Another new (old) Passat: Shanghai VW Lingyu
Click above for a gallery of the Chinese market VW Lingyu
China's already got Volkswagen's Passat in R36 guise, as well as a locally-made, Passat-derived model called the Magotan. Now it's going to have another car based on the Passat called the Lingyu. Built on a revised, long-wheelbase version of the 4-year-old PQ46 platform and using the previous-generation Passat body style, the Lingyu is shaping up to be the longest Passat sedan variant available in China.
Three engines have been mentioned, along with a 15% increase in fuel efficiency: the 1.8T, 2.0 FSI, and 2.4 V6. The changes are being made by VW's Chinese partner Shanghai VW, with the aim of increasing interior space and comfort. The car should be available in Q2 of this year, and might make an appearance at next month's Shanghai Auto Show.
Gallery: China FAW-VW Lingyu
[Source: Gasgoo]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
P.V. 11:43AM (3/22/2009)
Not bad. The side profile kinda reminds me of a last-generation Infiniti Q.
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Ligor 1:38PM (3/22/2009)
not bad indeed,
but, is that the best looking Passat ever? i think it might be
Trent 12:01PM (3/22/2009)
I bet this car will do well in that market.
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the_MVP_X 12:02PM (3/22/2009)
Hmm, if I was chinese I would feel very exploited, this is last gen Passat with Golf/Polo headlights.
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Mazda FTW! 12:09PM (3/22/2009)
I doubt they would think that way. This is a nice vehicle and their car market is still a bit behind (in terms of the latest models...then again so is ours * looks at Mondeo/Audi TT-RS).
PumaGTO 12:12PM (3/22/2009)
I fell the same about GM selling here in Brazil the second generation Opel Corsa. It´s the very same car since 1994, just since 2002 they call it "classic" (why not just "old"?). But where there are buyers, there are sellers. Especialy aroud here, where cars are ridiculously expensive and salaries ridiculously low, and old modest car that still does the job is enought for most people. I don´t think that in China it´s much diferent
the vegas style guy 12:42PM (3/22/2009)
Don't we here on the US regularly get "last generation" versions of cars?
UrPQ32 12:14PM (3/22/2009)
Actually, the Magotan is nothing more than the current PQ46 Passat sold elsewhere in the world.
A Passat Lingyu has been on sale for several years......and was an extended, updated PL45 (B5) Passat. This model is an updated version of that...it's on the long wheelbase B5 platform, and not on the PQ46's transverse platform.
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Mattias 3:42AM (3/23/2009)
Thanks for the clarification! This is what I thought when I read "2.4 liter V6". This Audi engine is a 90° V6, not the 13° VR6. The 90° engine is so wide it would never fit in transversal applications.
jinsei888 1:46PM (3/22/2009)
this is what happens when you give interns their own design project...
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pedro.hf.lima 2:13PM (3/22/2009)
The rear looks like a chinese saab 9-3
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alexander 2:24PM (3/22/2009)
it's a chopped skoda superb mk1 :) very creative
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Jason 2:36PM (3/22/2009)
I think the front end looks like the Ford 500 (the Taurus before the 3-bar grille)
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retsel 2:56PM (3/22/2009)
yes thats it...
airswingman 12:02AM (3/23/2009)
This car is for the TAXI in china. 500? Is that a name of the car? lol.
oh nobody gona drive ford 500 600 700 800 in CHINA by the way. lol
Alex 3:55PM (3/22/2009)
Looks llke the old Ford FiveHundred from the front...and some of you say it's the "best looking ever"....shame.
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nameless_ak 4:36PM (3/22/2009)
I agree ford five hundred.
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jgp 5:55PM (3/22/2009)
Looks better than the current Passat, but not as good as the B5.
It looks like they kept the clean linework of the B5 but sucked out all of its character.
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Kaveh 9:28PM (3/22/2009)
Wow, The front end looks just like a GULP Saturn, but it's made in China they make ugly cars.
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