With the impending Real Driving Emissions (RDE) requirements, Volkswagen modified the powertrains of its Taigun SUV and Virtus sedan, making them E20 compliant. The automaker has also added a few new features to the base models of these cars. The Virtus now comes standard with rear fog lamps, while the Taigun's cheaper models now have automatic headlamps. Moreover, Volkswagen announced a 2 per cent price rise for every product in its lineup, including the high-end SUV Tiguan.
Volkswagen has modified a few of the features in its Virtus car and Taigun SUV models. The Taigun's 1.0 TSI Highline and 1.5 TSI GT models now come with auto headlights with a follow me home feature, previously only available on the higher-specified models. Rear fog lamps are now standard equipment on every version of the Virtus sedan, as opposed to when they were only offered on higher trim levels. The Taigun Highline and GT models receive no additional equipment upgrades.
Both models now have E20-compliant turbo-petrol engines that abide by the latest pollution standards. Depending on the engine, the cars are available with a 115 horsepower, 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and a 150 horsepower, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine. Gearbox choices range from a 6-speed manual to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.
In India, Volkswagen has announced a 2% price increase for all its models, including the Taigun and Virtus. While the Virtus is priced from Rs 11.32 lakh to Rs 18.32 lakh, the Taigun's pricing ranges from Rs 11.56 lakh to Rs 18.96 lakh. The German automaker has modified both models' powertrains to meet forthcoming RDE requirements and made them E20-compliant in addition to the price increase. While the Virtus competes with the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz and the Honda City, the Taigun goes up against rivals like the Kia Seltos and Hyundai Creta.
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