Skip to main content

Volkswagen Tries out the Semi-Spicy GTS Trim in Sao Paolo

Following up on the weird neatness of the Tarok, Volkswagen released another South American concept yesterday: the Virtus GTS.

Trading on some of the GTI’s design language the little sedan may look like something to envy Brazil for but worry not, because it’s a lot like that bowl of soup you just microwaved: hot on the outside, cold on the inside.

The Virtus is, essentially, South America’s Polo, but they get a sedan version. As a result of that lineage–not to mention the Polo GTI’s red grille stripe and tartan seats–and a name straight out of the Porsche lineup, you’d expect the Virtus to be pretty good. But alas…

Unlike the Polo GTI, which gets a 2.0-liter engine that makes 200 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque—not bad for a car its size—the Virtus GTS only gets the 1.5-liter unit, which only makes 150 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque and only sends that power through an automatic transmission with a number gears that I frankly to care to learn.

It seems, therefore, that this is not unlike North America’s R-Line trim, using the trappings of a performance model to sell a deeply normal model.

The trim, though, does come with everything. No options will be offered, so you get a digital dash, 8-inch touchscreen, rearview camera, light sensors and all for the base price. Which is nice.

The post Volkswagen Tries out the Semi-Spicy GTS Trim in Sao Paolo appeared first on VWVortex.



from VWVortex https://ift.tt/2F6SCAN
via IFTTT

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Saying Goodbye to the CC V6

For all its size and its global reach, Volkswagen is still, in many ways, a deeply human company. There was, for instance, the Bugatti Veyron an ego project if ever there was one. Then the purchase of Ducati, a move most called folly. And then there was the Phaeton, the Volkswagen that most folks can’t afford. Not only were these moves all strange, I’m sure that they made VW’s accountants furious. None of them made good business sense, but they were all deeply interesting and they all are evidence of the heart that beats at the center of VW. Among these follies is the CC, a car that everyone agrees is rakishly handsome, but that no one really wanted to buy. The car couldn’t last, but the world is brighter for its having been in it. With the approach debut of the Arteon, it seems like a good time to look back on its sadly departing predecessor. The version I drove, because I live in Canada, is a V6 Wolfsburg Edition, which apparently isn’t available in the States. Nor is the V6, not as...

Waterfest Moves to Atco Dragway

Waterfest 24 will be held at Atco Dragway, in Atco, New Jersey. The summer event will take place at its new venue on July 21 and 22. Long held in Englishtown, New Jersey, the festival has been such a large part of the VW scene that the latest iteration of the Golf even comes with optional “Englishtown” wheels . The new venue, however, is an NHRA drag track a scant 52 miles southwest of Englishtown. The ¼ mile drag track opened in 1960, which makes it the oldest drag strip in New Jersey. The announcement came today on a social media post that announced the new location. Waterfest is North America’s largest VW/Audi show. As many 20,000 people show up for the annual show, making the second largest show in the world—with Worthersee being number one. 2018 will be Waterfest’s 24 th year in existence. The post Waterfest Moves to Atco Dragway appeared first on VWVortex . from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2GQjkuc via IFTTT

European Passat GTE launches as Saloon and Variant

Volkswagen continues e-motoring offensive with plug-in hybrid Passat GTE delivers 218 PS and travels up to 50 kilometres on all-electric power First Volkswagen plug-in hybrid in the high-volume segment of large family cars The Volkswagen continues to electrify! Following the Golf GTE*, comes the next high-volume model with a plug-in drive system: this time the German carmaker is electrifying the new Passat GTE. Its launch marks the debut of a new generation of business and family cars – zero-emission vehicle and long-distance touring car all in one. A Volkswagen that combines the present and the future. A car that boasts not only one of the most progressive drive systems of our time, but also an array of innovative assistance and infotainment systems that is ground-breaking in the segment of large family cars. With superb system output of 160 kW / 218 PS, frugal NEDC consumption of just 1.6 l/100 km and 12.2 kWh/100 km (Variant: 12.4 kWh) and an all-electric range of up to 50 k...