Volkswagen reintroduced the long-gone marque to the Philippines via the “People’s Car Celebration” held at the Ayala Greenbelt Park last September 28 and 29.
Scattered all over the venue were display cars that included world models Scirocco R, Golf MK7, and Passat, as well as models that would be offered locally, consisting of the 21st-century Beetle, Jetta, Touareg, Touran, and Tiguan.
The weekend mall crowd was treated to displays that showcased the various facets of the Volkswagen brand. These included a Brand and Heritage gallery, a Think Blue photo booth, a Racing Pavilion, an Innovations Zone, and the Volkswagen Plaza with mini-concerts. For Volkswagen enthusiasts and early adapters, the Volkswagen Bonifacio Global City showroom has soft-opened and is now processing sales reservations for an initial four models, as follows:
The Jetta Trendline 2.0 TDI MT compact sedan is powered by a 2.0L 4-cylinder inline common rail turbo direct injection engine (110Ps, 289Nm) that is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. It blends the assets of a top-class saloon with the modern attributes of a compact car, exuding elegance, sportiness and comfort. Available colors are Candy White, Moon Rock Silver Metallic, Reflex Silver Metallic, and Deep Black Pearlescent. It retails for PHP 1,295,000.
The Touran Comfort Line 2.0 TDI DSG is a 7-seater MPV, utilizing the same 2.0-liter engine as the Jetta, but this time matched with a 6-speed direct shift gearbox (DSG) transmission. The ideal family car, the Touran boasts striking crisp lines and intelligent design. It comes in Candy White Solid, Night Blue Metallic, Titanium Beige Metallic, and Silver Reflex Metallic, and sells for PHP 1,775,000.
The Tiguan Sport & Style 2.0 TDI AT, a 4×4 compact SUV, sports a 2.0L 4-cyl CRDI engine (140Ps, 320Nm) with 6-speed automatic transmission. Off ering the best of both world, the Tiguan is an ideal companion for both city and rough terrain. Colors are Candy White Solid, Deep Black Pearl Effect, Toffee Brown Metallic, and Silver Leaf Metallic. It is offered at PHP 2,109,000.
The Touareg 3.0 TDI V6 AT, a permanent all-wheel drive (AWD) full-sized SUV, has a 3.0L CRDI engine (245Ps, 550Nm) paired with an 8-speed AT. It combines the power of an off-roader, a sports car, and an executive class car all in one elegant package. Color choices include Cool Silver Metallic, Onyx White Mother-Of-Pearl Eff ect, Deep Black Pearl Eff ect, and Canyon Grey Metallic. It is priced at PHP 4,290,000.
The first Volkswagen showroom is located along 28th Street, Bonifacio Global City.
First published in Gadgets Magazine, October 2013
Words by Maribelle Alba