Four years ago, MT Basra Star- a massive oil tanker set sail for the UAE after another of its cargo missions to Goa. However, it turned out to be quite the night since, unfortunately it ran ashore the pristine coast of Ratnagiri in Maharashtra where it still stands today.
To explore this hidden gem, we flicked the keys of a Volkswagen Virtus GT to uncover this mystery in collaboration with VW Experiences– a vibrant community of explorers and Volkswagen enthusiasts who undertake exclusive events, drives and a whole lot more to just see how good the Virtus is over long distances.
To begin with, we are flagged off from Mumbai- a city full of sophistication and purpose. As we exit the bustling streets, the design of the Virtus catches many curious glances. After all, who can ignore the classy styling with the blacked out sporty spoiler and wheels?
Today’s destination- the lush green hills of Mahabaleshwar. As we drive onto the Atal Setu, the incredible stability of the Virtus inspires a whole lot of confidence. However, the car has another trick in its kitty- the Active Cylinder Technology which shuts down two cylinders of the engine when cruising to improve fuel economy and it’s so seamless, you fail to notice when it kicks in!
“Is this a sedan or an SUV?” This was our reaction when the roads went from bad to worse. The tall 180mm ground clearance means we did not even scrape once while the smooth suspension rounded off the potholes extremely well.
An enthusiastic drive up the ghats later; thanks to the slick-shifting 6 speed manual gearbox and a feelsome steering; we reached out resort reflecting on the day we just had as we leave for Ratnagiri tomorrow.
Next morning, the Virtus’ cavernous 521L boot space comes handy as we try to fit in the enormous camera gear to bring the best shots for you! As we leave in the dark, the LED projector headlamps light up the road ahead while the banging 6 speaker music system with subwoofer wakes us up properly.
Today’s road is an unexplored one going through small villages and roads less travelled, but to not to ruin our joy, we have wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay to help us navigate.
Mirya Beach, the testing place of the Basra Star is a true marvel of nature. The pristine coastline dotted with greenery with the remains of the ship makes us ponder about Nature’s fury which, though rare can be absolutely brutal. To know more about the story of the Basra Star, click here to watch our YouTube video on the same!
As we leave back for Mumbai, all we can wonder is simply how complete of a package the Virtus GT is. With first-in-class features such as electric and ventilated front seats, a stealthily quick powertrain and a 5 star GNCAP crash safety rating it is truly one of the most complete cars out there for all expeditions.
There is also thanks in no small measure to VW Experiences who offer such curated drives, exclusive events and an opportunity to interact with like-minded enthusiasts and travel junkies. If you own a Volkswagen, there is no better way to make travel companions and experience the length and breadth of our country together.
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