Auto-First | Liu Tianming
In the Chinese auto market, there is such a car that is not only a pioneer in the mid-level car market, but also witnesses the changes in the mid-level car market, which is the Ivy League SAIC Volkswagen Passat in the mid-level car market.
Some people say that the reason why SAIC Volkswagen Passat can become an ivy in the mid-level car market is to step on the footsteps of the progress of the times and gradually become larger by riding on the scale of the market. However, looking back at the mid-level car market that has been competing for more than 20 years, there are not a few short-lived models, and in the competition of survival of the fittest, there are very few models that still stand in the market.
The root of SAIC Volkswagen Passat's invincibility is its excellent insight into the times. In 2021, SAIC Volkswagen's new Passat completed a mid-term restructuring and continued to compete in the mid-range car market with a new attitude.
Synonymous with mid-level cars
For a long time, SAIC Volkswagen Passat was synonymous with the mid-level car market, occupying the top of the sales list for a long time. In the more than 20 years of domestic production, SAIC Volkswagen Passat has gained the favor of more than 3 million consumers, and each generation of models is a strength product that cannot be avoided in the mid-level car market.
In the millennium, SAIC Volkswagen introduced the Passat for domestic production, officially starting the journey of the Passat in the Chinese automotive market. Different from the competing models, SAIC Volkswagen has carried out localization development of the Passat, lengthening the wheelbase by 100 mm, which not only meets the needs of consumers for vehicle space, but also leads the trend of longer wheelbase in the automobile market.
The precise control of market demand and the insight of the times are the enduring roots of SAIC Volkswagen Passat. In 2005, BASED ON A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE TARGET CONSUMER DEMOGRAPHIC, SAIC VOLKSWAGEN LAUNCHED THE PASSAT LINGYU, WHICH ATTRACTED MUCH ATTENTION AS SOON AS IT WAS LAUNCHED, AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THE CUMULATIVE SALES OF PASSAT MODELS IN CHINA EXCEEDED THE 500,000 MARK. After the subsequent iteration of the model update, the Passat family reached sales records of 1 million units and 2 million vehicles.
In fact, Passat was able to achieve such excellent sales results, becoming synonymous with mid-level cars, not only to meet consumer demand, but also to excellent product quality. When SAIC Volkswagen first introduced the Passat model domestically, it was equipped with safety features such as ABS, ESP, and three-point ignition belts. In terms of body structure, SAIC Volkswagen took the lead in introducing laser welding technology, which is applied in Passat's vehicle manufacturing to improve product quality and safety.
In the more than 20 years since entering China, passat has undergone 6 generations and more than 20 modifications, becoming the first mid-level car in China with cumulative sales of more than 3 million units. Today, SAIC Volkswagen Passat continues to compete in the mid-range car market and writes a mid-level car legend.
The youthful vibrancy of ivy
In 2021, SAIC Volkswagen completed a mid-term redesign of the new Passat, and considering that the market demand for the mid-level car market is gradually younger, SAIC Volkswagen has prepared two appearances for the new Passat. The new Passat Starry Sky Edition model adopts the Younger Fashion design concept, and the interior of the forward grille is arranged by parametric dot-like shapes, just like the starry sky at night, with a through-line light strip design, making the entire front face both exquisite and fashionable and vibrant, more in line with the aesthetics of young consumer groups.
Another exterior design adopts the Luxury Fashion design concept, the front face of the dot matrix Seiko grille follows the excellent product attributes of the Passat family, and the light strip that runs through the grille connects the left and right headlights, adding fashion elements to the new Passat, which is very in line with the needs of the inherent consumer population for vehicle exterior design, and further consolidates the dominant position in the business group.
At the same time, SAIC Volkswagen equipped the new Passat with IQ.Light all-LED matrix headlights, and a through-led led strip linking the left and right headlights, which can not only greet the owner, but also have super practical functions. When vehicles meet, the matrix headlights can adjust the illumination range in real time to avoid dazzling the intersecting vehicles.
Streamer steering through the integrated LED taillights make the new Passat a caring partner, when the lock car goes home, the taillights will have an animation effect, so that the user experience car is not only a car, but more like a caring partner.
Inside, SAIC Volkswagen's new Passat inherits the fine traditions of previous models, taking into account fashion design and comfort. The perforated premium leather multi-purpose seats provide excellent ride comfort, while the front seats support heating, ventilation and massage and the headrests support four adjustments for a great ride.
