Official: Volkswagen's compact sedan named 'Ameo'

Volkswagen has named its upcoming compact sedan the "Ameo". The name is derived from the Latin word "Amo", which means, "I love".

The Ameo is based on the Polo hatchback and is expected to share parts with its sibling. It will mark Volkswagen's entry into the highly competitive sub-4 metre sedan segment in India. The car's length will make it eligible for excise duty benefits. It will compete with the Maruti Dzire, Honda Amaze, Hyundai Xcent, Ford Figo Aspire and Tata Zest.

The Ameo is expected to use the same engines as the Polo. These include a 1.2-litre petrol unit and a 1.5-litre diesel engine. The Polo's 5-speed manual gearbox is likely to be carried over as well.

Volkswagen claims that the Ameo has been designed specifically for the Indian car market. It will be manufactured at the company's Chakan facility. The car will be showcased at the 13th edition of the Delhi Auto Expo in February 2016.