jetta 2.0L TDI too in India, around the same time at a cost of 15.92 Lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Mr. Lutz Kothe, Market Head, Volkswagen said about their production plans of both the vehicles, “We have no plan to localize the Jetta or Passat but we will continue to assemble them in India, India is the fastest-growing market in the luxury car segment and we will continue to grow here”

He also added, “We are gradually ramping up production at our Chakan Facility in Maharashtra to cater to the increasing demand. The Polo (White Color) has been more in demand in the market.”

Top Car Launches in 2010

2010 has been a remarkable year for not just carmakers but car buyers too. With a flood of launches, Indian buyers had more than what they could take, in terms of new cars. Nevertheless, car manufacturers kept bringing new and advanced looks and technology in the cars to lure the Indian buyers towards them.
Lets have a look at what the car industry brought in, what was a memorable year, 2010

Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen, the premium automobile company truly understands the sentiments attached with wedding season in India. The German auto manufacturer has rightly catered the marriage season in India by launching an ad campaign and woven Volkswagen Beetle beautifully in it.

Chevrolet Beat
The beautiful car from world’s largest auto manufacturer, General Motors, spiced up the year 2010 with its beauty performance and excellence. The Chevrolet Beat was launched on 4th Jan 2010 and was priced between Rs 3,49,994 - Rs 4,15,486 with availability in three exciting petrol variants. The choice of colors makes the model more interesting on road. The premium hatchback offers mileage of 14.5kmpl in city and 18.6kmpl on highway.

Nissan Micra
Nissan took a big move in Indian automobile hatchback segment by bringing its all exciting Nissan Micra on 14th July 2010. The company introduced its diesel version on 10th December. Nissan Micra was the first car from Japanese auto makers to be brought to India and was well received in the market due to its look, easy maneuverability. The selling features of Nissan Micra are its turning radius (4.65), Push start and Intelligent key system. The mill of the compact four-wheeler offers mileage of around 14 kmpl in city and 18.06 kmpl on highways.

Volkswagen Vento
The car priced between Rs 7,17,470 - Rs 9,47,170 was launched on 12th August 2010. The all new Volkswagen Vento comes with the same engine as is available in Volkswagen Polo i.e. 1.6 L petrol and diesel engines. The beautiful compact car gives a mileage of 20.54 kmpl on highway and 15.8 kmpl in city. Volkswagen Vento is designed to give direct competition to the market leader Honda City.

Skoda Yeti
The stunning SUV from Skoda was launched on 15th Nov 2010. Skoda Yeti was awarded the SUV of the year and comes with a price tag of Rs 15,40,324* - Rs 16,62,721. The new Skoda vehicle comes in two variants i.e. Ambiente and Elegance. the crossover delivers 17.67 kmpl of mileage. The major competitors for this new car in Indian market are Mahindra Scorpio, Tata Safari, Tata Aria, Maruti Grand Vitara, Ford Endeavour, Toyota Fortuner and Mitsubishi Outlander.

Mahindra Thar
The powerful gypsy made its way on Indian roads on 21st December 2010 with a price tag of Rs 5,99,000 - Rs 5,99,000. Mahindra Thar assures a safe and powerful drive on worst road conditions. The powerful engine offers zipper acceleration and crosses a 100 kms easily in just 13.5 seconds. It offers a top speed of 150 kmph. The contemporary gypsy is given an edgy look with least of curves and delicate lines rather the crease on body are so prominent and bold that it depicts great power.

Toyota Etios
The sizzling luxury made its way in Indian market on 1st December 2010. Toyota Etios sedan is the least priced (Rs 4,96,000 - Rs 6,86,500) model in Toyota’s portfolio. Hugely popular car registered over 12000 bookings within 15 days of launch, making a record. It gives a mileage of 17.6 kmpl on highway and 12 kmpl in city. This makes it a fuel efficient car without compromising on the performance and luxury.

