Gasgoo.com (Shanghai May 16) - Shanghai Volkswagen is looking to capitalize on the market for hatchbacks in China, having announced that it will release a hatchback version of its Chinese-exclusive Lavida, auto.qq.com reported today. The Lavida hatchback is scheduled for release next year and will be priced below the Golf.
Since its release four years ago, the Lavida has constantly been one of China's best selling sedans. Furthermore, reports reveal that Shanghai VW plans to produce 480,000 Lavidas in 2013. The current generation Lavida (pictured), which is available with 1.4 L turbocharged and 1.6 L engines, will constitute 72 percent of all Lavidas manufactured next year, while the hatchback and previous generation models will make up the remaining 18 percent and ten percent, respectively.
There are also speculations that Shanghai VW will reduce the price of the Lavida in order to increase sales in second- and third-tier cities.
