Volkswagen plans performance-oriented cars for India, eyes smaller cities

Volkswagen plans performance-oriented cars for India, eyes smaller cities

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By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 24 Mar 2024, 13:17 PM

  • Volkswagen India is aiming to achieve 15 per cent growth in 2024 and the lower tier cities are expected to play a key role in that strategy.
Volkswagen India is aiming to achieve 15 per cent growth in 2024 and the lower tier cities are expected to play a key role in that strategy.

Volkswagen is planning to tap the performance-oriented car segment in India, PTI has reported. The German auto giant is reportedly seeking to cash in on the increasing demand for its premium performance-focused offerings across India. Also, the OEM is reportedly aiming to expand its business not only in the metro cities across India but in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities as well. This comes as Volkswagen is aiming to grow its sales in India by 15 per cent in 2024.

The report claims that the auto manufacturer is mulling the idea to emphasise on its GT-badged passenger vehicles in India. The OEM claims to have sold around 44,000 cars in India in 2023. Currently, it sells models like the Taigun SUV and Virtus sedan which are available with GT trim, propelled by a 1.5-litre petrol engine. In an attempt to bring more affordability, Volkswagen has not brought a 1.0-litre petrol engine in its GT lineup as well. As the report indicates, the automaker is betting big on the new engine for its overall growth and to tap the performance-oriented vehicle segment in the country. The automaker unveiled the GT Plus Sport and GT Line just a few days ago. which will be launched soon.

Speaking about the brand’s strategy in India, Ashish Gupta, Brand Director at Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, said that with the GT trims on the Taigun and Virtus, VW has created a new segment, which is witnessing penetration by other OEMs as well. “Earlier, there was no sub-segment of a performance SUV or a performance sedan…So, when we introduced the GT on the Taigun and Virtus that basically created that space, which now everybody’s coming into,” he said.

Bullish on the growth of the performance-based sub-segment, Gupta said that it has been fuelled by evolving consumer preferences over a period of time with top-of-the-line features, safety and performance topping their demand list. He also stated that the consumers are willing to pay a premium for these features. “They’re not willing to compromise. So, definitely, this is a space which will continue to grow,” he reportedly asserted.

speaking further Gupta revealed that earlier, the GT was available only in a 1.5-litre petrol engine option, and around 35-40 per cent of sales were from the GT on both Taigun and Virtus. Gupta further stated that the growth of GT sales is not limited only to the metros and cities. “If I look at the GTs even in the Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns, almost 20 to 25 per cent of my sales are the GTs,” he said, further adding, “The GT has become iconic as a brand for us, and we want to get the maximum leverage out of the GT badge.”

First Published Date: 24 Mar 2024, 13:17 PM IST


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Volkswagen Taigun 1.0 TSI AT: Fuel efficiency tested in city & on highway

Volkswagen Taigun 1.0 TSI AT: Fuel efficiency tested in city & on highway

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By: Paarth Khatri
| Updated on: 30 Dec 2023, 13:16 PM

Volkswagen offers the Taigun with a 1.0-litre and a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engines. Here is the fuel efficiency figure of the 1.0-litre TSI wit

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Volkswagen offers the Taigun with a 1.0-litre and a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engines. Here is the fuel efficiency figure of the 1.0-litre TSI with the 6-speed automatic transmission.

Volkswagen Taigun in Curcuma Yellow colour scheme does stand out of the crowd and has a proper SUV appeal to it. (HT Auto/Paarth Khatri)

Volkswagen’s India 2.0 strategy has been doing quite well in the Indian market. The Virtus and the Taigun have been selling in decent numbers despite the competition that is there in the segment. Volkswagen launched the Taigun back in 2021 and since then it has received some feature additions as well as some special editions. Yes, there were a few issues when the vehicle was first launched but Volkswagen was able to fix them just in time.

The mid-size SUV is offered with a 1.0-litre TSI and a 1.5-litre EVO petrol engine. While the 1.5-litre EVO is the one that is more powerful and is desirable among enthusiasts, it is the 1.0-litre TSI that is more affordable and is being preferred by most people.

The 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine produces 113 bhp of max power and 175 Nm of peak torque. It comes mated to a 6-speed torque converter and a 6-speed manual gearbox. Because both engines are turbocharged, there is a bit of misconception that they would not deliver a good fuel efficiency figure.