Volkswagen Vento

The German Car major, Volkswagen unveiled its much-awaited sedan Volkswagen Vento in India. However, the car will be available to its customers in the last quarter of the year. The company disclosed the specification of the car at the event held for its unveiling but details about price and mileage were kept under wraps. The company official informed that the Volkswagen Vento price would be declared in August, 2010.

Volkswagen Vento Description :

Overall

Volkswagen, the German Car maker is back with a bang, with the all new Volkswagen Vento. Volkswagen Vento is said to be designed to give direct competition to the market leader Honda City. The new executive sedan will hit the Indian roads in the October-December quarter this year, according to the company official. Market leader Honda has dominated the mid size premium sedan segment in India, but with the launch of Volkswagen Vento, the race to take the number one spot in terms of market share will now begin between the two Automotive giants.

Volkswagen Vento is expected to be positioned in the premium category car, same as Volkswagen Polo which is in line with a higher brand value of the company. The company will follow the same strategy for Volkswagen Vento as it does with Volkswagen Polo. Although Volkswagen Vento price will to be disclosed in August, 2010, but the industry sources speculate that it will be priced in the range of Rs 7-9 lacs, giving it a “in your face” competitive to Honda City.

The added advantage that the all new Volkswagen Vento has in comparison to its competitor Honda City is that the former will be available in both petrol and diesel version unlike the latter which is available only in petrol version. The all new Volkswagen Vento will be seen with the same engine as is available in Volkswagen Polo i.e. 1.6 L petrol and diesel engines. While the petrol engine is expected to produce a torque of 105 Ps, the diesel engine will have a thumping torque of 250 NM. Volkswagen Vento will be launched in India with manual and automatic transmission. The petrol version will be equipped with a 6 speed automatic gearbox.

The all new Volkswagen Vento is expected to have the same dynamic exteriors and interiors, as Honda City does. The sleek exterior look of the new Vento that will hit the roads soon, is expected to hog a lot of limelight, all for good reasons, we believe. The Sedan with be loaded with a lot of charismatic effects and looks to appeal to car lovers.

Volkswagen Vento as mentioned above will hit the roads in the October-December quarter of 2010. The car will be manufactured at Volkswagen's new factory at Chakan in Pune. This facility is currently used in the production of Volkswagen Polo and Skoda Fabia. The company has plans to sell around 25000 units every year once the production starts with full swing. The major disadvantage for Volkswagen Vento will be its cost, as the engine and the transmission (which is generally 35-40 % of car's cost) will have to be imported. Volkswagen Vento is expected to have top of its class advanced safety and comfort features that will make this car very different from its competitors.
Volkswagen Vento Models

Volkswagen Vento will be launched in the Indian market with petrol and diesel engine models. The new sedan will be available in the same variant line as the Volkswagen Polo. According to the initial information, the new car will have both Trendline and Highline variants.




Volkswagen Vento Models

Volkswagen Vento will be launched in the Indian market with petrol and diesel engine models. The new sedan will be available in the same variant line as the Volkswagen Polo. According to the initial information, the new car will have both Trendline and Highline variants.

Volkswagen Vento Petrol Trendline : This basic variant comes equipped with 14" steel wheels with full wheel caps, Black exterior door handles and mirrors, Radio preparation with speaker & antenna pre-wiring, 14" steel wheels with full wheel caps, etc.
Volkswagen Vento Petrol Trendline AT: It comes with the same features as Volkswagen Vento Petrol Trendline except automatic transmission gearbox.
Volkswagen Vento Petrol Highline : This variant is comprised of all the standard features of Trendline along with some extra features like ABS, Front Airbags for driver and co-driver, Climatronic automatic air conditioning, Radio with CD player MP3 and four speaker including roof Antenna, Fog light, front & rear , 15” Alloy wheels, etc.
Volkswagen Vento Petrol Highline AT: It comes with similar features as Volkswagen Vento Petrol Highline, the only difference is automatic transmission gearbox.
Volkswagen Vento Diesel Trendline :It comes with the same features as Volkswagen Vento Petrol Trendline except diesel engine.
Volkswagen Vento Diesel Highline : It comes with the same features as Volkswagen Vento Petrol Highline except diesel engine.

