Cars at Los Angeles Auto Show 2009

Wow! Volkswagen Jetta

Volkswagen is upbeat on the Indian auto market and has already launched a 360-degree ad campaign.Currently, the Passat and Jetta models are available in India.  Priced between Rs 12. 50 lakh and 16.10 lakh, the car has some amazing features. Let's take a look into some of them:

One car — a wealth of options. There are two engines available for the Jetta. A 75 kW (102 PS) petrol engine represents the entry-level option.

Equipped with a 5-speed manual gearbox, it ensures optimum transmission of power, with short, well definced gear changes.With this engine under the bonnet, the saloon can reach a top speed of 186 kph and can be accelerated from 0 to 100 kph in just 12.2 seconds.

The 1.9 litre TDI with ‘Pumpe Duse‘ direct injection technology eliminates any compromise — you can have performance as well as exceptional economy.

It develops impressive power of 105 PS and torque of 250 Nm at 1900 rpm and accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in just 11.8 seconds.

The diesel engine is available with the revolutionary 6-speed automatic DSG gearbox that combines a 6-speed gearbox with all the advantages of an automatic and manual gearbox.

They have thought of everything in terms of safety on the Jetta : airbags for the driver and front passenger, curtain airbags at front and rear and side airbags at the front are included as standard.

Disabling of the front passenger airbag also makes it possible for the tiniest passengers to be accommodated in child-seats beside you.Side airbags are also available for rear passengers .

.

Volkswagen Beetle launched in India at Rs 21 lakh

It’s a big launch from Volkswagen. The new edition of the Beetle car is now in India.

The New Beetle has been launched with 115 bhp, 2.0-litre petrol engine. Adding to the comfort and ease of use will be the 6-speed automatic gearbox. The charm and appeal of the New Beetle nevertheless remains with its classic styling, inspired by the original people?s car that went on to become the best selling car of a single design in the world in its decades long run.

The New Beetle was introduced internationally in 1998 and has been a success ever since. In fact it was the car that can be credited with kicking off the retro-chic segment, in which modern and comfortable interpretations of long standing classic cars are making a rapid resurgence as fashion statements. Amongst these are the MINIs, and the Fiat 500 which is already on sale in India.

Beetle is a very popular car. It has finally been launched in India. It will give competition to the Fiat 500, which has received with quite a good response with the consumers now. We were expecting the Beetle to be priced anywhere between Rs 15-20 lakh. It is priced at Rs 21 lakh for Delhi. However, it would costlier in Mumbai.

The company Volkswagen has also surprised us with another launch which is of the Touareg SUV. It will cost about Rs 52 lakh ex-showroom Delhi. Hence, there are two big launches coming in from Volkswagen. They are betting big as far as the numbers are concerned.

While the company is tight-lipped, they are hoping to do about 500 units a year. This is quite an ambitious target as far as Beetle sales are concerned. Right now, it has manufactured only in Mexico from all over the world. The company says that if they touch about 2,000 units a year, they will look at a possibility of assembling it here in India.