Volkswagen India Confirms Tiguan And Passat For 2017

The Germans are upping the ante! The world's largest carmaker, Volkswagen, has outlined its 2017 plans for India. The manufacturer set up base in Chakan, Pune, a decade ago and has steadily built a niche for itself since then.

The mantra for 2017 seems to be 'go upmarket'. Volkswagen India has confirmed that the Tiguan SUV and the big Passat sedan will be launched within this year. Before we brush upon what the cars are like, here's what Michael Mayer, director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India, said, “2017 marks 10 years for Volkswagen in India and at this opportune moment, we reiterate our commitment with a strong product line-up aimed at fostering our growth momentum in the country. With the successful launch of the Ameo and introduction of GTI recently, Volkswagen marked its presence in the Compact Sedan and Performance car segment. With exciting new products across the segments, we are now ready to enter the SUV segment with Tiguan and the luxury segment with the all new Passat. The slew of launches will ensure every car buyer finds a car to meet their requirements at our showrooms.”

Update: Volkswagen Tiguan SUV Launched At Rs 27.98 Lakh!

Volkswagen's big bet among the two new launches is likely to be the Tiguan. The SUV space has witnessed a steady growth over the past few years, and VW will be keen on cashing in. The Tiguan is based on VAG's acclaimed MQB platform and will be made available with a 2.0 TDI diesel engine. 

Internationally, the motor is available in varying states of tune, ranging from 115PS to 240PS, and with/without four-wheel–drive. We expect the mid-spec 150PS/340Nm to be offered in India, with the seven-speed DSG gearbox. And, as much as we'd love to see Volkswagen's 4Motion tech on the Tiguan, it is likely to be a front-wheel–drive only. That shouldn't be a big surprise, considering Hyundai is following a similar approach with its Tiguan rival – the Tucson. 

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Also, expect the Volkswagen SUV to be loaded to the gills with features. We're expecting LED headlamps, 17-inch alloy wheels, a big 8.0-inch touchscreen for the infotainment, and a barrage of safety tech to be on offer. 

Which brings us to the other car Volkswagen plans on introducing. The Passat will make a comeback this year and will feature nine airbags – a first for VW India. That said, it isn't the first to offer as many airbags in its class – the recently updated Camry Hybrid gets just as many. Just like the Tiguan, the Passat too is powered by the tried-and-tested 2.0 TDI motor, albeit in a different state of tune and paired to a six-speed DSG. We reckon power figures will be identical to its Czech cousin – the Skoda Superb – at 177PS/350Nm. 

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The D2 sedan segment is slowly inching towards hybrids – case in point: the Honda Accord is available as a hybrid only – and it is slightly surprising to see the Passat GTE being taken off the menu. The hybrid Passat was showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo but doesn't get a mention in Volkswagen's launch plans. 

As far as timelines go, we expect the Tiguan to be priced around the Rs 20 lakh mark and see light of day by mid-2017, whereas the Passat is likely to cost around Rs 25 lakh and get a last-quarter launch.