FAW-VW New Bora hits Chinese market

Gasgoo.com (Shanghai December 13) - FAW Volkswagen's New Bora made its official Chinese market debut this week, autohome.com.cn reported today. The compact is available with two different engine choices and comes in eight variants, with starting prices ranging from 107,800 yuan to 148,300 yuan ($17,154-$23,599).

The New Bora (pictured) adopts the styling seen in VW's other new models, with the accented front grill and generally more aggressive fascia being points of notice. VW's new design trends have gained widespread praise for being more cosmopolitan than before. The New Bora measures 4.52 m long, 1.78 m wide and 1.47 m tall, with a wheelbase of 2.61 m.

One of the biggest changes to the New Bora's interior is in its new dashboard, which displays several measurements, such as total distance driven and average fuel consumption, that were not previously available. The central control deck is given a rounder shape, similar to the New Golf. Electric seat warmers, rearview mirror heating and Bluetooth compatibility are among the new features available in the Bora. Safety options include electronic stability control and tire pressure monitoring.

The New Bora comes with two engine options: a 1.6 L naturally aspirated motor and 1.4 L turbocharged one. The former boasts a maximum output of 105 hp and can produce up to 155 Nm of torque, while the latter can output up to 131 hp and 220 Nm of torque. Both can be mated to a five-speed manual transmission, with a seven-speed DSG transmission options available for the turbocharged engine.

Sales of the previous generation Bora over the first ten months of last year totaled 188,000 units. The New Bora looks set to build on that foundation. The Shanghai GM Chevrolet Cruze and FAW Toyota Corolla are among the models it will directly compete with.