Mileage, Average and Fuel Economy

The all new Volkswagen Vento is expected to come in both Petrol and Diesel engine. The all new Vento will be packed with the same engine as Volkswagen Polo. The car will have a 1.6 L engine. The new Volkswagen Vento will be equipped by both 5 Speed Manual Transmission and an automatic gearbox (in the petrol version) and 5 speed manual gearbox (diesel version) for smooth changes and easy shifting of gears. The engine will have a DOHC Valve configuration with 4 valves per cylinder which will make the performance of the car dynamic.

The new Volkswagen Vento promises to offer smoother and faster gear shifts and acceleration in both manual transmission/automatic mode. This engine is anticipated to offer a mileage of 11.2 kmpl in the city and 15.4 kmpl on the highway. So far, the mileage figures are not announced by the company.
Power

Volkswagen Vento will be available in both petrol and diesel engine. Both the engines will be powered by a 1.6 liter DOHC in-line type engine. This In-line type engine with 4 Valves per cylinder offers greater torque and clear emission. Volkswagen Vento will have a 5 Speed Manual and automatic AT (in the petrol version) for easy shifting of gears. The engine will provide smoother and faster gear changes with both manual and automatic gearbox. It is also anticipated that the car will provide an improved fuel economy. This engine will offer idling speed to be lowered without compromising on its high-speed performance. The highly powerful engine of Volkswagen Vento will produce an impressive power of 105 bhp at 5250 rpm and a thumping torque of 153 Nm at 3800 rpm for the petrol engine and 250 Nm at 1500-2500 rpm for the diesel engine.
Colors

The Volkswagen Vento Trendline variant will be available in two exciting colours i.e. candy white and flash red, both being the most sought after colors in the auto world. The car will have body colored outside mirrors, door handles, chrome strip on trunk, chrome finish on front air dam,fog light surrounds and green wedge at top section of windshield.

On the other hand, Highline variant of the Volkswagen Vento will have reflex silver metallic, shadow blue metallic, terra beige metallic and deep Black Pearl. The exterior will be comprised of body colored outside mirrors and door handles, 15” alloy wheels, chrome strip on trunk, paint, metallic and pearl effect, chrome finish on front air dam and fog light surrounds and green wedge at top section of windshield.
Acceleration and Pick Up

It a known fact (well for car enthusiasts !) that the acceleration of a car is greatly dependent on the torque and transmission. Manual Transmission offers greater mileage and acceleration than the Automatic Transmission. The Volkswagen Vento is assumed to be powered by 5 Speed Manual Transmission and automatic gearbox (in the petrol engine variant) to facilitate smoother changes in gears. The engine is expected to offer an impressive acceleration and top speed.



Volkswagen Vento Exteriors
Exterior Appearance

Volkswagen Vento is a stylish luxurious Sedan that offers a distinct sporty look. The secret of its distinct design lies in the combination of a robust appearance with functional details. The exterior design gives the car a smart and an elegant appearance. The classy look of Vento spells sophistication all the way. The design of Volkswagen Vento blends concept car themes and sound aerodynamic principles while conveying the brand’s rally heritage.

The front of the Volkswagen Vento is similar to the Volkswagen Polo design with chrome trimmed front radiator grille that offers a classy and an elegant look. The saloon and the hatch are similar to the B-pillar, except for a different grille and lights, to differentiate it from its hatchback sibling.

The stylish halogen headlight and indicators give extra emphasis to the elegance and luxurious look and provide good and optimum vision on the road, thus offering an uncompromising attention. The squarish rear LED lights (tail lamps) give a very innovative and impressive look and offer stylish contour to the New Volkswagen Vento which perfectly blends with the rear design. The new Volkswagen Vento offers a look similar to that of a sports car, with its unique front end. Alloy wheels provides a very aggressive and sporty look to the car.

