BEIJING — Volkswagen's new Lavida sedan debuted at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show. The Lavida, developed in cooperation with local partner Shanghai Auto, is said to be "thoroughly tailored to the automotive wishes of modern Chinese society." Apparently Chinese society is not so demanding in its automotive wishes.
The front-wheel-drive Lavida, known during its gestation as Model Y, has little to distinguish itself aesthetically from the dozens of competitors it faces from Chinese and overseas competitors.
VW brags in its press material that the Lavida is "the first Volkswagen to be designed and developed entirely in China" and that it is intended to "blend into the urban environments of Chinese metropolises like Beijing, Shanghai or Guangzhou." It blends a little too well.
The car is relatively large by Chinese standards, measuring 181 inches long — 2 inches longer than a Jetta. It will be offered with a choice of four-cylinder engines, with an optional six-speed Tiptronic available.
Standard features include antilock brakes, front airbags, climate control, a CD player with an MP3 interface, power windows and an anti-theft alarm. A DVD nav system, CD changer and side airbags are among the options.
The Lavida will be assembled by Shanghai VW and goes on sale this summer.
What this means to you: If this is the best we can expect from its Shanghai R&D center, perhaps VW should go back to the drawing board in Wolfsburg.
© Source: edmunds
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The front-wheel-drive Lavida, known during its gestation as Model Y, has little to distinguish itself aesthetically from the dozens of competitors it faces from Chinese and overseas competitors. 
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