To test this out, we decided to take the Taigun 1.0 TSI with the automatic transmission for a fuel efficiency test. While stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, the fuel efficiency hovered around 8-9 kmpl but it does climb up to 13.5 kmpl with a light foot in city conditions. On the highways, we managed to squeeze out a fuel efficiency figure between 16.5 to 17.9 kmpl. Having said that, the vehicle that we tested was not equipped with idle start/stop functionality which could help in improving the fuel efficiency further.

Volkswagen Taigun
At the rear, the Volkswagen Taigun gets a lightbar that runs across the width of the vehicle. (HT Auto/Paarth Khatri)

It is important to note that turbocharged engines are very sensitive to throttle inputs. To counter the turbo lag, the gearbox would often downshift which might reduce the fuel efficiency figure. Fortunately, there are paddle shifters behind the steering wheel and one can up-shift if he or she is trying to maximise the fuel efficiency.

Also Read : Volkswagen Virtus, Taigun & Tiguan to get more expensive from January 1, 2024

What’s next? Well, now that we do know what the 1.0-litre TSI’s fuel efficiency figure is, we will be testing the 1.5-litre EVO engine to see what is the difference between the fuel efficiency figures of both engines. Moreover, it is important to note that the 1.5 EVO comes with ACT or Active Cylinder Deactivation which could help in improving the fuel efficiency further.

First Published Date: 30 Dec 2023, 13:16 PM IST


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Honda Elevate sales touch 20,000 units since launch, more orders for CVT

Honda Elevate sales touch 20,000 units since launch, more orders for CVT

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Honda Cars India Ltd. has announced that the new Elevate SUV sales have crossed the 20,000 units milestone in 100 days since the launch. The all-new Honda Elevate arrived in showrooms in September this year commencing a new era for the Japanese automaker in the country. The strong response to the offering amidst established competition will help solidify its presence in the segment.

By: Sameer Fayaz Contractor
| Updated on: 17 Dec 2023, 11:29 AM

Honda says it is adjusting production for the automatic variants of the Elevate, which are in more demand

Honda said that the new Elevate accounted for over 50 per cent of total sales for the company in the last three months. It has also helped HCIL’s sales grow by 11 per cent between September and November year-on-year. The company also revealed that the CVT automatic remains in higher demand on the SUV.

Also Read : Honda Elevate EV to get an electric avatar by 2026, four more SUVs to come by 2030

Honda Elevate first drive review
The Honda Elevate has been off to a good start in the highly competitive compact SUV segment

Speaking about the promising start for the Elevate, Yuichi Murata, Director of Marketing and Sales – Honda Cars India Ltd., said, “We are thrilled to witness the remarkable success of the Honda Elevate, which has surpassed our expectations. The 20,000 sales milestone of Elevate in the first 100 days of launch is a proud moment for us and reflects the trust & preference of our valued customers, making us a notable contender in the industry. Furthermore, we have maximised the production of the Elevate to serve our waiting customers as early as possible and adjusted the variant mix to align with the market demand which is overwhelmingly high for CVT variants currently.”

Designed with the concept of ‘Urban Freestyler’, the Honda Elevate boasts a bold and masculine design and is equipped with a powerful 1.5L i-VTEC petrol engine paired with 6-speed MT and 7-speed CVT automatic transmissions.

The Honda Elevate competes in a highly crowded segment comprising the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, Volkswagen Taigun, Skoda Kushaq, MG Astor, Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, and more. The competitive pricing has been a major selling point and so has the addition of essential features without going overboard. It’s also a fairly spacious offering in the front and rear.

Watch: Honda Elevate SUV: First drive review

The Honda Elevate comes with ADAS, a floating touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED headlights, electric sunroof and more. Prices for the Elevate start from ₹11 lakh, going up to ₹16 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The introductory prices are valid till the end of December 2023. Honda India also exports the SUV to several markets internationally including Japan.

First Published Date: 17 Dec 2023, 11:29 AM IST


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Volkswagen Taigun and Virtus get Black Edition, wear special black theme

Volkswagen Taigun and Virtus get Black Edition, wear special black theme

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Volkswagen on Monday launched the special edition avatars of its Taigun SUV and Virtus sedan. Christened as Black Edition, the special edition of the SUV and sedan comes on the heels of Sound Edition models that were launched just a few days ago. Both the new special edition cars come priced the same as the current model. This means, the cars have only received a new exterior colour.

