The China only VW Lavida which was shown off at the Beijing Auto Show is expected to cost as little as 100,000rmb for the base 1.6l model. Since its release via the internet several months ago, the Lavida has been steadily growing a dedicated fan base in China. Chinese drivers do love their VWs, and the Lavida seems to be a reward from VW for putting up with years (read as decades) VW selling their not so popular cars (Bora, Jetta, Santana etc)to the Chinese, who actually turned out to love them and refused to buy anything else (until GM came along)
The VW Lavida has also been given a Chinese name ‘Lang Yi’ Lang means clear or bright, and Yi can mean leisurely, outstanding, or even escape. Obviously the English name should have been Clear Escape. Advertising for the Lavida has sprung up all over VW’s back yard - Shanghai’s elevated roads are covered in VW Lavida posters advertising what the Chinese press are calling, the VW ‘Mini Phaeton’ The Lavida will come with a 1.6l or a 2.0l engine, at 100k for the 1.6l version, we can guarantee that VW will have a hit on their hands!
Don’t you think this car though is just as boring as the Jetta/Santana etc but just in more modern clothing? I’m sure it will be a great hit. There is some talk that this will be the Santana replacement.
Boring? Its death inducing, to be blunt.
I agree with mark. Design in bland and tasteless.
Even though it’s a pretty decent package, I think.
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If it is to replace the Santana, I can’t tell. If it does so, congrats to VW, they would finally be terminating a 25 years old plataform.
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But I wouldn’t be surprised if it is priced somewhere around the Polo, since they ride in the same plataform.
Lavida is on the Audi A4 platform from what Ive read!
polo, as the lavida and the previous golf, are all PQ34s.
yes, the lavida is based on on VW´s existing A4(PQ34) platform (introduced in 1996 by Audi A3/Skoda Oktavia MK1)and is about 10 centimeter longer than a Jetta. The Lavida will share its platform PQ34 with the new Audi A1 (introduce in 2009/10), which is according to some rumours also produced in China (Audi plans build a new plant in Changchun in order to start local production in August, 2009)