Facing the current situation where the penetration rate of new energy vehicles is approaching 60%, do fuel vehicles still have a chance?
The answer may not be so pessimistic. With adjustments to the value-added tax policy for new energy vehicles, more and more car owners seeing through the mystique of new energy vehicle usage costs, and the many restrictions of new energy vehicles in use, repair, and maintenance, fuel vehicles still have extremely strong competitiveness.
At the same time, the fuel vehicle camp is still using continuously upgraded technology to counter the impact of new energy. At the just-opened Guangzhou International Auto Show, the newly unveiled all-new Lavida showcased to the outside world FAW-Volkswagen's broader vision for the mid-to-large SUV market. The all-new Lavida, created with hardcore aesthetic styling and an all-new powertrain, has become an ideal choice for middle-class family travel.
Luxury inside and out improved in tandem
Whether for the fuel market or the new energy market, bigger, stronger, and tougher has become the current trend in automotive design. The all-new Lavida also closely follows this trend, achieving another upgrade in body dimensions on the basis of the Lavida Tavendor, with body length increased by 69mm, reaching 5007mm x 2015mm x 1778mm, while the wheelbase remains at 2980mm. Based on the bull-style dual front-face layout, combined with the body proportions of a short front overhang and a long engine hood, it presents strong visual tension and a steady temperament.
On the basis of Volkswagen's family design language and the Lavida's iconic styling, the all-new Lavida uses body lines and light cluster design to create a more impactful and modern visual effect.
The front engine hood of the all-new Lavida is supported by a fully surrounding light strip. The front grille light and the illuminated VW logo together achieve a through-type front end, making the front styling more modern, technological, and elegant. The side of the vehicle adopts a familiar and powerful stretched design, and the slightly rising fender line at the rear connects better with the rear section, further stretching the vehicle and fully maximizing the overall exterior's hardcore sporty attributes.
In the design of the body light clusters, the IQ.Light intelligent matrix headlights serve as the finishing touch, making the overall styling more aggressive. The rear taillights adopt Volkswagen's patented Surface three-dimensional progressive styling design, achieving a flowing animation, with a more dynamic and fashionable visual effect and support for optional DIY modes, constructing a three-dimensional spatial visual effect through the rear section and the illuminated logo.
In terms of interior design, the all-new Lavida also presents changes toward digitalization and technological sophistication. Inside the cabin, a 15-inch large floating central control screen and an 11.6-inch passenger screen are used, with resolutions reaching 2240 x 1260 and 1896 x 610 respectively, giving a stronger overall sense of digital technology. In addition, the addition of configurations such as IMD light-transmitting trim on the interior door panels and colorful ambient lighting for human-machine interaction not only creates a warm family atmosphere but also shapes a luxurious texture. At the same time, the intelligence level of the all-new Lavida has achieved comprehensive improvement, reaching the highest level among Volkswagen brand fuel vehicles on sale.
Standing at the "peak"
The definition of "all-new" is expressed even more thoroughly in the powertrain system.
The all-new Lavida is equipped with Volkswagen's latest fifth-generation EA888 engine. By introducing variable-geometry turbocharger technology, it has achieved all-around performance breakthroughs, with a maximum power of 200kW, maximum torque of 400N·m, and a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of only 7 seconds.
Compared with new energy vehicles, the power figures of the all-new Lavida may not seem eye-catching. After all, as electric drive systems make power figures increasingly "cheap" and acceleration performance increasingly strong, technological upgrades for fuel engines seem no longer necessary. But in fact, compared with electric drive systems, the smoother and more controllable power output of fuel engines, as well as the stability and resistance to degradation of mechanical systems compared with electronic control systems, still give fuel engines a broad market.
It is worth mentioning that the Volkswagen latest fifth-generation EA888 engine carried by the all-new Lavida completely solves the "oil burning" problem of the second- and third-generation EA888 engines. In addition, with the improved low-speed power response through the variable-geometry turbocharger, and the smoother combustion achieved by the 500bar fuel injection system, Volkswagen's fifth-generation EA888 engine stands almost at the pinnacle of internal combustion engine technology.
Matched with Volkswagen's fifth-generation EA888 engine is the DQ501 all-new generation 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission. This is currently the top-level transmission model among Volkswagen's transverse-engine models, with a maximum torque capacity of 600N·m, a figure that even reaches 1.5 times the peak torque of the all-new Lavida. Due to upgrades to the electronic controller and software calibration, as well as the use of a specially made low-viscosity lubricating oil, the all-new Lavida has also achieved significant improvements in reliability, shift smoothness, and transmission efficiency.
At the same time, the all-new Lavida is also equipped with the 4Motion intelligent all-wheel drive system. The vehicle can analyze road conditions based on signals such as braking, throttle, steering, and the rotational speeds of the engine, transmission, and wheels, achieving real-time adjustment of four-wheel power. Under normal road conditions, about 90%–95% of the power is sent to the front wheels, and in extreme conditions, 100% rear-wheel drive can be achieved. When facing various complex road conditions, the all-new Lavida can handle them with ease.
Winning through "stability"
Due to differences in power form, the all-new Lavida and more and more new energy mid-to-large SUV models are no longer even in the same competitive dimension. Stability has become the biggest characteristic distinguishing the all-new Lavida from new energy mid-to-large SUVs.
Many new energy models are happy to use configurations such as in-car screens and onboard refrigerators to create the image of a comfortable space, but at the same time, new energy vehicles are more likely to make passengers carsick, which has already become an industry consensus. This means that in terms of ride comfort, the all-new Lavida, positioned as a mid-to-large 5-seat SUV, inherently has a crushing advantage over new energy vehicles thanks to its large space and more stable driving performance.
Many people overlook this difference, but for users leaning toward family needs, it is especially important. After all, the target customer group of the all-new Lavida is not restless young hotheads, nor off-road players trying to conquer sand dunes and uninhabited deserts, but high-quality middle-class groups with extremely strong stability in work and life. The stability shown by the all-new Lavida exactly meets their requirements for comfort in family travel.
The stability of the all-new Lavida is also reflected in safety, quality, and continuous evolution in intelligence.
Compared with the frequent battery safety accidents of new energy vehicles and crashes caused by assisted driving, FAW-Volkswagen's safety standards and quality have long been recognized by the market. But it is undeniable that the intelligent driving assistance systems popularized by new energy vehicles have indeed shown the traditional fuel vehicle camp more possibilities.
The all-new Lavida has not stood still, but has taken a big step in intelligence, equipped with the IQ. Pilot enhanced driving assistance system. This also makes FAW-Volkswagen the first automaker in the industry to achieve end-to-end and highway NOA on fuel vehicles, realizing technological parity with new energy vehicles in intelligence, and completing full coverage of enhanced driving assistance technology from sedans to SUVs among mainstream fuel vehicle models, opening a new era of fuel vehicle intelligence.
In the presentation of luxury, technological feel, and premium texture, the all-new Lavida shows a style completely different from new energy models of the same class in styling design, power, comfort, and handling. Indeed, to some extent, new energy vehicles have given users more choices. But the all-new Lavida, with the persistence of a traditional automaker toward automotive products, preserves for users the right to choose in aspects such as design, power, and safety.
As subsidies for new energy vehicles continue to decline and more and more new energy users return to the embrace of fuel vehicles, the all-new Lavida unveiled at the Guangzhou Auto Show embodies indispensable value and also defends the glory and dignity of the fuel vehicle era.
