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Upcoming vehicles of Volkswagen in India

The Indian arm of Volkswagen, a well appreciated German multinational auto maker, has established a substantial presence in the domestic car market. Along with itself, the company also owns top sub brands such as Audi, Skoda, Lamborghini and Bugatti, to name a few. Volkswagen offers an impressive product portfolio to the Indian audience, of which Polo hatchback and Vento sedan are its most popular models. The German auto maker is believed to be working on bringing several new cars for the domestic market, such as Up compact hatchback, Tiguan Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), Beetle facelift and Golf hatch, amongst others.

One of the compact hatchbacks that have been in the news for quite some time is the Volkswagen Up. There are two versions of this vehicle, namely a 5-door and a 3-door, though the car’s 5-door variant is expected to arrive at Indian shores. Interestingly, lines of design on this vehicle are not characteristic of other Volkswagen vehicles such as Polo or Vento, but are uniquely distinct. It looks sporty and aggressive, although the Indian variant is expected to get wheel caps instead of alloys. At the rear, a glass opening similar to that in the Brio will be seen on this vehicle. In terms of engines, the Volkswagen Up is expected to be fitted with a 1.0 litre petrol engine, capable of delivering a fuel efficiency of 20 kmpl. It will be available at a starting price of Rs. 3.5 lakh and will compete against Maruti WagonR, A-Star and Hyundai i10.

Volkswagen Tiguan, a mean looking premium SUV is also expected to hit the Indian shores, somewhere in the second half of 2013 calendar year. The front grille has been changed and looks modish, though without any aggressive lines of design. Two-part rear lights make it stand out against most other SUVs that are available from Rs. 18 lakh to Rs. 25 lakh. Simple and functional interiors make up this vehicle, with a 60:40 rear seat that can be folded to create additional room. The boot is fairly sufficient at 470 litres, which can be extended up to 1510 litres, based how the rear seats are folded. In terms of features, the Volkswagen Tiguan gets a USB compatible audio system with steering mounted controls. The upcoming Volkswagen SUV would also feature Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP), 6 airbags, seatbelt fastening detection with buckle-up warning, height-adjustable head restraints, in addition to Isofix child seat anchors.

Under its hood, the Volkswagen Tiguan will be powered by a 2.0 litre TDI diesel engine and a petrol engine that could generate a power output around 160 bhp. A drivetrain option between front wheel drive and permanent all wheel drive (4x4) will also be available on this vehicle. On arrival, this SUV will compete with the likes of Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour, Mahindra SsangYong Rexton, Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Captiva, Hyundai Santa Fe and Renault Koleos, amongst others in the Indian auto market.

One of the world's most popular cars over the years, the Volkswagen Beetle was launched in India during 2009 as a Completely Built Unit (CBU). However, this world icon has not been popular in the Indian market due to its steep price of Rs. 25 lakh, despite being a hatchback. In 2012, a restyled version of the Beetle was showcased at the Delhi Auto Expo, which earned rave reviews from viewers and customers. Design was changed last year, but now, the third generation version has been created on the Golf platform, making it longer and wider than before. Interestingly, styling has been completely changed, with a bigger bonnet and pushing back of the front windscreen, among some of the new elements. Bi-Xenon headlights, along with LED daytime running lights can be seen on the yet-to-be launched new Beetle model. In other words, styling is much more muscular and radical as compared to earlier, but it still looks like a Beetle.

The other vehicles that would compete against the Beetle are the Fiat 500 and the Mini Cooper. The previous Beetle did not look as good against the other rivals, as does the current one, Further, the upcoming third generation Volkswagen Beetle gets a top-of-the-line entertainment system with a 6.5 inch touchscreen, along with a DVD player. It also has voice control, along with a SD card slot and a 30 GB hard drive. Indian lovers of the brand would surely be keeping their fingers crossed with the arrival of new Volkswagen Beetle in the country. The German car maker could introduce the third generation Beetle by the end of 2013 calendar year.

Another hatchback, Volkswagen Golf that is respected all across the globe for its performance, is also expected to be available in India during 2013. In the past, it has been named as the World Car for the year 2009, when a jury consisting of 59 international auto journalists from 25 different countries voted for the same. In India, this model would have petrol as well as diesel powered variants. While the petrol version would have a 2.0 litre engine producing a power of 108 bhp, specifications for the diesel variant are not yet known. Previous variants of this vehicle have also been used in several rally championships across the world.

The Volkswagen Golf has an aggressive exterior with a purposeful stance and looks larger than its Polo sibling. Comfort and safety have been given a lot of attention in this vehicle, with air bags, parking sensors, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) and seatbelts for three in the second row. Interior space is sufficient to accommodate four adults with their luggage. It is expected to be launched during the middle of 2013, with a price range between Rs. 8 lakh and Rs. 10 lakh.

Apart from the above mentioned segments, Volkswagen is also eager to enter the immensely contested compact SUV segment of Indian auto market, with its Crosspolo. This vehicle is essentially a crossover version of the popular Polo hatchback. It has been designed by adding some more muscle to the current Polo, making it appear like an off-road vehicle. The ride height of the Crosspolo is 15 mm higher than the Polo. An individually styled front fascia has integrated fog lamps, along with a large air inlet. Silver anodised roof rails have been fitted for providing an SUV-like appearance. In addition, bumpers also get underbody protection for safety on rough terrain. The yet-to-be launched Volkswagen Crosspolo is expected to be priced between Rs. 5 lakh and Rs. 8 lakh. It would compete against the likes of other compact SUVs such as Mahindra Quanto, Premier Rio, Renault Duster and Ford EcoSport. Experts believe that Crosspolo’s crossover design could give it a unique advantage over other segment competitors.

With plans of entering power hatch and compact SUV segments, it is clear that Volkswagen has big plans for the Indian auto sector. Evidently, the German auto major is looking at introducing one model in almost every segment of the domestic passenger car market. While the Up would figure in the compact hatchback segment, Golf would be a powerful premium hatchback. Amongst compact SUVs, the Crosspolo will be able to take on the competition with its unique design and aggressive pricing. It must be noted that with its experience in the Indian auto sector, Volkswagen today has the potential to outshine its rivals in the country.