Volkswagen has revealed its latest sedan, the VW Virtus. Sharing its platform with the recently launched Skoda Slavia, the Volkswagen Virtus will replace the VW Vento. Final dates and prices for the VW Virtus are yet to be announced but pre-bookings are now open.
The Virtus is based on the same platform as the three other VW-Skoda cars in India (namely the Slavia, Kushaq, and VW’s very own Taigun), so mechanicals and features are shared. Barring the overall shape, the exterior is different from the Slavia; the new front and rear do look good in the flesh. There are six colours to choose from and the Virtus gets two variants: Dynamic Line and Performance Line. Similar to the VW Taigun, the Virtus sedan too gets a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine in the Dynamic Line, and the more powerful 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol unit is available only in the Performance Line. The top-spec Virtus 1.5 is called the Virtus GT.
The interior carries on with a design similar to that of the VW Taigun crossover and the Virtus is not short on features either. From a large 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, electric sunroof, digital cockpit, 8-speaker audio system, to the ventilated seats, reverse camera, wireless phone connectivity and charging, there’s a lot on offer. The cabin is spacious, too, and exactly like on the Slavia, the Virtus also offers 521 litres of boot space. VW says that it included 40+ safety-related features, like up to six airbags, driver aids, electronic differential lock, multi-collision braking, tyre deflation warning, and hill-hold control.
Like other VW-Skoda cars, the 1.0-litre engine makes 115hp and 178Nm, while the 1.5-litre engine makes 150hp and 250Nm. Both get a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, but for the smaller engine, the automatic is a 6-speed torque converter unit while for the 1.5, it’s a faster-shifting 7-speed dual-clutch automatic. Both get an idle Start/Stop feature that automatically turns the engine off when it’s not being used, and the 1.5 EVO also comes equipped with cylinder deactivation tech, which, depending on the car’s performance requirements, can run on two cylinders, further maximising efficiency.
The VW Virtus will launch in the coming months. While we are yet to drive the car, and unless they decide to tune the Virtus differently, it’s expected to be as good to drive as the Slavia. In which case, choosing one will be down to which one looks and feels better, and also how convenient it is for you to reach the nearest VW or Skoda dealership/service centre. It’s clear that VW and Skoda have made a solid effort to give momentum to the sedan segment. Now what remains to be seen is how they (both VW and Skoda individually) make the most of it.
