Unlocked New Features in My Virtus GT

Volkswagen Auto Group (VAG) cars are famous for sharing a lot of parts among all the brands they own. One small benefit of this is that most Volkswagen cars are equipped with capable hardware, but the software locks many features that are reserved for the brand's more premium offerings. This fact intrigued me as an owner of the 2023 Virtus GT Plus DSG and I started inquiring about it. If you’re interested in the long-term ownership review of my car, do check it out here.

On further enquiry, I came across many coders who facilitated the unlocking of over 30 features through the infotainment system itself. Moreover, it could be done wirelessly so I didn’t have to take my car anywhere.

The Process:

I came across a similar coder from Kolkata, WB who agreed to remotely unlock all such features in my Virtus GT. He sent me a list of over 30 features that could be unlocked but I only chose 27 features out of them as per my preferences.

He mailed me an OBD cable at my address. I attached the cable to the car and my laptop and gave him remote access. He downloaded all the features into my infotainment system. The whole process from attaching the cable to unlocking all the features took around 30-40 minutes. However, it solely depends on the speed of the internet. In my case, the Wi-Fi strength was slightly weak in my car park.

List of the Features Unlocked:

While most features are very minor, here are the top 10 features out of the 27 that I got unlocked in my 2023 Virtus GT Plus DSG.

• 80/120 kmph Speed Warning:

As per new government norms, every vehicle comes equipped with a speed warning alert system that plays a loud chime through the speakers to alert you every time you cross the 80 kmph mark. This chime gets louder and more intrusive as soon as you touch 120 kmph. Thankfully, this annoying chime has been deactivated in my 2023 Virtus GT with just a small software flash.

• Steering Angle Display:

  

This feature is specific to the models equipped with the Digital Driver’s cockpit. It's just a fancy feature that shows an image of a tyre that tilts every time you turn the steering wheel, telling you the exact angle of the tyre in the Driver’s Display itself. It can come in handy when you get into the car after it has been parked for a while, to remind you of the steering wheel position before you start moving.

• Lane Change Indicator Set To 5 Clicks:

The default setting for Lane change indicators is set to 3 clicks in my Virtus GT. I always thought of it to be too small to make a successful lane change in a country like India. With this new setting, the lane change indicator blinks 5 times before turning off.

• Lock/Unlock Acoustic Confirmation:

I upgraded the stock horn in my Virtus GT (that sounded really bad) to the wind horn that VW provided as an additional accessory. Naturally, I loved how it sounded. When I came across this feature that let me turn on the horn confirmation for locking/unlocking, I immediately jumped on the opportunity.

This setting is unlocked in the infotainment system and can be turned off with just a couple of touches. On pressing the lock button on the key fob, the horn blows once, and twice when unlocked. Furthermore, unlike in most Kia/Hyundai cars, the horn sound in my GT lasts for a shorter duration of time making it sound sweeter than the former.

• Anti-theft Alarm: 

My 2023 Virtus GT does come with an engine immobilizer to protect itself from theft cases, but with this new feature unlocked, it will also sound the horn repeatedly if it detects an intrusion. This adds an extra layer of safety to my car.

• Improved AC cooling:

One of the major complaints that I had with my Virtus GT was its cooling abilities in bumper to bumper traffic. My coder told me it happened because the default AC setting was set to “Medium”. This caused the compressor to cut off at lower RPMs which in turn improved the Fuel Economy.

In my GT, this setting is set to maximum so the compressor cuts off very rarely and maintains a cool atmosphere even at low RPMs. Yes, the fuel economy does take a hit, but its negligible.

• Window Auto up/down with Key:

One very important feature that I had in my Polo (my previous car) was the ability to roll all four windows up and down with the key fob. This feature helped to dissipate the heat whenever the car was parked in direct sunlight for hours. 

I really missed this feature in my Virtus GT especially considering it's in Pearl Black colour that traps a lot of heat inside. However, with this feature unlocked I can roll the driver window up and down as a consolation. Pressing and holding the request sensor will also result in the driver-side window rolling down.

• Rear DRLs and Brake Lights On When Trunk Opens:

This feature unlocks the rear DRLs that further accentuate the presence of the car and these rear LEDs are visible even during the day. 

Another part of this feature is when you open the trunk of the car, the brake lights will automatically turn on until the trunk is closed back. This feature adds an extra layer of safety by improving the visibility of the car when you need to open the trunk specially on highways. In my opinion, this feature should already been provided as part of the standard list from VW.

• Improved Torque Vectoring And Steering Feedback:

There’s a setting in the backend of the infotainment system that comes locked by default in the Virtus GT. This feature is reserved for basic Audi models called the Dynamic Drive Mode (XDS). This just stiffens up the steering wheel and improves cornering grip with a more intrusive Stability control. It also alters the throttle response of the car making it more sensitive to the slightest of throttle inputs.

Though I love this feature in my Virtus GT, bear in mind that unlike in Audi models, this feature once unlocked cannot be turned off on the go. You need to access the backend of the infotainment through the OBD cable again to turn it off.

• Theater Dimming Effect:

This is just a visually appealing feature where the displays (infotainment & driver's display), ambient lights, footwell lights, and cluster lights, all dim down slowly instead of just turning off. Although not important, this certainly adds an oomph factor to my Virtus GT and is appreciated by everyone who sits in my car.

Does It Affect My Warranty?

I was skeptical at first when I came across this “coding” process. As a carguy myself, I am very particular about the warranty and service of my car. So, I personally checked with the official VW Service Center before getting all of these features unlocked. 

As it turns out, since unlocking these features doesn’t involve any fiddling with the wiring or the electricals of the car, the warranty stays VALID. So if you’re considering unlocking these features in your Virtus GT, take this as a green light and go right ahead!