Beijing Preview: Shanghai VW's Lavida

[samkung]

Well it is a car which is developed solely by the team in Shanghai VW, based on the VW's PQ 34 platform, here is a few pictures, it will be doubting at the Beijing auto show





If you can't see the picture, here is the link where is rehost those pictures
http://good-times.webshots.com/album...ost=good-times

Here is the original one:http://auto.sina.com.cn/news/2008-04...12364697.shtml

[jzchev28]

isnt that a cobalt with a vw grill?

[AndrewGS]

It's strange to see an Asian-looking VW.

[t-rex]

VERY Asian-looking. As though VW contracted Hyundai to style cars for them...

[agman25]

Lavida. I like that name.

[cincygoblue]

Originally Posted by agman25

Lavida. I like that name.

Sounds like Levitra! Probably supposed to evoke "the life" (la vida).

[t-rex]

Ugh!!! I just thought of a possible ad campaign in China featuring Ricky Martin belting out a certain tune...

[GM-10]

it has rather odd proportions from several angles.

[Bravada]

Originally Posted by jzchev28

isnt that a cobalt with a vw grill?

I just wanted to say so... Looks like a Chinese knockoff-car of the kind that Shanghai Maple/Geely build - copy a depreciated car made in China and fit in a front end resembling a new model... Does that mean VW got wind somebody is to knock off Cobalts in China, or perhaps it is coming to replace the Excelle? Did they want to perform a preventative move, or just thought that's what the Chinese like?

Either way, I don't really know what to make of it. Between the old Jetta, old Golf and Bora, new Jetta (Sagitar), Polo sedan, Santana 3000 and the Skoda Octavia, I don't really see a place for yet another car of that kind in the Chinese VW lineup, especially one so "visually challenged"...

PS. I also cannot stop thinking the name is Levitra. Poor choice, VW - then again, Nissan came up with "Livina Geniss"...

[genjy]

Originally Posted by AndrewGS

It's strange to see an Asian-looking VW.

[AndrewGS]

Originally Posted by genjy

The Jetta still manages to look European with it's lower body and squared-off lines. The Corolla looks cheap and very soft, very Asian.

[Jimmy Jive]

Ha, I was going to say the same thing. A Corolla with a VW grille.

[GrandPrix08]

*SINGS* Felis LAVIDAd. LOL. The name is pretty good, but at first glance I thought it was a corolla as well. The Corolla front, and the Echo back. I don't think that's a nice mix for a VW. But hey, it's only for China, so I guess it's OK for them.