The trendline variant of the Volkswagen Vento will come with 14" steel wheels with full wheel caps, chrome inlays in front grille to the left and right of the Volkswagen logo, body coloured bumpers, black exterior door handles and mirrors, Halogen headlights, partially zinc coated body with 6 years anti-rust warranty and rough road package with increased ground clearance whereas the Highline variant will be designed with body colored outside mirrors and door handles, 15” alloy wheels, chrome strip on trunk, paint, metallic and pearl effect, chrome finish on front air dam and fog light surrounds and green wedge at top section of windshield.
Exterior Measurements

Volkswagen Vento is a stylish Sedan with a seating capacity of 5 passengers. Its dimensions guarantee comfortable handling and maneuverability while driving in the city The exterior dimensions of Volkswagen Vento offer ample length and width with excellent height and wheel base.
Volkswagen Vento Interiors
Interior Appearance

The all new Volkswagen Vento is expected to be on roads shortly with amazing and stunning interiors that compliments its exterior. The interior of the car boast sophistication with top of its class luxury features. Spacious interiors of Volkswagen Vento that offer a sense of tranquility even in the busiest of roads is sure to attract car lovers.

The new car is expected to offer higher level of comfort that is unmatched by any other car. Its reflex interiors with fabric upholstery, dashboard will make it look what it should look- elegant all the way !

Other salient features the Volkswagen Vento possesses are: Front doors with storage compartments including a holder for 1 litre bottle, Rear doors with storage compartments, Storage compartment for sunglasses inside the glove box, Fully lined trunk and trunk floor, Trunk illumination, Foldable roof handles with coat hooks (3x), Warning triangle holder, Center console including 2 cupholders, Front centre armrest including cupholder for rear seat, Front center console including 12V outlet, Rear seat backrest, Fixed Gear lever surround, inner door handles and AC vents with chrome, 2 tone anti-glare dashboard, Black & Beige, Sun visors with ticket holder on driver's side, Sun visors with vanity mirror on passenger's side and Livon" fabric upholstery.

Additional interior features in Volkswagen Vento Highline variant include, Co-driver seat adjustable from rear seat for additional leg room, Interior Chrome package, Genuine leather wrapped steering wheel, gear shift knob, hand brake lever and gear shift boot, Rear centre arm rest and “Livon” superior upholstery
Interior Comfort

Volkswagen Vento offers a cocoon of comfort. The car is a class apart from its peers when we talk about the comfort features it carries. Along with style and elegance, the comfort and convenience of the passengers is also taken care of. Volkswagen Vento is expected to be packed with a host of features that ensure, you reach your destination relaxed and in great comfort, something that we all need, at the end of the day.

The power Steering wheel offers a comfortable drive for a of any height, the adjustable steering column, for both reach and rake and comfortable seats ensures a great driving experience. The tailor made innovative engine of Volkswagen Vento gives a high level of driving comfort.

The adjustable driver’s seat offers a suitable driving position with both height and seat adjustments in it, that ensures you reach your destination in sheer comfort. The car is packed with many advanced comfort features to give a pleasant and smooth drive.

The storage section is also taken care of, with the availability of huge boot space wherein you can put in your luggage in case of long distance travel. The front cup holders and the storage compartments in front doors offer greater use of space where you can store bottles or papers, etc.

The comfort features for the Trendline variant of the Volkswagen Vento include AC with rear AC vents, central locking, push type fuel lid opener, centrally lockable, outer rear view mirrors manually adjustable from inside, four power windows with driver side one touch down, Electric trunk opening, Rear defogger, white instrument back-lights, Parking lights, radio preparation with speaker and antenna pre-wiring, Front intermittent wipers, Dust and pollen filter and 14" steel spare wheel.

