VW is about to launch its premium mid-size sedan, the Virtus in our market very soon. We have caught a glimpse of it alongside the rivals in Honda City and the erstwhile Skoda Rapid (now replaced by Slavia).
Volkswagen Virtus has been compared with the Honda City and Skoda Rapid while doing road tests before the launch in June. Essentially, the Virtus will be the sibling of the Skoda Slavia with identical powertrain options. The exterior, however, will be the key differentiator with the Virtus sporting the typically understated Volkswagen design philosophy. In this video clip, the VW Virtus is seen driving alongside the Honda City and Skoda Rapid (now Slavia) giving us a tangible scale to compare the soon-to-be rivals.
You may also like: VW Virtus GT with Red Brake Callipers Spied on Test
You may also like: 2022 Honda City Hybrid Teased Ahead of Imminent Debut
VW Virtus Compared With Skoda Rapid & Honda City
The visuals indicate a similar length to the Skoda Slavia which puts it at par with the competition. We will compare the exact dimensions once the official data is revealed. But the looks of the VW Virtus are quite modern while retaining the design DNA of VW. This includes a sleek LED headlamp cluster with swooped back LED DRLs flanking the front grille with chrome surrounds, sporty bumpers housing the fog lamps, a chrome belt running underneath the front bumper to give it thorough bling, stylish alloy wheels, split LED tail lamps, a small integrated boot lip spoiler, chrome garnish running the breadth of the rear bumper and a large boot compartment.
You may also like: 5 Features of Honda City Not Found on Skoda Slavia
Specs
Just like the Skoda Slavia, the VW Virtus will come powered by a 1.0-litre TSI and a 1.5-litre TSI EVO engine. The smaller engine outputs a maximum power of 115 PS and a peak torque of 175 Nm, while the larger unit offers a maximum power of 150 PS and a peak torque of 250 Nm. The transmission options for the former include a 6-speed manual and a 6-speed torque converter automatic, while the latter comes with a 6-speed manual and a 7-speed DSG. The prices are expected to be in the range of Rs 10 lakh to Rs 18 lakh, ex-showroom.
You may also like: Honda City Hybrid vs Skoda Slavia 1.5 DSG – Specs, Design Comparison
VW Virtus will be based on the MQB A0 IN platform specifically designed by VW for emerging markets like India. It will be the 4th product built on this platform after Skoda Kushaq, Slavia and VW Taigun. VW is trying to offer products with road presence and bling to attract Indian customers to ensure that its India 2.0 strategy results in securing a bigger chunk of our market by boosting sales significantly.
