Is the Bora from Shanghai Volkswagen?
4 Answers
Bora does not belong to Shanghai Volkswagen; it is a product of FAW-Volkswagen and is positioned as a compact sedan. The Bora has a wheelbase of 2614 mm, with length, width, and height dimensions of 4562 mm, 1793 mm, and 1468 mm respectively. The front suspension of the Bora uses a MacPherson independent suspension, while the rear suspension employs a torsion beam non-independent suspension. The Bora is equipped with two engines: a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine and a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine. The 1.4-liter turbocharged engine delivers 150 horsepower and a maximum torque of 250 Nm. This engine features direct fuel injection technology and uses an aluminum alloy cylinder head and block. It is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The Bora isn't actually a Shanghai Volkswagen model; it belongs to FAW-Volkswagen. I've driven the older Bora, and the steering wheel clearly bears the FAW-VW logo. Volkswagen in China is divided into two entities: Shanghai Volkswagen (now called SAIC Volkswagen), which mainly produces models like the Lavida and Passat, and FAW-Volkswagen in Changchun, which manufactures the Bora and Sagitar. It's somewhat like how KFC has different franchisees—though they're all Volkswagen, the production lines and model divisions are clearly demarcated. The Bora sells particularly well in northern China. My neighbor emphasized when they bought the car last year that it was from FAW, and the rear badge clearly states 'FAW-Volkswagen.'
I've been in car sales for ten years, and customers often get this confused. The Bora has always been FAW-Volkswagen's flagship model, with no connection to SAIC Volkswagen. When you visit a dealership, the Bora's brochures feature the FAW-Volkswagen logo, and its production site is clearly marked as Changchun, Jilin. SAIC Volkswagen's counterpart is the Lavida, which is their compact sedan. Volkswagen's initial China strategy was clearly divided: southern China to SAIC, northern China to FAW. So if you're buying a Bora, you need to visit a FAW-Volkswagen 4S store—their after-sales systems are entirely separate. Identifying them is actually quite simple: just look for the 'FAW-Volkswagen' badge on the rear of the car, and you won't go wrong.
This question is often asked. The Bora belongs to FAW-Volkswagen, while the corresponding model from SAIC Volkswagen is the Lavida. I distinguish them by the chassis number: Bora's VIN starts with LFV (FAW-Volkswagen code), while Lavida's begins with LSV (SAIC Volkswagen code). Although both are Volkswagens, their R&D teams and production lines are different. Last year, when helping my cousin choose a car, I compared them and found the Bora's suspension tuning to be stiffer, while the Lavida's is softer, resulting in noticeably different handling experiences. Before visiting a dealership, I recommend checking online by searching for 'FAW-Volkswagen dealer' or 'SAIC Volkswagen dealer'—the system will automatically direct you to the respective showrooms.