By: HT Auto Desk
| Updated on: 04 Dec 2023, 17:52 PM

Volkswagen Taigun and Virtus Black Edition are based on the Topline trims and come at the same price.

The German car manufacturer has revealed that the Taigun SUV and Virtus sedan come based on the Topline trims. The Topline trim of the Volkswagen Taigun SUV is priced between ₹15.84 lakh and ₹17.60 lakh (ex-showroom). The Volkswagen Virtus Topline is available at a pricing range of ₹14.90 lakh and ₹16.48 lakh (ex-showroom).

Also Read : Volkswagen Taigun and Virtus Sound Edition launched. Check what’s special

Watch: Volkswagen Taigun: First Drive Review

Both the special edition iterations of the Taigun SUV and Virtus sedan come wearing Deep Black Pearl exterior colour. Besides the shiny dark black exterior colour theme, there are no other changes to the special edition SUV and sedan. The black paint gets contrasting chrome elements on the door handles, and front and rear bumpers. Volkswagen has not revealed anything about the interior of the special edition SUV and sedan.

Mechanically, both the SUV and sedan remain the same as their standard avatars. The Topline trims of the Volkswagen Taigun and Volkswagen Virtus come available in both manual and automatic gearbox options. However, it is not clear if the Black theme will be available for both the manual and automatic variants. Powering the Taigun SUV and Virtus sedan is a 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine that churns out 114 bhp peak power.

Meanwhile, the car manufacturer is offering a range of benefits worth up to ₹1.46 lakh on the Taigun SUV. These benefits include cash benefits of up to ₹40,000, exchange benefits of up to ₹40,000, and corporate benefits of up to ₹30,000. Besides these, the automaker is also offering special benefits of up to ₹36,000 on the Taigun SUV. These offers and discounts are available on the SUV until 31st December 2023.

First Published Date: 04 Dec 2023, 17:52 PM IST


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Volkswagen Taigun and Virtus Sound Edition launched. Check what’s special

Volkswagen Taigun and Virtus Sound Edition launched. Check what’s special

by with No Comment car insurance online

Volkswagen has launched the new Sound Edition of the Taigun and Virtus in the Indian market. The new limited edition model is based on the Topline variants and will be available in limited numbers. The Taigun Sound Edition is priced at ₹16.33 lakh for the Topline MT variant and ₹17.90 lakh (ex-showroom) for the Topline AT variant whereas the Virtus Sound Edition is priced at ₹15.52 lakh for the manual gearbox and Rs. 16.77 lakh (ex-showroom) for the automatic variant. The Sound Edition comes with cosmetic upgrades and a few feature additions as well.

By: Paarth Khatri
| Updated on: 21 Nov 2023, 13:20 PM

The new Sound Edition of Virtus and Taigun comes with cosmetic changes and feature additions. The new special edition will be sold in limited numbers.

Apart from the standard features, that the Topline variant gets, the Sound Edition adds electric adjustment for the front-row seats and a seven-speaker setup which comes with a sub-woofer and an amplifier.

Watch: Volkswagen Taigun: First Drive Review

Cosmetic changes include ‘Sound Edition’ badging and graphics on the C-pillar. The Taigun Sound Edition will be sold in five colour options – Wild Cherry Red, Lava Red, Carbon Steel Grey and Rising Blue. The colours will also come with contrasting white roof and outside rearview mirrors.

Being based on the Topline version means that the Sound Edition will be sold only with a 1.0-litre engine. It is a three-cylinder unit that is turbocharged. It produces 113 bhp of max power and 175 Nm of peak torque. It comes mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox or a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission.

Apart from the 1.0-litre TSI, the Taigun and Virtus are also available with a 1.5-litre TSI engine. It puts out 148 bhp of max power and 250 Nm of peak torque. It comes mated to a 6-speed gearbox or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The engine also features ACT or Active Cylinder Technology which helps in increasing fuel efficiency.

Also Read : Vatican all charged up! Volkswagen secures deal to update fleet with EVs

The price of the Volkswagen Taigun starts at ₹11.62 lakh and goes up to ₹19.76 lakh. The Virtus’ prices start from ₹11.48 lakh and go up to ₹19.29 lakh. All prices are ex-showroom.

First Published Date: 21 Nov 2023, 13:20 PM IST


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