Volkswagen Ameo Deliveries to begin by July

It has long been spoken about and, if reports are to be believed, Volkswagen will begin deliveries of its first sub-4 metre sedan in India -- the Ameo -- by July 2016. The car was unveiled hours ahead of the commencement of the 2016 Auto Expo, in a separate event, earlier this year.

Like a general global guideline, the secret recipe for carmakers to succeed in India too has long relied on products designed to cater to the country’s specific needs. The German carmaker also seems to have finally realised the need of an India-spec car to strengthen its standing in the subcontinent and to regain the some of the trust of the region’s customers that it had lost after the infamous emission scandal.

Engineered and designed specifically to suit Indian demands, the Volkswagen Ameo will be manufactured in the company’s Chakan plant. Positioning-wise, it will be slotted between the Polo hatchback and the Vento sedan for the Wolfsburg automaker. The Ameo will rub shoulders with some already established players, given its relatively delayed entry into the compact sedan segment. With the likes of the Honda Amaze, Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire, Hyundai Xcent, Tata Zest and the Ford Figo Aspire already offering myriad options to the customer, the Ameo will also be wary of the upcoming Tata Kite and Renault’s imminent compact sedan debut offering in the near future.

The Ameo’s design is typically Volkswagen, with a traditional front fascia. An extended boot, however, adds to its individuality. Opposed to an average VW offering, the car comes loaded with safety features, while the interiors more or less remind one of the Polo.

If you are a sucker for the specs, the car will be offered with a choice of both petrol and diesel engines. The 1.2-litre petrol motor is good for 75PS of power and 110Nm of peak torque, while the 1.5-litre diesel engine is tuned to deliver 90PS and 230Nm. Both engines will be coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission, but a DSG gearbox option could also be offered soon.