Volkswagen C-Trek
While the local manufacturers and other foreign brands, most notably Honda, are successfully launching one hot new crossover after the other, VW has decided a rugged-up station wagon should suffice. The C-Trek is based on the Volkswagen Bora sedan, which is in the basics a previous generation Jetta. It is a similar concept to the Cross Lavida, a “cross” version of the Gran Lavida, the station wagon/hatchback version of the Lavida sedan. Volkswagen also makes a similar version of the Santana, also both in “Gran” and “Cross” versions, but unfortunately those sales are not specified from the Santana sedan. While this is a relatively cheap way to extract a little more volume from an existing platform, it’s also all but guaranteed to not even come close to the potential sales figures of a “real” crossover or SUV.
Mechanics of the C-Trek are similar to the Bora sedan: An old 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 110hp and 155Nm or torque, mated to a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission and a more modern 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 130hp and 225Nm, mated to a 5-speed manual or a 7-speed dual clutch gearbox. Four-wheel drive is (of course) not available. Dimensions: 4.559/1.793/1.487mm with a wheelbase of 2.614mm. Prices run from 125.900 yuan (€ 17.300,- / US$ 18,200) to 162.900 yuan, an 8-10% premium over the sedan.
