Volkswagen unwraps five new showstoppers
VTEXT AND PHOTOS BY GENEVIEVE TIU
OLKSWAGEN Philippines (VW PH) pulled out all the stops at its latest event,
It was an evening designed for entertainment and anticipation. The program formally opened with the spotlight on AC Industrials CEO Arthur Tan. He put it quite simply — that the goal is to bring the Volkswagen brand “back to the people,” by offering the Filipino customer a range of
for their needs and at very accessible prices.
German engineering, combined with very competitive pricing, the new collection aims to make the brand more accessible to people at every market segment, thereby expanding its local presence. Shanghai Volkswagen First Vice President David Powell likewise pointed out that the launching models are the key pillars for the success of the VW brand in the Asian region.
The highlight vehicle was the Santana, driven onto the stage in spectacular fashion June 5, 5 , 2018 20 18
by none other than Ayala Corp. president and COO Fernando Zobel de Ayala. The Santana was among the 10 best-selling models in China in 2017. This model features electronic power steering, front McPherson independent suspension, and rear composite torsion beam semi independent suspension. It also has the Volkswagen ISOFIX child-safety system, ABS, and immobilizer. Under the hood, the driver can expect a 1.4-liter 4-cylinder gas engine with multi-point injection (MPI), mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Prices for the Santana starts at P686,000.
On the other hand, the Santana GTS is powered by a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder in-line MPI gasoline engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Unlike the Santana, the Santana GTS features a hatchback rear with a generous trunk space that can for this model start at P999,000.
Going upscale
The Lavida has been the best-selling sedan
currently the second best-selling model for the entire Chinese car market. The interior was designed to have a premium standard — leather seating, cruise control, Climatronic air conditioning, and a sunroof. Safety amenities are a notch above the usual, including the electronic stabilization program with brake assistant, electronic differential lock, and anti-slip regulation, hill hold control, push start engine, and rear park distance contro. The Lavida’s power comes from a 1.4-liter
4-cylinder gasoline engine with BlueMotion Technology, using a 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox transmission. Pricing for the Lavida starts at P1.171 million.
The Lamando was clearly the luxe model of the night, in a sedan format. It has a wider wheelbase than the Lavida, featuring a leather interior and dark sunroof. Under the hood, it is equipped with a 1.4-liter TSI 4-cylinder gas engine, with BlueMotion Technology and a 7-speed DSG transmission. Prices start at about P1.6 million.
The Tiguan, needing no introduction, has maintained its position as a segment leader in China. Its interior features comfort amenities like the “Vienna” leather seat material, two-zone Climatronic air conditioning, panoramic sunroof, eight speakers, and driver power 12-way seat adjustment. The new Tiguan also features a wider wheelbase than the previous model. It is powered by a 1.4-liter TSI 4-cylinder gas engine with BlueMotion Technology and a 6-speed DSG transmission. Prices start at a competitive P1.648 million.
The Santana, Lavida, and Tiguan are now locally available through the entire Volkswagen dealer network. The Santana GTS and Lamando will be ready for delivery by November 2018.
Before guests were welcomed to a sumptuous buffet dinner, Zobel closed the program with a reinforcement of the core behind the Volkswagen brand in the Philippines. “Volkswagen has taken into consideration the unique needs and demographics of the different markets in the country. These are the cars that will take you where you need to be at every stage of your life,” he said.