Volkswagen India has confirmed that it will launch the Volkswagen Golf GTI and Tiguan R-Line in the Indian market. Both cars will be bought in India via the CBU route and will be launched in early Q2 2025. The company believes that these icons are aspirational and will permeate excitement among customers and fans of the brand and will progressively strengthen the brand’s presence in India. Volkswagen India has had a fast start to 2025 with 3% growth in sales volumes YTD Feb’25 (vs. last year).
Volkswagen Golf GTI
Although the Golf GTI is making its debut in India, the German automaker had previously launched the Polo GTI in limited numbers back in 2016. Taking about the engine first, the Golf GTi is powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine which puts out 265 hp of power and 370Nm torque. It comes paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which sends power to the front wheels only. VW claims the sporty hatchback can sprint from 0-100kph in 5.9 seconds and has a top speed of 250 kph.
In terms of design, the GTI features Volkswagen’s distinctive design language, featuring matrix LED headlights, a streamlined grille with the iconic ‘VW’ emblem at the centre, and a bold front bumper with a honeycomb mesh pattern. It features 18-inch Richmond alloy wheels, a dynamic diffuser, and a dual exhaust system at the rear. It also gets GTI badges on the grille, fenders, and tailgate.
Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line
The Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line is essentially the sportier version of the regular Tiguan and features sporty design elements with no mechanical upgrades. In terms of design, the SUV gets VW’s new design language and features a curvy design compared to the outgoing model, which has boxy dimensions and straight lines. This new design has helped VW to achieve a drag coefficient of 0.28 Cd (down from 0.33Cd). It gets sleek IQ Light HD Matrix headlights, which can deploy 38,400 multi-pixel LEDs.
It also gets a thin LED strip that connects both headlights, and it also gets bigger air intakes with a huge black panel in the middle. At the rear, it gets an LED taillight with three individual LED clusters integrated into a black panel running across the tailgate. Other highlights include an R-line front grille, dual-tone alloy wheels, dual-tip exhaust outlets for a sportier stance and much more. Talking about the engine, it gets the same 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, turbo petrol engine with 190 PS of power and 320 nm torque. It comes paired with a 7-speed DSG gearbox, which sends power to all four wheels.
Volkswagen bringing the Golf GTI and Tiguan R-Line to India would be an exciting move, but it comes with both opportunities and challenges. Since both models are coming via the CBU route, high import duties will make them prohibitively expensive. Bringing the Tiguan R-Line to India appears to be a strategic decision, considering the country’s strong preference for SUVs. While the Golf GTI would be more of a niche offering, appealing to purists and performance lovers. If Volkswagen can strike the right balance between pricing and positioning, both models could strengthen the brand’s presence in India’s premium car market.
Mr. Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Volkswagen India, said, “Volkswagen brand has been known for the performance, driving dynamics, build quality and safety of its products, offering a wide product portfolio to millions of customers across the world. Our made-in-India, made-for-the world Volkswagen Taigun and Virtus have carried forward these global credentials in India as well. Taking our performance legacy forward, we are elated to bring our global icons to customers in India – the all-new Volkswagen Tiguan R-line and the legendary Golf GTI. We strongly believe these icons are truly aspirational and will permeate excitement among customers and fans of the brand. The two new carlines will be introduced in early Q2 of 2025 and will progressively strengthen the brands’ presence in India. Volkswagen India has had a fast start to 2025 with 3% growth in sales volumes YTD Feb’25 (vs. last year). We stay true to our commitment of delivering German-engineered, safe and fun-to-drive cars to the Indian market.”
