Volkswagen Ameo Won’t be Shared with Skoda

Volkswagen Ameo won't be shared with Skoda as the German manufacturer confirmed that it's an exclusive product of their own in sub-4m segment

Volkswagen AMEO Compact Sedan-2

VW India president Dr. Andreas Lauermann told Top Gear that the decision to create the Ameo compact sedan exclusively for India was made in 2012. While admitting the lack of experience in the segment, the Ameo will have no ‘compromise’ in safety and the features will be the best the class has to offer according to him and despite being a sub-four metre sedan, the Ameo will be a blue-blooded Volkswagen product in design and dynamics front.

The German manufacturer is confident that the Ameo will justify the Rs. 720 crore investment in the highly competitive segment and reap benefits with the volume sales. But, the expectations of it beating the Polo premium hatchback in numbers are undermined thus far. The VW India president justified by saying it’s necessary to have an India-specific product like Ameo in such a highly significant segment and that bringing back the new Passat will be of immense aid in maintaining its position in the premium space and is deemed ‘necessary’ as well.

Volkswagen AMEO Compact Sedan

It has been confirmed that Volkswagen will be investing more on the existing platforms and models available in the portfolio and the entry of Tiguan is considered ‘not feasible’. Volkswagen’s foray into the pick-up segment has been ruled out too with the country having minimalistic potential as for now.

Coming back to Ameo, it has been highlighted that the subcompact sedan won’t be badge engineered with the sister brand Skoda. Since the Ameo is exclusively for Volkswagen, the German company will be trying to master as much segment share as possible. The prices for the new compact sedan will be announced on the 5th June and recently the first production model was rolled off the Chakan plant.

Volkswagen AMEO INDIA-12

It is based on the PQ25 platform that underpins the Polo hatchback and component sharing is key in defining a competitive price tag. The engine options for the Ameo will be as similar to the Polo with the 1.2-litre MPI petrol available at the launch and then the updated 1.5-litre TDI diesel motor.

Volkswagen AMEO INDIA-14

The three-pot naturally aspirated petrol engine develops 74 bhp of maximum power at 5,400 rpm and 110 Nm of peak torque at 3,750 rpm whist the diesel is good enough to produce 108 bhp at 4,200 rpm and 230 Nm of peak torque at 1,500 rpm. Both engines will be coupled with a five-speed manual gearbox driving the front wheels. The 1.5-litre TSI unit will also get a seven-speed DSG gearbox in a later time.

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