Shanghai VW to launch first SUV in late '09

Shanghai, May 6 (Gasgoo.com) Shanghai VW will launch its first SUV model by the end of this year, sina.com said today. In the second half of 2009, the joint venture will also release the Skoda Superb model that it unveiled at the 2009 Shanghai auto show last month.

According to an earlier report, Shanghai VW has planned to launch the Volkswagen Tiguan SUV in late 2009 as one of its flagship models. The Tiguan model, as Volkswagen's first compact crossover SUV in the real sense, was introduced to Shanghai VW for Chinese production, but its launch was delayed last year due to low sales prediction.

This year, Shanghai VW will retain its competitiveness in China's B-Class auto market. The joint venture's new mid- to high-end flagship sedan Passat New Lingyu was launched to the market on April 25. The new Passat's upgraded powertrain and low price will help sustain the company's leadership in the B-Class sedan segment.

Liu Jian, general manager of Shanghai VW, recently said that the company is sure to become a manufacturer of all series of auto products within ten years. Its product lineup will extend to the C-Class with the launch of the China-made Skoda Superb.

Sources said that the seven versions of the Passat New Lingyu are mostly of the 1.8T model, priced between 169,800 ($24,860) and 303,800 yuan.

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