We spotted someTest mules of the diesel-powered Ameo. This sighting indicates that the launch of the diesel Ameo is around the corner. With the updates to the diesel engine still under the works, Volkswagen had launched the sub-four metre sedan only with the petrol engine option.
Expected to be ready by October this year, the 1.5-litre oil burner was first introduced on the Polo hatchback and the Vento sedan in 2014. The updated engine will develop more power - 108bhp and 230Nm of torque as against the 103bhp it did before. The update to the power figures will also be accompanied by a check on the emissions in the aftermath of the Dieselgate scandal that rocked the German conglomerate earlier this year. The 89bhp setup of the 1.5-litre mill will also see a bump in power figures.
The Ameo was developed specifically for the Indian sub-continent and was launched at an aggressive price tag to make inroads into the highly competitive compact sedan segment dominated by the Maruti Dzire, Honda Amaze and the Hyundai Xcent. The diesel mill will be mated to a five-speed manual gearbox along with the seven-speed automatic DSG option as seen in the Vento.