The Highline variant of the Volkswagen Vento will be equipped with some extra comfort features such as Electrically adjustable outside mirrors, Climatronic automatic air conditioning, Comfort power windows, Height adjustable driver seat, Remote control for central locking, incl 2 keys, Multi function info display including door opening warning, Radio with CD player MP3 and four speaker including roof Antenna and14” steel spare wheel.
Interior Measurements

Volkswagen Vento is a luxurious sedan with a seating capacity of 5 passengers. The car is very spacious from inside and the interior dimensions provide ample area making both the headroom and legroom spacious.
Engine Capacity and Performance

The all new Volkswagen Vento will be available in both petrol and diesel engine options. The car will be equipped with the same engine as that of Volkswagen Polo. It will have 1.6 L engine DOHC in-line petrol engine for both manual and automatic options. The engine is expected to be equipped with 4 valves per cylinder which will offer clear emission and a higher torque. Volkswagen Vento petrol version will have 5 Speed Manual Transmission and automatic gearbox and diesel version will host only 5 speed manual gearbox to enable smooth changes in gears. This engine helps the idling speed to be lowered without compromising the high-speed performance. The officials of the company claimed greater fuel efficiency for the car without mentioning the figures.

The highly powerful petrol engine of Volkswagen Vento will produce an impressive power of 105 ps at 5250 rpm and a thumping torque of 153 Nm at 3800 rpm .The diesel engine of the car churns a top power of 105 ps at 4400 rpm and generates a peak torque of 250 Nm at 1500-2500 rpm.
Wheels

The all new Volkswagen Vento will available with cast aluminum alloy wheels and large size tyres. This big sized tyre are of great help in controlling the car from off-roading. It also reduces the skidding rate in slippery and watery roads. The Volkswagen Vento Trendline will have 14" steel wheels with full wheel caps and a 14" steel spare wheel while the Highline variant will be assembled with 15” alloy wheels and a 14” steel spare wheel.
Braking and Handling

Like all the cars from the Volkswagen stable, Volkswagen Vento, too is packed with a sound braking system. The front wheels of Volkswagen Vento come with Disc Brakes while its rear wheels have drum brakes. A good braking system helps in decelerating the car very quickly. The other advanced features that make the handling of Volkswagen Vento more convenient is ABS (Antilock Brake System) that ensures the prevention of wheel locking in case of sudden braking. Moreover it prevents the vehicle from skidding in case of hard braking at a wet or slippery road.

The suspension too, in the all new Volkswagen Vento will be a very powerful one and is expected to maintain the stability of the car.
Handling and Safety

Safety is a major concern these days with increased number of vehicle on roads. Volkswagen has taken care of this concern with its inbuilt passive and active safeguards in place. Volkswagen Vento is expected to be equipped with a array of advanced safeguards to make the drive comfortable and hassle-free.

The ABS (Anti Lock Braking System) ensures prevention of wheel lock in case of abrupt braking and keeps the car steerable. The availability of Driver’s Airbag and co-passenger airbag in the car is the most important safety measure which offers a cushioning effect to the passenger in case of collision and jerk and also helps in reducing the impact of the collision.

Volkswagen Vento is expected to have front and rear fog lights that help to drive the car in any weather condition. With the presence of fog lamps, the drive becomes easy and safe in bad weather conditions.

Some of the other safety features are Anti theft system with interior surveillance and back up alarm, Height adjustable 3 points front seat belt, 3-point safety belts for rear outboard occupants, lap belt for rear middle occupant, Front headrests and rear headrests, height-adjustable, High mount stop lamp, Day night rear view mirror, Front disc brakes and Electronic immobilizer.
Stereo and Accessories

Volkswagen Vento will be equipped with advanced integrated audio system wherein you can listen to your favorite music with best sound quality using an integrated radio. Also, a sound system for ultimate drive experience will be available in the all new Volkswagen Vento. The Highline variant will have radio with CD player MP3 and four speaker including roof Atenna.

