Volkswagen is looking to dislodge Honda’s dominance in the premium mid-size segment in India, with the launch of a new executive sedan in the second half of this year.

To be known as Vento, it is targeted primarily at the Honda City, which has been the segment’s best-seller since its launch in September 2008, clocking average sales of around 4,000 units monthly.

The new sedan is built on the same platform as the Polo, a premium hatchback launched by VW in February. The company will play the same strategy for the Vento as it has for the Polo, by positioning it in the premium category, in line with VW’s higher brand value in the country.

The area where the VW sedan is expected to score over the Japanese counterpart is the diesel engine option to be offered on the Vento. Honda does not offer a diesel option on any of its cars. The Vento will be available in both diesel and petrol models, with the Polo’s 1.6-litre petrol engine due to be seen in the sedan, too.

VW plans to price the Vento between Rs 7-9 lakh and is gearing up for a July 2010 launch. This all-new saloon with a brand new set of engines promises to blend performance, luxury and economy like no other mid-size car.

[Source: BSMotoring]