Volkswagen Santana

Volkswagen Santana is a sedan constructed on the basis of the Volkswagen Passat model of the second generation and is almost identical to that model. The car enjoys special popularity in the Asian market. Production has been conducted since 1981 till present.

Volkswagen Santana І generation

The Volkswagen Santana sedan was created in 1981 as a result of the partner agreements between Volkswagen concern on the one hand, and the Shanghai Tractor Automobile Corporation and Bank of China on the other hand.

The car received several additional options that the original Volkswagen Passat II did not have: improved seats, MP3 file-supporting compact sound system.

Volkswagen Santana ІІ generation

Volkswagen Santana 2000 of the second generation was presented in 1985. Designers changed the exterior of the front part of the body a little. The model of the Chinese production differed from the original model, it began to be manufactured separately from the European model.

Volkswagen Santana ІІ generation restyling

Developers carried out improvement of the Volkswagen Santana model of the second generation in 1995. The design of the exterior was brought closer to the VW Polo III model. The car was equipped with electric power windows, anti-lock brake system (ABS) and the central lock.

The car met all the ecological requirements of Euro IV.

Volkswagen Santana ІІ I generation

The design of the updated Volkswagen Santana III was developed by the Shanghai Tractor Automobile Corporation company within the agreement. Volkswagen Santana 3000 had oblong rectangular headlights and the rounded-off forefront of the body. Developers also installed new fog lights, anti-lock brake system (ABS), system of electronic stability program (ESP).

The car was assembled from the Chinese spare parts completely, but was certified by the main office in Germany. The model had a line of modifications, identical with the Volkswagen Passat car almost completely.

In 2008 in China the Volkswagen Santana Vista model, which was based on the Volkswagen Santana car, but had cardinal changes of design of the body and interior, was produced.

Original Volkswagen Santana, in sedan and station wagon bodies, is produced by the Chinese company Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive till nowadays.

Volkswagen Santana ІV generation

In 2013 in Wolfsburg new generation of the Volkswagen Santana model was presented. It was based on new platform "New AO5+" (PQ25). The car began to look more aggressively: designers updated the nose of the body and considerably improved engines of all modifications.

Volkswagen Santana in the market of the different countries

Volkswagen Santana model received the greatest popularity in China. In the markets of other countries it appeared under other names.

In the North American market the model received the name Volkswagen Quantum. In Mexico consumers knew it under the name Volkswagen Corsar. In Argentina the similar car was called  Volkswagen Carat.

In Europe the Volkswagen Santana model was popular only in the first several years of release. Then its name was replaced by original one— Volkswagen Passat. Nevertheless, in Spain it was called Volkswagen Santana.

Later versions and restylings of the model in the Chinese market had the name Volkswagen Santana Vista. In the Japanese market it was produced within cooperation with the Nissan company therefore the model was produced under this brand and carried the name Nissan Santana.