Volkswagen Philippines recently unveiled new models to redefine its presence in the Philippine market. All being sourced from Shanghai Volkswagen, these units enjoy competitive pricing, thanks to the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement.
Five new vehicles were introduced, three of which were immediately available at the showrooms the very next day. No less than Ayala Corporation President and Chief Operating Officer Fernando Zobel de Ayala drove in what is currently the most affordable VW yet – the Santana MPI M/T Trendline which has a tag price of Php 686,000. Also now available are the Lavida 230 TSI DSG Comfortline and the long-wheelbase Tiguan 280 TSI DSG Comfortline.
Also unveiled but scheduled to be released in Q4 of 2018 were the Santana GTS MPI A/T Comfortline, and the Lamando 280TSI DSG Highline. The higher variants of the Santana are also slated to be released in November.
Talking about the five newly launched models, Shanghai Volkswagen First Vice President David Powels said: “Having all been ‘tailor-made’ for our Asian customers, these Volkswagen models are key pillars to the great success that the Volkswagen brand has enjoyed within the Asian market.“
“Being responsible for the sales of these models in China, I know directly from personal experience how great their appeal is to our customers,” he added.
The Vehicles
The Santana MPI M/T Trendline is powered by a 1.4-liter Multi-Point Injection (MPI) 4-cylinder gasoline engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission, with maximum power output of 91.24 HP at 5,500rpm and maximum torque of 132 Nm at 3,800rpm. For ride comfort and stability, the Santana features electronic power steering, front McPherson Independent Suspension, and rear composite torsion beam semi-independent suspension. Safety highlights include ISOFIX anchorage points (mounting fixture for two child seats on rear seat bench), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), and immobilizer. Available colors are Polar White, Reflex Silver, Pepper Grey, and Deep Black. The Santana was among the 10 best-selling models in China in 2017. SRP starts at Php 686,000.
The Lavida 230 TSI DSG Comfortline is equipped with a 1.4-liter Turbocharged Stratified Injection (TSI) 4-cylinder gasoline engine with BlueMotion Technology mated to a 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) transmission, capable of 131.8 HP of power at 5,000 rpm and 225 Nm of torque at 1,400 to 3,500 rpm. The interior features and comfort amenities include leather seat material, cruise control, Climatronic air conditioning, and a sunroof. Safety highlights include the Electronic Stabilisation Program (ESP) with Brake Assistant, ABS, Electronic Differential Lock and Anti Slip Regulation (ASR), hill hold control, Push Start, and Front and Rear Park Distance Control (PDC). Available colors are Polar White, Reflex Silver, Deep Black, Limestone Grey, Sunset Red, and Opalsilver Metallic. The Lavida is still the best-selling sedan and second best-selling model for the entire Chinese car market, and its SRP starts at Php 1,171,000.
The Tiguan has comfortably maintained its position as a segment leader in China with 330,000 units sold. The Tiguan 280 TSI DSG Comfortline variant has a 1.4-liter TSI 4-cylinder gasoline engine with BlueMotion Technology mated to a 6-speed DSG transmission. Maximum power output is 152 HP at 5,000 rpm, while maximum torque is at 250 Nm at 1,750 to 3,000 rpm. It’s interior features and comfort amenities include “Vienna” leather seat material, 2-zone Climatronic air conditioning, a panoramic sunroof, 8 speakers, and driver power 12-way seat adjustment. Safety systems include ISOFIX anchorage points, ESP, ABS, brake assistant, ASR, EDS, EDTC, hill hold control, and rear PDC with an acoustic warning signal. Available exterior colors are Polar White, Titanium Beige, Hunting Brown, and Deep Black. SRP starts at Php 1,648,000.
Scheduled to be released in November, the Santana GTS is powered by a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder in-line MPI gasoline engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission while the Lamando is equipped with a 1.4-liter TSI 4-cylinder gasoline engine with BlueMotion Technology mated to a 7-speed DSG transmission.
The warranty coverage for all these five new models is comprehensive. Aside from the 3 years or 100,000-km general warranty, whichever comes first, Volkswagen Philippines also offers a 3-year warranty for paint and another 3-year warranty for through-corrosion of the main steel body structure.
The periodic maintenance service (PMS) interval schedule for these new models is also structured for its owners’ convenience. The PMS interval is once a year, or every 10,000 kms, whichever comes first. This is more convenient and cost-efficient than the industry-standard 5,000-km PMS interval.
Volkswagen Philippines currently has dealerships: Volkswagen BGC at 938 28th Street City Center, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City; Volkswagen Quezon Avenue at 1229 Quezon Avenue, Quezon City; Volkswagen Alabang at Caltex along Alabang-Zapote Road, Madrigal Business Park, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City; Volkswagen Greenfield District Service Center at 833 Sheridan Street, Barangay Highway Hills, Mandaluyong City; Volkswagen Pampanga at McArthur Highway, Dolores, City of San Fernando, Pampanga; Volkswagen Cebu at A. Soriano Avenue, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City; Volkswagen Iloilo (upper ground level of SM Iloilo along Benigno Aquino Sr. Avenue), and Volkswagen Bacolod (along Araneta Street, Singcang, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental).