Upcoming Volkswagen Virtus Facelift: What It'll Look Like
The Volkswagen Virtus has remained one of the strongest contenders in India’s mid-size sedan segment. It was first launched in 2022 and is now set to get a facelift. The updated model has been spied on test multiple times, although with heavy camouflage. Based on the spy pictures, we have imagined how the new Virtus will look.
Since its 2022 launch, the Virtus has only got minor updates and limited editions. The facelift, however, is expected to be much more comprehensive. It will bring notable styling changes to the sedan. The front fascia and rear end will get the most significant design changes- as suggested by the recent spy sightings.
Let’s come to the renders now. We have taken cues from the spy sightings to envision these. The headlamps have been made sleeker. They feature LED DRLs and are connected by a light bar. There is also an illuminated Volkswagen logo at the front. The front bumper houses the fog lamps and has a large air dam. Its design is fresh and good-looking. There is a careful use of Chrome at the front.
On the production model, sheet metal on the bonnet is likely to remain similar to that of the pre-facelift model. Overall, the front end’s styling seems to have been made sharper and brought more in line with that of Volkswagen’s global models.
The side profile is unlikely to get any design changes on the actual car. It will retain the clean shoulder line, window line and smooth panels. The wheels, however, will be new. The design of those may differ sharply from what’s shown here.
The rear end’s design will be streamlined on the actual car. In these images, we have tweaked the design of the LED tail lamps, taking inspiration from what’s implied by spy shots. These are connected by an LED light bar. The rear bumper has been restyled slightly. A boot-lip spoiler and shark-fin antenna are also visible.
As confirmed by spy pictures, the 1.5L variants will have dual-exhaust pipes at the rear. The rear end, we believe, now aligns better with Volkswagen’s latest global design language.
Inside, the facelifted Virtus is likely to get a slightly different layout and design. It may also get slightly different interior colours. More importantly, the feature list will be revised. The new car will feature a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system, just like the outgoing mode.
Additionally, a larger 10.25 inch digital instrument cluster ( virtual cockpit) could be introduced in place of the current 8-inch unit. Features like ventilated and powered front seats, new upholstery, and a rear seat massager could also be added to the list.
There are rumours of the carmaker giving the facelifted Virtus a panoramic sunroof. We haven’t been able to confirm this. No player in the mid-size sedan segment now offers one. It would give the Virtus a clear edge if Volkswagen chooses to equip it with a panoramic sunroof.
The facelifted Virtus will continue with the same set of turbo-petrol engines as the outgoing model. The 1.0-litre TSI engine will produce 113hp and 178 Nm. It will come with a six-speed manual and an automatic transmission. The latter used to be a six-speed torque converter unit previously. It will be replaced with an 8-speed automatic on the new model.
The more powerful 1.5-litre TSI engine will continue to deliver 148hp and 250Nm, and will likely be offered only with the 7-speed DSG gearbox. These are all speculations based on the recently launched Skoda Kushaq facelift.
Due to the changes that have gone into it, the facelifted Virtus is predicted to be more expensive than the model it replaces. Pricing is likely to range between Rs 11 lakh and Rs 19 lakh.