Check out: Volkswagen Ameo specifications price in India

First showcased earlier this year, new VW Ameo production has commenced today at company plant in Chakan, near Pune. Based on existing Polo hatchback, Ameo is a sub 4 meter compact sedan which will compete with the likes of Hyundai Xcent, Maruti Swift DZire, Honda Amaze, Tata Zest, etc.

Volkswagen India has confirmed that new Ameo will be offered in a choice of petrol and diesel engine options. Petrol engine will be in the form of 1.2-litre 3-cylinder MPI mill while diesel engine will be in the form of 1.5-litre 4-cylinder TDI mill. Transmission options on offer include manual as well as automatic 7 speed DSG options.

VW India is hopeful that 2016 Ameo will add more numbers to their overall sales figures, as it will be launched in a segment which sees over 30,000 units a month. Built at a cost of INR 720 crore, VW Ameo comes with several segment first features like cruise control, reverse parking camera, rain sensing wipers, etc.

Sharing components with Polo and Vento, VW India says that Ameo is a project undertaken by the German brand under PM Modi’s Make In India initiative. Not only the car has a high percentage of localized components, it has also helped VW India to add new jobs at their plant in Pune. The company has stated that they expect huge demand for Ameo, because of which they have started operating a third shift.

VW Ameo Specs

Engine	1.5L P, 1.5L D, 1.5L D
Transmission	5MT, 5MT, 7 DCT
Power (PS)	75, 90, 105
Toque (Nm)	110, 230, 250
L x W x H (mm)	3998 x 1682 x 1469
Price (est.)	INR 5.5 – 8.5 lakh

This article first appeared on Rushlane.com