Sense of science and technology is not inferior, 10.2-inch all-digital LCD instrument with embedded 9.2-inch central control screen, simple and generous and full of scientific and technological sense, built-in MOS intelligent car connection system, a sentence "Hello, the public" can be easily awakened, to achieve a variety of functions of voice control, at the same time, smart navigation, online music radio, illegal payment and other intelligent operations are not in the question. In addition, SAIC Volkswagen has also equipped the new Passat with a highly technological gesture control system, which can realize menu control, song switching and other operations through corresponding gestures in front of the central control screen.
The back row is the key to the mid-level car market competition. In terms of space, the wheelbase of the new car reached 2871 mm, the length increased by 15 mm to 4948 mm, and the rear seat space was more spacious. At the same time, the independent control of the three-zone air conditioner can independently control the temperature, air volume and airflow of the rear row, and the air outlet of the rear air conditioner is used to greatly improve the comfort of the rear seat.
In addition, the new Passat rear seats support seat heating, and with sun blinds, boss keys, and wrap-around aviation sleep headrests, naps are more comfortable and the head does not swing due to the vehicle's rapid turning. In terms of business reception, the new Passat is no less impressive, with cross-stitched texture and perforated leather seats, which greatly enhance the luxurious atmosphere in the car.
It is worth mentioning that relying on the precise control of the market demand for mid-level cars for many years, the new Passat has a unique insight into ride comfort, and is more in line with Chinese consumers in terms of softness and hardness of seat filling, seat wrapping, seat back angle, etc., and the comfort is remarkable.
Strength deduces the charm of science and technology
As an ivy in the mid-level car market, SAIC Volkswagen Passat has always been a benchmark in the mid-range car market, especially in terms of technological safety. Twenty-two years ago, SAIC Volkswagen introduced the first Passat model to the Chinese market, which was equipped with a cruise control system. Twenty-two years later, SAIC Volkswagen equipped the new Passat with the IQ.Drive L2+ level autonomous driving assistance system, bringing consumers a comfortable and safe driving experience.
SAIC Volkswagen's new Passat automatic driving assistance system is a combination of ACC advanced adaptive cruise control system and Lane Assist lane keeping system to achieve assisted driving, which can achieve precise control of the longitudinal and lateral aspects of the vehicle.
Among them, ACC's advanced adaptive cruise system can achieve full-speed domain cruising, control the longitudinal driving of the vehicle, and the lane keeping system can keep the vehicle in the middle of the lane at all times. The combination of the two is whether it is straight or cornered, no matter what the speed, even in the morning and evening rush hours, IQ. Drive L2+ level autonomous driving assistance system can be easily handled, which is a must-have for workplace commuting.
Of course, a good driver assistance system requires not only accurate and reliable performance, but also a simpler and faster way to open and safety performance. The new Passat IQ.Drive L2+ level autopilot assist system supports one-touch start, just press the Travel Assist button on the left side of the steering wheel to start the system, no need to set it up one by one. With the driver assistance system turned on, the vehicle is easier to drive, allowing the owner to feel a relaxed and comfortable travel experience, and there is no need to worry about safety, the new Passat is equipped with steering wheel off-the-hand detection and driver fatigue reminder function.
In addition to the automatic driving assistance system, SAIC Volkswagen has also equipped the new Passat with the PLA intelligent parking assistance system, which solves the problem of user parking difficulties. The new Passat system can intelligently identify both vertical and horizontal parking spaces, the driver only needs to control the throttle, brake and change gears according to the prompts, the vehicle automatically controls the steering and parks the car in the parking space. At the same time, the intelligent parking system also supports the horizontal parking space parking function, when the vehicle is parked in a relatively small and complex horizontal parking space, the user only needs to open the intelligent parking system, the vehicle can calculate the parking route by itself, and drive the vehicle away from the parking space.
Whether it is the IQ.Drive L2+ level automatic driving assistance system, the PLA intelligent parking assistance system, the 360° panoramic image system, etc., SAIC Volkswagen's new Passat interprets the scientific and technological strength of the mid-level car and sets a new market benchmark.
For more than 20 years, successive generations of Passats have accompanied generations of elites to move forward with confidence and confidence. Today, the new Passat has added a fashion element to the calm atmosphere of mid-level car business, embracing the new generation of people with a more open attitude and becoming a new choice for young consumer groups. However, the stable product quality of Passat is still clearly visible, such as laser welding technology, cavity wax injection process and so on. The change of meeting the needs of the times and not forgetting the original intention are important reasons why SAIC Volkswagen Passat has stood firmly in the mid-range car market for a long time.