Here’s Why You Should Not Modify The Volkswagen Virtus GT [Video]

Currently, the most popular car sold by Volkswagen India is the Virtus GT sedan. This mid-size sedan is known for its sleek styling and its high-performance, 150 bhp-producing 1.5-litre TSI engine. Most people are satisfied with the stock performance of this sedan. However, many people are modifying their Virtus GTs to make even more power. This begs the question: is it worth modifying and tuning a Virtus GT? Well, this important question has recently been answered.

A video comparing a stock Volkswagen Virtus GT and a modified and tuned Virtus GT has been shared on YouTube, courtesy of The Drivers Hub. The video starts with the hosts explaining how the process of tuning a car works. They explain that to increase the power, a car needs to be given performance mods and then tuned to make it perform optimally.

For this, coders and tuners need to alter the ECU (Engine Control Unit) and TCU (Transmission Control Unit). The host then adds that the problem with the Virtus GT is that its ECU was not cracked until very recently. This begs the question of whether it is actually worth tuning a Virtus GT at the moment.

Exterior Design Comparison

First, the hosts introduce the two Virtus GTs present in front of them. They mention that the red Virtus GT is mechanically stock and has only been given some exterior modifications. These include a new front splitter, which is very aggressive, as well as a side skirt and a rear diffuser with extensions.

Following this, they show the blue car, which has also been given some slight exterior mods, including a blackout of chrome parts and a tinted headlamp. It has also been given forged carbon fiber hydro-dipped elements like mirror caps and a rear spoiler. The host then moves to the main highlight of this car: its stage 2 performance upgrades.

He states that this particular car has been given a downpipe and a stage 2 tune. He explains that the shop had to import a new ECU from Europe, which they then cracked to increase the power output. The host also mentions that this car has been given a TCU tune as well.

Following this, he states that, at present, this car makes 185 bhp and 380 Nm of torque. For reference, the stock Virtus GT makes 150 bhp and 250 Nm of torque. The host then highlights that currently, these tunes alone cost Rs 90,000.

Is Tuning a Virtus GT Worth It?

After providing all of the details, the two hosts start driving both cars. The first host drives the stock Virtus GT and highlights its perks. He mentions that it is a very good performance sedan that offers a balanced ride quality and is very easy to handle. It can handle corners easily and is very comfortable for both everyday driving and spirited driving.

Next, the other host drives the stage 2 tuned Virtus GT. He starts by stating that the power difference can be felt immediately. He adds that the Virtus, due to being built on a very capable platform, is able to handle the power addition. However, he states that it might not actually be worth tuning the Virtus GT at the moment.

He explains that the price of Rs 90,000 just for the tunes is outrageous. He also adds that this is a very early stage tune, and the cars have just started to be unlocked. So, he mentions that there is a lot of potential for this car and platform in the future. However, at the moment, it does not make sense to tune it.