VW’s US market compact sedan to become China’s new Sagitar
It must be hard having two wives, I never really understood how one man can enter into polygamous marriages with multiple wives, one is enough work so why add to the list? VW has a similar headache in the Chinese market where its wives are First Automobile Works (FAW) in the North and Shanghai Auto Industry Corp (SAIC) in Shanghai, so when VW’s southern wife SAIC wants a new sedan to add to its line up, its northern wife FAW usually demands something for itself as well. Now here’s the confusing thing, SAIC recently launched the New Midsize Sedan (NMS) in the Chinese market as the New Passat, FAW are on the verge of launching the European B7L in China under the Magotan name, and then later on FAW are planning to launch the New Compact Sedan (NCS), which is the US version of the Jetta, into China as the New Sagitar.
Confused? We often are with the VW happenings in China. Even more confusing is that FAW are working with VW to take on the Southern Chinese market with a new factory capable of producing a whole range of VAG vehicles.
The new NCS measures in at 4640 x 1780 x 1450 and has a wheelbase of 2650mm which makes it slightly bigger than the current Sagitar that it is supposed to be replacing – except it won’t be replacing it as the old Sagitar will continue to be produced alongside the NCS.
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Ash, did you close comments on “Driving The Longest….” story because:
It’s the MOST BORING STORY EVER
Internet problems all day. Sometimes the pictures were, sometimes they were not, then the text was gone, then it was back. Then comments didn’t work. Everything looks ok now though.
Go drive the bridge yourself and think of something exciting to write. I saw two people riding biycles against the flow of traffic if that counts? Also a sparrow tried to fly over my car but did not reach maximum velocity quickly enough, it hit my roof rack, reverberated around the bike racks, spilled its brains on the sun roof (still there, baked on now) and dented the roof with its beak.
Can’t make bridges exciting.
Actually, it is my understanding that the NCS will also be used as the basis for the new European Jetta. The main differences from the North American version being better interior materials and a better rear suspension. So if FAW’s New Sagitar also has these characteristics, then there is no inconsistency in the lineup with the New Magaton/B7L.
You are correct to my knowledge. There is no European/American divide a la Passat with the Jetta. Yes there are some differences in drive, engine choice and trim.
The reviews on the US Jetta is VW is trying to be Toyota and make the most boring car possible. I thought I had already seen this car here. There is one parked a block over from my home every night. I will have to check it out closer. China is a strange market. Most markets can’t move an old model once the new one comes out and need to heavily discount it to get rid of them. Here they keep selling for years and I am assuming at an ok profit. So why stop making the old models as long as you are still making money on them.
Isn’t this down to so many 1st time car buyers?? People who have suddenly got enough money to buy a car … they want something new, it does not matter if it an old model as long as it is brand new and theirs? I am sure all developing car markets have this … and then as it matures the desire for a better car takes over. And often a used car of a better design is preferable to a new one that is crap. Just look at the European car market where people would rather drive an old Golf than a new Perodua Nippa (Malaysian car based on an old Suzuki Alto I think).