VW has officially unveiled the brand-new Lamando L, a China-only five-door liftback model that is based on the MQB Evo architecture. The Lamando L, produced in China by the VW-SAIC venture, is a different model from the regular Lamando sedan. This is evident from its design that inherits features from the Arteon (CC in China), including the clamshell bonnet, the frameless doors, and the coupe-style roofline. A signature design feature for the new model though is its face, where the aggressive Matrix LED headlights are combined with a massive bumper intake. Following the latest trend in new VW models, an LED strip is connecting the headlights with the illuminated emblem.
The body is more sculpted than any other
model from VW’s populous range in China including the Santana, Lavida, Sagitar,
Bora, Passat, CC, Lamando, Magotan, and Phideon. In fact, the styling is more
in line with the latest design language introduced by the ID. range of electric
vehicles. This also applies to the rear end, which features full-width LED
taillights, pronounced shoulders, decorative chrome elements on the bumper, and
a practical liftgate that opens with the heavily inclined rear windshield.
Inside, there is a panel housing the
10-inch digital instrument cluster and the 12-inch touchscreen for the
infotainment, while the dashboard seems to be derived from the VW Golf. Equipment
includes ambient lighting, a sunroof, a Beats audio system, a heads-up display,
and VW’s latest shift-by-wire knob for the DSG gearbox. The boot has a capacity
of 545 lt, which is slightly smaller than what you get in an
EU-spec Skoda Octavia.
The Lamando L is sitting on a stretched
version of the MQB Evo platform that is already underpinning various models of
the VW Group including the likes of the VW Golf, Audi A3, Skoda Octavia, Seat
Leon, etc. The Lamando L is measuring 4,784 mm long, 1,831 mm wide, and 1,469 mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,731 mm. This makes it slightly smaller than the Passat and the Arteon,
but longer than a Jetta.
The 280TSI trim is fitted with a
turbocharged and non-electrified 1.4 TSI four-cylinder engine producing 148 hp and 250 Nm of torque that are sent to the front
axle through a seven-speed DSG gearbox. Sales of the VW Lamando will commence
in China in the coming months, while it is also possible that it could be
exported to other Asian markets including the Philippines, where sedans and
liftbacks are still popular.
