VW India to launch 4 all-new products in 24 months; Next gen Tiguan SUV India-bound - Report

05/05/2015 - 13:16 | VW Passat, VW Beetle, VW Tiguan, Volkswagen | Anjan Ravi

Three of the four will be premium products.

VW India has announced in a press conference that it will launch four all-new products within the next 24 months. Following are the four launches outlined for the Indian market -

1. VW India Compact Sedan:

2014 VW Polo facelift first drive side — The forthcoming compact sedan will be based on the Polo's platform.

The most important among the four will be the sub-4 meter sedan based on the Polo's platform. Sources have told Indian Autos Blog that the compact sedan will be revealed most likely at the Auto Expo next year. The compact sedan will borrow its engines from the Polo - a 1.2-liter petrol and a 1.5-liter diesel.

2. 2015 VW Passat (B8):

2015 VW Passat front three quarters left at the 2014 Paris Motor Show — The MQB-based Passat is 85 kg lighter than the outgoing model.

The new generation Passat will also launch sometime in February 2016, according to a report. Based on the MQB platform, the new Passat is 85 kg lighter than its predecessor, and is powered by frugal four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. Where the previous generation did not deliver expected sales, VW India is hoping that the B8 will attract the luxury car buyer owing to its high tech hardware and features on offer.

3. VW Beetle:

VW Beetle front three quarter at the 2014 Philippines International Motor Show — The Beetle will be VW India's halo offering.

VW's iconic cult car will make a comeback in the Indian market, though it will be positioned as a brand shaping tool for the German car maker. At an estimated price of about INR 30 lakhs, the Beetle will compete with the likes of the new Mini Cooper, while luxury hatchbacks like the Mercedes A Class and BMW 1 Series will also fall in a similar price bracket.

4. All-new VW Tiguan:

VW Tiguan at the 2014 Nepal Auto Show — Image of the current generation Tiguan added for reference only.

The next generation VW Tiguan, which is expected to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show this year, will be offered as a premium SUV in the Indian market. Reports have confirmed that the new Tiguan will be available with 5- and 7-seats, and its the latter that will be sold in India as a rival to the Toyota Fortuner.

[Source - OverDrive]