The Volkswagen Gran Lavida has been unveiled at the 2013 Shanghai auto show, revealing a wagon version of the China-only sedan shown at last year’s event.
Based on a 17-year-old platform that underpinned the Volkswagen Golf Mk4, the Volkswagen Gran Lavida sits on an identical 2610mm wheelbase to the sedan but offers increased space despite its overall length being reduced from 4605mm to 4454mm – 108mm shorter than the new Volkswagen Golf wagon shown at this year’s Geneva motor show.
Sharing rear-end styling cues with the Volkswagen-owned Audi A3 Sportback, the Gran Lavida will start production in Shanghai in June before going on sale exclusively in China.
A choice of three engines will power the Gran Lavida, mirroring the sedan’s line-up, with a 96kW/220Nm turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder, a 77kW/155Nm 1.6-litre and an 88kW/172Nm 2.0-litre offered. Transmissions span five-speed manuals, six-speed automatics, and a seven-speed dual-clutch DSG.
Once launched later this year, the Volkswagen Gran Lavida will become part of Volkswagen’s plan to see no fewer than 90 models available in China by 2015.
