Volkswagen Bora 2

The biggest car market in the world is certainly also the hardest to comprehend. The strategy of creating regional projects to be sold only at certain markets is very common to many of the biggest automakers, but the Chinese case is unique. The brands seem to forget the mass-production savings and offer multiple options to a same category because they all sell unbelievably well. These features often generate curious situations, such as what will be explained about the latest sedan released by Volkswagen at that country.

That mentioned situation starts with the fact that Volkswagen is actually two brands in China. Since that government demands the automakers to operate there only in joint-ventures with national companies, the Germans have associated themselves both with FAW and Shangai. But instead of making them cooperate, joining production plants or another kind of partnership, they are rivals. Each one sells some of the VW’s European cars, and besides that each one offers their own regional cars, even though they compete with themselves. Once again, the first thought is that this strategy would be completely unproductive, but what is actually seen is that Volkswagen became the top seller in China, when counting both companies’ numbers. This Bora and Shangai’s Lavida today look very different, but their stories aren’t so different: after selling the original Bora, the following generation (Jetta 5) arrived at bigger prices due to much more sophistication. There was created a market gap which could be filled restyling Bora, and that was done by both brands separately. That means Lavida and this Bora could be called grown-apart twins: they use the exact same old platform, their new generation was received around 2008, and after Lavida received its first partial update this year, now it’s time to Bora do the same.

The only possible sales argument that someone who doesn’t live in China could craft to distinguish them is the external style. Lavida takes huge inspiration from the new Jetta, with straight lines and a more classic look which is also sold in that market as Sagitar. But the new Bora deserves more attention because it’s one of the very few Volkswagen cars to escape the heavy visual identity imposed to the worldwide showroom. This facelift has just applied the excessively repeated front style to this car, but the side design reveals a much more sporty interpretation, with smooth shapes and a very elegant third column. There aren’t too much creases or cuts, and the overall impression is much more casual and creative than all other VW sedans currently sold – although it could be better without taking “ big inspiration” from Passat to the front and Citroën C5 to the rear. Entering the car gives access to a beautiful cabin, with good materials variety and a nice combination of the modernity brought by the GPS navigator and the big touchscreen, and the classic look from the wooden line at the air outlets. This car will receive very generous trim levels, including the BlueMotion package: it brings start/stop system and regenerative brakes to reduce consumption. Opening the hood there’s always the 122-hp 1.4 TSI, with manual six-speed transmission or the double-clutch DSG option.