All of the foreign car enterprises except for VW might as well pack their factories up and return to their respective homelands today, Chery, Geely et all of the domestic brands should just concentrate on the foreign markets, because the Santana 4000 is in town, and if theres anything that can get to a Chinese persons heart faster than a bullet, its the Santana range of cars.
Santanas regularly out sell every other model of car in the top monthly car sales, it usually works out that Santana is no 1, and the Jetta is no 2, or vice versa. SAIC VW recently anounced the next generation of Santana, so far in China we’ve got the Santana, Santana 2000 then the Santana 3000 and now, the Lord has given us the Santana 4000. What more could a Chinese gent ask for?
The new Santana is aiming itself directly into the Toyota Crown segment, i.e. mid class sized luxury cars that dont cost the earth. China Car Times is still figuring out the technical specifications of the Santana 4000, we’re guessing Passat running gear, and a design done in house by Shanghai VW, who seem to be churning out some great designs of late.
Nice looking car. Euro spec Passat at the front with a smaller grille and a lot less chrome. Anew back end which seems to bear more than a passing resemblance to the current BMW 5 series. Apart from that faux pas, it’s a good looking car.
Good to see SAIC not resting on its laurels and spending time/money to develop a new vehicle. It will not be a bad thing if these replace the exist taxi fleets around the country.
It is actually a pretty nice vehicle, and most deserving of the Santana moniker.
THIS is a Santana? Wow……….now here’s the real question - HOW MUCH? The present Santana 3000 (with a 1.8) sells in the range of 100,000 - 120,000rmb. If VW can sell this car in this price range, maybe a bit more……it will be a sales sensation. If they try to price it against the Toyota Crown, no way. One thing that is also starting to happen……..segment overlap. VW already has the Passat and Magotan in that 200,000rmb price range to compete against the Crown/Camry/Reiz range (and other companies as well)…..will this fit in ABOVE the Passat? VW will have a VERY hard time convincing chinese buyers that a car named the Santana should be in that price range - the name Santana is ubiquitous with taxis and a more “basic” image. 120,000 - 140,000 is just the right price - it fits in right below the Sagitar and gives VW a nice 4 door sedan in the Golf price range….and with the name ‘Santana’ on it with this price VW won’t be able to make enough of them. One more thing….speaking of taxis - it looks like the Sagitar is starting to become a new popular choice in taxis! I was in Chengdu recently, and I saw A LOT of them. Very quiet, great ride quality….you pay 2 more rmb to use them compared to the Jetta/Santana taxis but WOW what a difference!
Any pictures of the Santana 4000 taxi edition?
Cant you just imagine a green one with a taxi sign on the roof?
You sure these pictures are genuine? Looks at first glance remarkably like the new Jetta (aka Sagitar).
They are genuine! The Chinese news websites paid around $600USD to the first person to get hold of the new Jetta and Santana pictures, we were waiting weeks to get them!