PoloDriver

Following its Moscow debut, the new Polo-based Vento saloon has recently been unveiled in India. With an extended wheelbase and traditional three-box notchback profile, the latest booted Polo takes on a separate identity to the three and five door hatchback models, and is powered by 104bhp 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines. As with the Derby of 1977, the Vento is one of Volkswagen’s more pretty and gracefully-styled saloon cars, with a tail which reminds us of the original Vento’s successor, the 1998 Series 4 Golf-based Bora. To be sold alongside the locally Pune-built Polo hatchbacks, the Vento completes the Polo line-up in India, fast becoming one of the fifth generation car’s major markets. Volkswagen Germany and Volkswagen India press releases and images follow.

[Volkswagen Germany press release]

Volkswagen presents the new Vento in India
Wolfsburg / New Delhi, 06 July 2010

Volkswagen has presented today in India, the new Vento. ‘We have the new sedan designed in many ways tailored to the needs of the Indian market alone, its extended wheelbase lifts it into a new category of vehicle. Again, this Volkswagen stands for German engineering and has leading features in its segment,’ says Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Board Member for Development of the Volkswagen Brand, on the occasion of the presentation in New Delhi.

Christian Klingler, Corporate Board Member for Sales and Marketing, commented: ‘For the Volkswagen Group India is an important strategic growth market. With our brands Volkswagen, Audi and Skoda, we will increase sales and market share in this booming auto market further.’ In the first six months of 2010, the Group delivered 16,900 vehicles in India, an increase of over 100%, and a larger growth than the overall market (+29%). This underlines the success of Volkswagen in India and serves as a solid foundation for our long-term goal to reach 8 to 10% market share for the company.’

Neeraj Garg, a Member of the Board and Directors, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt. Ltd said on the sidelines of the celebrations: ‘The Vento is in India, and is a completely new range of Volkswagen. It will be an important pillar for the brand, and on with which we will drive the growth of the entire brand in the country.’

The technical basis is provided by the current Polo, ‘Car of the Year’ and ‘World Car of the Year’ 2010. The notchback version, however, has a wheelbase lengthened by 82mm. The new Volkswagen Vento is offered in India powered by a petrol or diesel engine. Both versions are equipped with 1.6-litre units and provide 77kW/105PS.

The Vento Highline includes safety equipment including ABS and front airbags for driver and front passenger. An anti-theft system with interior monitoring and additional acoustic signal is also offered. The Vento Highline also comes equipped with a four-speaker CD/MP3 sound system power mirrors, Climatronic air conditioning with air jets in the rear passenger compartment) and remote central locking. A multi-information display with warning function for open doors, height-adjustable driver’s seat and the height and longitudinally-adjustable steering column increases the driving comfort.

The vehicle is produced at the Volkswagen plant in Chakan with a capacity of 110,000 vehicles per year. Distribution is nationwide, through 47 Volkswagen retailers.

[Volkswagen India press release]

Volkswagen presents the new Vento in India
New Delhi, July 6, 2010

Volkswagen, Europe’s largest car maker unveiled its new sedan the New Volkswagen Vento in New Delhi today.

‘For the Volkswagen Group, India is an important strategic growth market, as we continue to grow our volumes and market share in this automotive boom market with our brands Volkswagen, Audi and Škoda,’ said Christian Klingler, Group Board Member for Sales and Marketing commented during the car presentation.

‘In the first six months of 2010, the Group delivered 16,900 vehicles in India, showing an increase of more than 100% and therefore a higher growth than the overall market (+29%). This clearly reflects the success story of Volkswagen in India and builds a strong base for our long term goal to achieve 8-10% market share for the Group’, Klingler continued.

Speaking about the showcasing of the Vento, Mr Neeraj Garg, Member of Board and Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt. Ltd said: ‘The Volkswagen Vento is a completely new product offering from Volkswagen in India. It will be another important brand pillar for us to stimulate the brand’s growth in the country. The Vento stands for German engineering and best in class features. This particular model has been specifically designed with the expectations and wants of our customers in mind, making the Vento set benchmarks in its class.’

The new Volkswagen Vento will be available with a petrol and diesel variant. The petrol variant is equipped with a 1.6-litre engine with an output of 105PS @ 5250rpm and torque of 153Nm @ 3800rpm. The diesel variant is also equipped with the 1.6-litre engine with an output of 105PS @ 4400rpm and a torque of 250Nm @ 1500-2500rpm.

It will be available in two trim levels: Trendline andHighline. The petrol variant is paired with a five-speed manual and a six-speed automatic gearbox and the diesel variant is paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. The interior is equipped with storage compartment in front doors for 1-litre bottles, sunglass storage inside the glove box, foldable roof handles with coat hooks, front and rear centre armrest, cupholders and ‘Livon’ fabric upholstery. All these are proof of the sure instinct of high design quality which interprets the classic elements of the Vento in a contemporary way.

With the exterior, the Vento offers body-colored bumpers, chrome inlays in the front grille, body-coloured exterior door handles and mirrors (Highline), rough- road package with increased ground clearance and partially zinc-coated body with 6 years anti-rust warranty. With regards to safety, the Vento Highline is equipped with ABS, front airbags for driver and co-driver, anti-theft system with interior surveillance and back-up alarm.

On comfort, the Vento Highline offers CD/MP3 player with four speakers, electrically-adjustable mirrors, Climatronic automatic air-conditioning with rear AC vents, remote central locking, multi-function info display including door opening warning, height-adjustable driving seats and a steering wheel adjustable for reach and rake.

The Vento will establish a leadership position in its class with category defining attributes of space, style, comfort and safety. It will be manufactured at Volkswagen’s Chakan plant with an annual capacity of 110,000 cars and will be available through Volkswagen’s 47 dealerships across the country.