Another car manufacturer has developed a model specially for the Chinese market. Introducing the Volkswagen Magotan. Despite sounding like a strange hybrid fusion between a Mango and a Rambutan, Volkswagen’s joint venture in China – FAW-Volkswagen – this is actually a Passat specially developed for the Chinese market.
Static torsional stiffness is up 57% over the standard Chinese Passat sold by Shanghai-Volkswagen (not FAW-Volkswagen), which is actually a long wheel base VW/Audi B5 platform car, as opposed to the this Magotan Passat’s PQ46 platform. The trunk is gigantic – 565 litres! The suspension consists of a MacPherson strut front as well as a four-link trapezoidal system for the rear. The Volkswagen Magotan is also the first sedan of it’s class in China to have an electronic parking brake, simply press a button to activate the brake, saving space in the car that would have otherwised been used for the mechanical connections.
There is also a Keyless entry start and exit system, which lets you enter the car as long as the transmitter is in your pocket – turning on the engine also works the same way with a push start button.
The press kit for the Magotan made me realise something about the mentality of FAW-Volkswagen though, but I am not sure if it’s the Germans or the Chinese who were responsible for this. The photos in the press kit show a normal Volkswagen Passat, but the Passat logos and German numberplate were erased, and new Magotan logo and Chinese numberplates pasted on. Don’t tell me you have to cut costs to the extent that you can’t re-do a photoshoot of the proper car?!
This is the exact reason why I will not try Chinese-made cars for the time being… who knows where else they have slashed on costs? But anyway, more photos after the jump, though if you’ve seen press photos of the Volkswagen Passat you really don’t have to bother. Same thing.
[UPDATE: Added video.]
Video: Volkswagen Magotan
Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.
My take is that the Chinese are fond of jumping the gun a bit. Whatever said in meetings or casual talks will be construed as a deal. As such, this could be the thing that some cut-and-paste were done on the brochures.
Nevertheless, as rapid as their economy could sustain, the taste and expectations of the Chinese have leap-frog tremendously. Their quest for newest technologies, and gadgets in their cars are as hungry as a pack of piranhas.
Bolihland only come to grasp with keyless entries cars just recently.
Sigh, and our local cars are as squarish as it could be.
Maybe we are too complacent and undemanding. That's maybe the answers to all the woes of our local car technologies and expectations.
i think the biggest thing that china still lacks the most, is a strong R&D base. i'm pretty sure this is the next big thing that they're aiming towards as what they are currently doing is mainly concentrate on cut&paste and reverse or rebadge engineering, like the Mangotan.
Paul, your recent article on the youngman and lotus tie-up seems to be a legitimate attempt by a china company to tap a major R&D resource, in this case, lotus.
Decision maker up there should appoint VW as partner for Proton and don't listen to the political crap who like to enrich their son, relatives and friends.
Agree with shaif
I second Shaif's view.
the BEAUTY of all is that
it cost ONLY
RM110- 120K in CHINA!
I love it…..the girls.. :p
Both, the car and the girl is fugly………….sure cannot sell……but i think reliability is ok…………thats a good selling point.
FAW – VW…….hmmmm Proton-VW not bad also, no need those DRB, NAZA, Mofaz, PSA……..
VW can concentrate on manufacturing, while Proton can do the styling…….coz the VW styling div is so outdated………..
BERLIN: German sportscar maker Porsche yesterday confirmed that it would buy/build a 20 percent stake in Volkswagen in order to help the latter prevent any hostile takeover occuring.
(abc MONEY.CO.UK)
———————-
jaga imej, la
Haiya die la potong…. How to sell V6?
eh it doesn't look much different from the Passat posted a few days back? Why the rims of the blue car don't look much different from that of waja enhance? (except its not 16" one, i believe). The black one… hmm nice.
shaif you're right i think we all agree with your opinion too.
what the heck with these specially design cars for China seem to be in bigger size? I mean, up there got one Ne-zha with long body. and this sedan got the biggest trunk as far as I can remember. pheww..
but I really fellin love with this Passat. particularly in black. It look astonishing! just, coooolll… Its just a shame Proton is not so keen to tie up with them.
my vote for a black Passat. or black Magotan should I say?
Interesting piece. Looks like its not only volkswagen who is coming up with special models based on a current platform specifically for the china market. BMW have a announced a stretched version of the 5 series which carry the L badge and I am pretty sure that most european automakers are set to follow the trend.
but then again, given China's population that exceeds 1.3 billion, what is the actual market for these luxury cars that prompt carmakers to come with these market exclusive models?