Text and photos by Kap Maceda Aguila
VOLKSWAGEN’s latest products made their public debut at PIMS, The new cars are the Lamando TSI DSG four-door sedan, the Santana GTS MPI A/T five-door subcompact hatchback, and the automatic-transmission variant of the Santana MPI four-door subcompact. The Lamando TSI DSG will come in both Comfortline and Highline trims, the Santana GTS MPI A/T in Comfortline only, and the Santana MPI A/T in Trendline and Comfortline.
The two Santana variants are powered by 1.5-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engines with BlueMotion Technology generating 108 hp at 6,000 rpm and 150 Nm at 4,000 rpm. Colors available to the Santana MPI A/T are Deep Black, Polar White and Reflex Silver, while prices are set at P898,000 for the Trendline and P962,000 for the Comfortline. The Santana GTS MPI A/T will come in Polar White, Toffee Brown or Red Rock Metallic. It will initially be sold for P998,000.
The Lamando 280 TSI DSG is equipped with a smaller-displacement but more powerful gasoline engine — the 1.4-liter, four-cylinder TSI, also with BlueMotion. It makes 147 hp at 5,000 rpm and 250 Nm from 1,750 rpm to 3,000 rpm. Colors offered for the model are Mangangrey, Polar White, Coriandolo, Dark Bronze and Misano Red. The Comfortline trim is priced at P1.569 million, the Highline at P1.703 million.
Also included in Volkswagen’s 11-car display are examples of the Santana 1.4 MPI M/T Trendline, Lavida 230 TSI DSG Comfortline, Tiguan 280 TSI DSG Comfortline, and a customized Crafter 35L 2.0 TDI M/T premium passenger van. The Crafter came fitted with a smart LED TV, six captain’s chairs, vinyl floors, premium carpets, Focal audio speakers, window blinds, mood and drop lights, and a step board.
Volkswagen explained its Filipino-theme display “put the spotlight” on its German-engineered vehicles that are “more accessible to hardworking Filipinos.”
