*This article was translated from the autocarweekly public account.
Author: Linghuchong
Messi won six Ballon d’Or awards, and the impact is that the whole world is looking for “Little Messi”, Messi’s successor.
The older generation has Swiss Messi Shaqiri, Portuguese Messi Bernardo Silva, Egyptian Messi Salah, and the younger generation has German Messi Sané, Japanese Messi Kubo Takefusa, Korean Messi Lee Sung-yu, and Norwegian Messi Erling Haaland. Some people who are unfamiliar with the matter even think that Messi has a lot of illegitimate children.
Of course, Brazilians are looking for Pelé’s successor, and China is watching the whole world look for Messi’s successor.
Americans like basketball and look for Jordan’s successor, such as Kobe, Carter, McGrady, who were all called Jordan’s successor when they debuted.
In fact, no one wants to be called XX II or little XX, living in the shadow, always feeling under pressure, just like female actors in the entertainment circle who are particularly resistant to being called Xiaoyi Zhang or little Bingbing.
The phrase “I want to be myself” has been talked about too much among idols.
But this time, the Toyota Lingang has caused a sensation. They are just themselves. Since you like to say that I am “Little Camry” in the exposure stage, okay, then I won’t pretend anymore. I confess, I am Little Camry.
My price is like the Levin, my strength is like the Camry, I am the Lingang, superior to other models in terms of cost-effectiveness.
In Shanghai dialect, it means that it’s worth it. Yesterday, two level configurations were launched with prices of 148,800 yuan and 158,800 yuan respectively, both at the level of the Camry and the price of the Levin. Will you follow as consumers?
When in doubt, go to TNGA
The relationship between Lingang and Asia Lion is similar to that between Levin and Corolla, and the core selling points are not much different.
To be honest, I’m a little tired of “TNGA exhaustion”.
TNGA architecture is so popular that after switching to TNGA architecture, sales of Asia Dragon, Camry, Corolla, Levin, and SUVs such as Rongfang and RAV4 have risen steadily.
For example, the sales of the Levin in 2017 fluctuated greatly, with a low point of 6,920 units in a single month and a high point of 18,184 units, while in 2020, after fully switching to the TNGA architecture, sales reached 235,674 units, averaging nearly 20,000 units per month. Wuhu took off.
The core selling point of Toyota Lingang is naturally related to TNGA.In the past, we always said that you couldn’t just focus on shearing one sheep when trying to take advantage, but Toyota really maximized the advantages of TNGA. From luxury brands to daily household use, from SUV to sedans, each one became a bestseller.
TNGA is invincible, which is quite impressive.
As the saying goes, “When it comes to internal issues, consult Zhang Zhao; when it comes to external issues, ask Zhou Yu.” In today’s internet era, when faced with external issues, we consult Google and for internal issues, we consult Baidu. However, now Toyota is the one that can cure everything with TNGA.
Cost-effectiveness is the key driver
Wen Dali, Executive Vice President of GAC Toyota, said, “The launch of the Linghang is not just a simple product upgrade, nor is it purely a market catch-up.” However, in my opinion, as a car model that is between the level of the Levin and the Camry, the core selling point of the Linghang is its over-level performance.
Officially, it’s called a jump up.
What it depends on is, first, the Dynamic Force 2.0L Engine, which is a self-suction engine with a maximum power of 126 kW and peak torque of 205 N・m, which makes the driving experience smooth and fast.
In terms of power output, it is basically at a high level that is between domestic and foreign compact cars. And due to the fact that it achieves 40% thermal efficiency, the Linghang’s fuel consumption data is 5.9 L/100 km when using 92 gasoline, while its most direct competitor, which is of the same class vehicle with the Volkswagen EA211-DLS engine, has a fuel consumption of around 5.5 L/100 km when using 95 gasoline.
The other aspect of its advantage is its size.
We often mention the A+ level sedan from the German brands that understand China. After adding length to its wheelbase, it reaches 2731 mm, while the Linghang’s wheelbase reaches 2750 mm, which is 75 mm less than that of the Camry.
Sorry, German engineers, if you want to play with an elongated body, then many engineers, Wahlu Wahlu Wahneon and neon would also be able to do that.
Since the starting price is RMB 148,800, the Linghang even provides the Toyota TSS2 intelligent driving safety kit as standard even in its most basic version, continuing the leading position of Toyota TNGA series in passive and active safety.
Of course, for consumers who like to count the number of airbags, the Linghang has a small disadvantage – it does not offer rear side airbags and front knee airbags, which is a small flaw.
Not just catching-up, but superior to that
From a historical perspective, globally speaking, elongation is also a trend. Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and other brands are all becoming more and more elongated.
It’s not that humans on Earth have evolved their legs to be longer, but rather that they have higher requirements for comfort.### Driving & Riding Quality
Driving is enjoyable, and so is the riding. After all, cars are about performance, whoever is weak in power and data is embarrassed.
A-Class Cars
The wheelbase of A-Class cars has gradually increased from 2600mm to 2700mm over time. Whether facing A-Class or A+ cars, consumers’ evaluation criteria are gradually approaching that of B-Class cars.
Requirements Now
Simple fuel saving, good handling, and easy-to-learn are outdated. Now, the requirement is to move towards luxury brands in terms of material, workmanship, design, and power can be a bit weaker but not too weak. Fuel consumption is not emphasized, the lower, the better, with interior space as large as possible, more internal configurations and media configurations prefer touch screen and preferably with voice.
Order Request
Boss, a Honda Accord or a Toyota Camry please!
This is where the feature of the Lingkang lies, to have a space advantage over A-Class cars, with the power basically approaching that of the B-Class car entry-level, and the configuration aiming at the B-Class car.
However, as an outsider, GAC Toyota’s demand for Lingkang is not as great as that of FAW Toyota for the Asian Lion.
The most expensive Corolla is priced at 159,800 yuan, while the cheapest Asia Dragon is priced at 199,800 yuan, with a gap of 40,000 yuan in between. Therefore, the Asian lion has more room to maneuver, so that consumers do not have to worry too much about how to choose between the Corolla and the Asia Dragon.
The most expensive Levin is priced at 159,800 yuan, while the cheapest Camry is only 179,800 yuan, with a gap of only 20,000 yuan in between. This can only be considered a small reinforcement.
This is also why GAC Toyota’s official statement denies that Lingkang has the consideration of “reinforcement function”.
Existence
The car market is tough, but for Lingkang, if the conditions are not allowed, it is necessary to create conditions. After all, this price range is here. If you don’t provide a competitive product, the sub-market will be taken over by someone else. This is why Lingkang performs so “singled out”, with the halo of Levin selling more than 1 million vehicles, Camry selling over 2 million, and TNGA having no weak travel. There is no need to worry about reputation at all.
Entry-level consumers will definitely choose Levin. If you want to buy Camry at once, it is also a good idea. Lingkang directly targets the timing difference of the A+ models of German brands.
Carrying the name of the little Camry, it naturally takes over the low-end demand that overflows from the Camry.
After all, although the German A+ class sedan looks sporty, they are somewhat uncool in their bones. After all, the preference of young people nowadays is changing faster and faster.Occupy the situation first, and then leave everything to time, gradually expanding upwards and downwards.
In addition, if Toyota follows the international trend and replaces the engine with a three-cylinder engine in the A-class family car in the future, then the Lingzhi and Asia Lion in the A+ market can serve as a safety net for four-cylinder demand, which makes it easier to move with the safety card.
No matter how you calculate it, Toyota will not lose.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.