Shanghai Volkswagen launches Gran Lavida

Volkswagen's joint venture with SAIC Motor Corp recently launched the Gran Lavida in South China's Hainan province.

The brand-new model is longer than a conventional hatchback but with a more sloped, elegant back than a station wagon.

The car has an overall length of 4,454 mm, which is about 150 mm shorter than the Lavida, yet it retains the same wheelbase of 2,610 mm as the sedan version.

With a 412-liter boot and the rear seats that can be fully stowed away, the car is more practical for family travel, according to the company.

Representatives of Shanghai Volkswagen said they chose to launch the car in China's famous coastal resort Sanya because the beautiful scenery matches the slogan of the car - "Live for Life".

The Gran Lavida is expected to be a trendsetter in the market and help the Lavida family consolidate its lead in the compact segment, according to the company.

According to statistics from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, compact two-box car sales in China totaled more than 602,000 units last year, an increase of nearly 30 percent over the previous year.

Gran Lavida will be adapted to the changing market as more customers begin to favor the two-box styling over a conventional sedan, according to the company. Powered by either a 1.6 liter naturally aspirated engine or a 1.4-liter TSI, the car performs well without sacrificing fuel efficiency.

Transmission options include the five-speed manual, six-speed automatic and seven-speed DSG.

The car has ample safety equipment usually seen on high-end models, including the electronic stability program, an intelligent tire pressure monitoring system, hill-start assistant system and airbags covering every passenger.

In every detail, the car aims to deliver a comfortable experience to the driver and passengers on their journey.

It features remote keyless entry, an improved rearview mirror that offers wider views, mute wipers that can detect the rainfall volume, Climatronic air-conditioner, eight high-fidelity stereo speakers, car Bluetooth, cup holders on the doors and many convenient storage designs.

With the horizontal bar grille and sharp headlights, the car's front resembles the Lavida sedan and other Volkswagen family members.

The car includes the option of either a 15-inch or 16-inch wheel hub.

To present more choices to customers, the car has seven exterior colors to choose from, including elegant white, free blue, cozy brown, polar white, reef blue and pepper grey.

It also offers two color schemes for the interior - all black or a combination of dark gray and light gray.

hantianyang@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 07/08/2013 page19)