VW Ameo bookings to start from May 12

Launch expected not before July 2016.

VW India today announced that it will start accepting bookings for the VW Ameo from May 12, 2016. The carmaker has announced a nationwide roadshow for the compact sedan spanning 17 cities, which is scheduled to take place from May 12 to July 2, implying that a July-launch is on the cards.

The VW Ameo will be available with a 1.2-liter three-cylinder petrol engine and a 1.5-liter four-cylinder TDI diesel engine. The power and torque outputs of these engines have not been announced for the Ameo. On the VW Polo though, the 1.2-liter MPI unit develops 75 PS and 110 Nm of torque. The Ameo petrol will be paired to a 5-speed manual transmission.

According to a recent report, initially VW will launch only the petrol variant of the Ameo as the 1.5-liter TDI unit is due to receive an update with a larger turbocharger. However, the carmaker announced that it will offer this engine with a 5-speed manual and a 7-speed DSG on the compact sedan.

Also read: Next-gen 2018 VW Touareg - Rendering

Dual front airbags and ABS will be standard on all variants of the Ameo. Additionally, the Maruti Dzire-rival will offer first-in-class features such as cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, static cornering lights and other features like a MirrorLink touchscreen entertainment system, automatic climate control, steering mounted controls and a multi-information display.

Rivals: Maruti Swift Dzire, Honda Amaze, Hyundai Xcent, Ford Figo Aspire, Tata Zest
Expected Price: INR 5-8.5 lakhs, ex-Showroom
Release date: July 2016