The VW Lavida is the best-selling compact sedan in China. The German
manufacturer will showcase the new Lavida at the Auto China 2018 that takes
place in Beijing.
VW has sold around 450,000 Lavidas in 2017 alone and
the brand-new replacement offers a slightly more modern styling along with a
roomier cabin. Ditching the outdated
PQ34 underpinnings of the old model for the MQB platform certainly helps, with
the new Lavida Plus featuring a 78 mm longer wheelbase and a more
premium cabin.
The new VW Lavida will be reportedly offered
alongside the current generation and will be powered by a range of turbocharged
petrol engines, including 1.2-liter, 1.4-liter and the latest 1.5-liter units.
A six-speed automatic transmission will be an option.
VW will also debut the Chinese version of the Arteon
at the same event, which will use the CC nameplate. The coupe-like fastback
will be manufactured locally and will target Chinese customers looking for a
premium saloon.
The German company has sold almost 3.2 million
vehicles in 2017, making it the most successful brand in the country. The first
quarter of 2018 shows no signs of slowing down, as VW sold more than 750,000
vehicles, a 8.6 percent increase when compared to last year’s results. VW plans
to launch no less than 10 electric vehicles by 2023 in China, aiming to sell as
many as 650,000 EVs there by 2025.
The new VW Lavida will be manufactured by the
SAIC-Volkswagen local venture, with sales set to start this July.
