Published by Ash April 29th, 2008
in Volkswagen Group China.
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!
A picture marathon of the latest Shanghai designed, China only VW:
And now for the Spy shots:
The Lavida is VW’s Buick Excelle fighter, its sitting on the Audi A4 platform (codenamed, PQ34, this is also shared with the Audi TT, and various other Audi/VW models) which gives it a fighting stance, and almost 100mm longer than the original VW Bora. The interior is expected to be high end, almost Phateon like, which earned the Lavida the name ‘Mini Phaeton‘ prior to its launch! This is one of the most expected cars at the Beijing Car Show, all eyes will be on VW’s stand next week!
Published by Ash April 8th, 2008
in Shanghai VW and Volkswagen Group China.
The VW Lavida is to be a ‘China Only’ car, and has had Chinese motor fans going crazy over the past few weeks - ever since the rumors of a new VW were aired. Fans can now rest at ease, the VW Lavida is shown below in all of its glory.
The Chinese motoring press are hinting that the Lavida will be a mini ‘luxury’ car, possibly packing some of the features normally seen on the high end Phaeton.
Rumor has it, the Lavida is built off of the VW Bora platform, but is 100mm longer than the Bora sedan. This way, the Lavida will be in direct competition with the new Buick Excelle when both are launched towards the end of this year. Motor pro’s are guessing that the Lavida will come with either a 1.8 or a 2.0l engine, and probably not the 1.8T that is favored in the VW Sagitar. Price wise, we can see the Lavida falling in the 80 to 100,000rmb range.
Published by Ash March 3rd, 2008
in Shanghai VW and Volkswagen Group China.
Chinese motoring fans have been getting excited ever since the motoring press leaked rumors of a fabled model just for the Chinese market, not the new Jetta, nor the new Santana 4000. Model Y as its codenamed, is expected to be an entirely new model for the Chinese market made by Shanghai VW and SAIC.
We have since learned from the above screen shot (click for bigger version) that Model Y is now to be named the ‘La Vida’, and is an A-segment car, thus above the Polo but below the Santana 4000. We are unsure which mischievous fellow took the above photo, but it is currently circulating far and wide in Chinese automotive circles.
Published by Ash October 23rd, 2007
in Volkswagen Group China.
Volkswagen China clearly enjoys confusing its customers in China, the range of models spans several generations, some models are similar to other models, and just swapping the old Golf name and making it a Bora hatchback just confuses everyone.
Correct us if we’re wrong, but China Car Times understood the Bora to be a replacement for the Jetta, which was then replaced by the much newer Sagitar (also known as the Jetta in the USA), thus we can say Jetta -> Bora -> Sagitar. Volkswagen China has gone a step further and wishes to make an offshoot of this line with ‘the new Jetta’ The New Jetta seem to have a range of engines from 1.6, to 1.8t to 2.0.
VW China also make the Passat and the new Magotan side by side in China, although Magotan sales dont seem to have reached a critical point yet, in fact, we’ve hardly seen them around China. As well as the Passat/Magotan, VW make the ‘Gol’ for developing markets, including China. It seems the Gol wasn’t a huge success in China, especially the three door model.
China Car Times thinks the below car is possibly a new skin for the Bora.
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