VW Throw Down the Gauntlet

It isn't often that a car gives one the goosebumps but, with the new Volkswagen Virtus sedan, can the Wolfsburg marque deliver just those to what is a rather limited audience with specific needs?

- Jim Gorde

REKINDLING AN OLD FLAME CAN BE A heartening experience or it can simply wither away again, even with a spark. Yet, some sparks create a roaring fire sometimes. Red hot and burning bright with potential. Volkswagen seem to have not just rekindled the flame but stoked a fire with their new Virtus.

Sporty yet elegant cabin effortlessly blends comfort with function

The new Volkswagen Virtus steps into the dwindling premium sedan space as an all-new model. Built on the new MQB-AO-IN architecture, overseen by the collective effort known as Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd, the Virtus, like the Slavia, is a distinctly stylish sedan that offers a combination of unique design and eye-catching features. However, VW were always expected to deliver a sportier alternative and I can safely say they have delivered indeed.

The 1.5 TSI engine is both punchy and highly efficient

The new Volkswagen Virtus looks like an evolution of the Vento it replaces with more than a few vibes of the more premium Jetta which went out much longer ago. At 4,761 millimetres long, the Virtus is much longer than the Vento. It's even longer than the first Jetta launched here. In fact, at present, it's the longest sedan in its segment which consists of the Škoda Slavia, Honda City, Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, and Hyundai Verna. The sedan segment has seen a slight drop in sales overall-down to about 11 per cent of the car market-no thanks to the compact SUV body style and below-average road surfaces making those crossovers seem like the smarter choice. Yet there are a few who have not given up. The new Volkswagen Virtus, then, hopes to give the segment the kick-start it needs.

Volkswagen Virtus GT

Price: Rs 17.90 lakh (estimated)

Engine: 1,498 cc, in-line four, turbo-petrol