Volkswagen Vento will be accessorised with a powerful Climatronic automatic air conditioning, dust and pollen filter.

New Volkswagen Vento Launched In India

Volkswagen launched its new Volkswagen Vento in India on 6th July, 2010. Due to Volkswagen’s feature of engines, exteriors and interiors or its performance, stylish and elegant looks, it has already become famous. Vento will be available with 1.6 L CRDI Diesel Engine & 1.5 L MPFI Petrol engine options. The car will be available with five speeds manual transmission and automatic transmission. The price of Volkswagen Vento is estimated in range 7 to 9 lakh.

Volkswagen Vento is C-plus segment car and its competitor cars include Honda City, Hyundai Verna and Fiat Linea and Toyota’s upcoming Etios sedan, Maruti Suzuki SX4, and Ford Fiesta.

Neeraj Garg, director of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Group Sales India said, “The way we were competitive when we launched the hatchback (Polo), similarly, we will be competitive in terms of value proposition and impact segment with the sedan. We are a premium brand with premium products and do not intend to be in the price-sensitive segment.”

Vento is the latest model of VW after VW’s and the successfully launched Passat, Jetta, Touareg, New Beetle, PhaetonPolo hatchback car. The Vento is designed according to requirement of car enthusiasts in the country.

The Car has traditional simple looks but the designers have designed the notchback portion with very satisfying proportions and very attractive. It has six-spoke alloy wheels which added compliment in its looks. It will be available in various colors including Deep Black, Flash Red, Glacier Blue, Silver and Candy White. The car is featured with 5 speed Manual and Automatic Transmission, Automatic Gearbox (Petrol Version), Chrome trimmed front radiator grille, Led light tail lamps, Alloy wheels. Vento is 5 seater car.

Volkswagen Vento Expected Price: Rs. 7-9 lakhs



Specifications of Volkswagen Vento:

• Vehicle Summary:

Car Name: Vento
Car Body Type: Sedan
Segment: C+ Segment

• Engine specifications:

Engine Type: Petrol
Displacement: 1598cc, 4 Cylinder, 8 Valve
Maximum Power: 105 Bhp (Expected)
Maximum Torque: 158 Nm (Expected)

• Fuel and Mileage:

City Mileage: 11.2 kmpl
Highway Mileage: 15.4 kmpl

VW to launch Phaeton in June with a price tag of Rs 76.3 lakh, Vento in three months

The Volkswagen Polo, the German auto major’s offering in the premium hatchback segment, continues to have a waiting period of two-three months, depending on the model and the variant.

This is despite customers paying a deposit of Rs 50,000 on booking. The Chakan plant is ramping up volume, which is approximately 100 cars a day now, for production of the sedan version of the new Polo, called the Vento (which means wind in Portuguese and Italian). Production of this car is expected to begin from July. It will be commercially available later in the year.

Neeraj Garg, member of the board and director cars, Volkswagen India, said they have over 9,000 bookings for the Polo. He said, “A sure sign of the revival in the market is that people are booking the Polo despite having to wait up to three months.”

The diesel variant of the Polo was launched earlier this month. VW India began selling the petrol version of Polo in March. The company will launch its top-of-the-line Phaeton next month with an ex showroom price tag of Rs 76.3 lakh. This will come as VW’s third CBU import, the two others being the Touareg and the new Beetle.

“We have no bookings for the Phaeton since it is in a niche segment,” said Mr Garg. He was speaking to reporters after the formal inauguration of VW’s Pune dealer, Vidyut Motors, its 43rd. VW has dealerships in 37 cities.

VW India president and CEO Joerg Mueller said VW is the only carmaker with a 17 vehicle line up across three brands in the group.

Mr Garg ruled out any cannibalisation of group company Skoda’s Fabia by the Polo hatchback. The entry level Polo is priced lower than Fabia, also a hatchback. Mr Garg said, “The group has a product strategy.. In the market different brands could compete with each other. But there has been no cannibalisation and the brands are not in conflict.”