Volkswagen Adds New Manual Gearbox Variant — First Look Of Virtus

The Virtus competes with the likes of the Skoda Slavia and the Hyundai Verna which also have a 1.5 turbo petrol with a manual gearbox as well as an automatic gearbox option.

Volkswagen Virtus GT

Source : Somnath Chatterjee

When the Volkswagen Virtus first came in, the sedan came with a 1.5 TSI and a 1.0 TSI with the 1.5 TSI only getting the DSG automatic. Now, Volkswagen has finally added a new manual gearbox variant for the Virtus 1.5 GT range. The Volkswagen Virtus is now available with a 6-speed manual transmission on the GT Plus top-end variant. The introductory price is INR 16.89 lakh (ex-showroom) and that is pretty competitive.

There is also a new colour being offered. However, the talking point is now the GT badge is more accessible in the Virtus with the manual gearbox. The 1.5 TSI is one of the most powerful engines at this price point and with the 6-speed manual gearbox, enthusiasts will certainly love it now. The 1.5 TSI comes with 150bhp while the manual version will enable more customers to enter the GT range. With the GT Plus DSG and the manual, there is a big Rs 1.5 lakh price difference which makes the manual a tempting choice.

The manual continues to be on the 1.0 TSI as well. With new competition in the sedan segment, the Virtus 1.5 TSI comes in at the right time while having a manual with the 1.5 TSI GT just as with the Taigun SUV. As with the Taigun manual which we have driven with the GT range, it is fun to drive while the 6-speed gearbox has a slick shift quality. For enthusiasts, a manual is always the preferred choice for its increase in driver involvement and now it is there on the Virtus GT.

The Virtus competes with the likes of the Skoda Slavia and the Hyundai Verna which also have a 1.5 turbo petrol with a manual gearbox as well as an automatic gearbox option.

Volkswagen has also updated the Taigun SUV with new updates to its GT trim level.