Shanghai Volkswagen has developed a new top of the line Passat model from the previous generation model recently replaced in Europe.
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The Passat Lingyu was completely developed locally for the Chinese market and over 4,000 orders were on the books before the start of official sales.
The design by the SVW Design Centre is said to be “rigorously geared to Chinese customers’ tastes” and blends the latest chromed VW corporate grille – seen on new-generation Jetta and Passat models with the basic body structure of the previous Passat. The rear wings, tail lights and boot lid are also new.
In recent years Volkswagen has invested about EUR300m building up its own development capacity in China.
The new model will be launched in six different variants – four with the four-cylinder turbocharged 1.8T/110 kW engine with manual or automatic gearbox and Comfortline or Highline trim/equipment specifications. The two other variants have the 140kW 2.8V6 engine with automatic gearbox and Highline or Flagship equipment levels.
The Passat has been built by Shanghai Volkswagen since 2000 and about 410,000 have been sold in China so far.
