Volkswagen Virtus teased ahead of global unveiling to replace the aging Vento

Ahead of its global premiere on March 8, Volkswagen has teased the upcoming Virtus, a sedan version of the Volkswagen Polo. Upon launch it will replace the Vento and is the second car from the company under the company's India 2.0 strategy.

The Virtus is expected to be launched in March itself and with teaser out we do get a little more insight into what to expect from the design. That, and a number of spy shots of a camouflaged sedan that can be found on the internet showcase what is essentially an updated version of the Virtus that is on sale overseas.

The car has been available in some South American markets since 2018. A facelifted version of the Virtus is what is expected in India but will be based on the MQB-A0-IN platform, the same platform that also underpins the VW Taigun. This platform also serves Skoda's line-up in the Kushaq and the upcoming Slavia.

This hasn't been confirmed yet but the Virtus is expected to employ two engine options, both of which will be petrol powered. The first is a 1-litre 3-cylinder turbo-petrol that produces 115hp of maximum power and 178Nm of peak torque. The second is a more powerful 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged unit capable of churning out 148hp of maximum power and 250Nm of peak torque.

Both engine options will be available with a 6-speed manual gearbox as standard. The 1-litre unit will get the option of a 6-speed torque convertor automatic while, while the 1.5-litre is expected to be available with a 7-speed DCT transmission as an option. The more powerful variant should also get driving modes to enhance the driving experience.

The Volkswagen Virtus has been scheduled for a global unveiling on March 8, soon after which it is expected to be launched in India. As mentioned earlier, it will replace the ageing Vento. The Vento currently starts at a price of Rs 9.99 lakh. Considering the additional features that will be available on the Virtus, we can expect a slight upward revision of this price. At the moment, expectations are set at a start of Rs 10.50 lakh.

The Virtus will have a number of rivals. These include the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz, the Honda City, and even the Hyundai Verna. The Skoda Slavia is also set for its launch sometime next month and will give direct competition to the Virtus, as will the Toyota Belta, Toyota's rebadged version of the Ciaz.