The FAW Vita, also known as the FAW Weizhi, is a subcompact sedan and hatchback that FAW Group built under its FAW Tianjin brand from July 2006 to 2015. The hatchback was called the FAW Vita hatch and the saloon the FAW Vita sedan, and both used engines from Toyota.
FAW Vita at a glance
| Maker | FAW Group, FAW Tianjin brand |
|---|---|
| Production | July 2006–2015 |
| Bodies | three-door or five-door hatchback and four-door sedan |
| Engines | hatchback and sedan |
| Power | 75 kW and 130 N·m |
| Gearbox | five-speed manual or five-speed automatic |
| Price | 53,800 to 68,800 yuan |
| Names | FAW Vita, FAW Weizhi, Vita C1 (CA 7130 / CA 7140) |
| Facelift | Vita V5 (CA 7150 BUE), 2012–2015 |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the FAW Vita.
History of the FAW Vita
A Tianjin small car
The FAW Vita was produced by FAW Group under the FAW Tianjin brand. Production began in July 2006 and the model stayed in the range until 2015. The hatchback version was named the FAW Vita hatch and the sedan version the FAW Vita sedan, while the name FAW Weizhi, from the Chinese characters Tianjin FAW Weizhi, was used as well.
The Vita was powered by the 5A-FE and 8A-FE engines from Toyota, a 1.5-litre four-cylinder unit producing 75 kW and 130 N·m of torque. Transmission options were a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic. Prices started at 53,800 yuan and ended at 68,800 yuan.
Names for export and the V5
The names FAW Weizhi C1 or Vita C1, with the factory codes CA 7130 and CA 7140, were also used in some markets. After the Vita hatchback was discontinued in 2012, the sedan received a facelift and was sold as the FAW Vita V5 with the code CA 7150 BUE from 2012 to 2015. A crossover version called the FAW Vita V2 Cross was planned as of 2011 but never produced, and the FAW Tianjin brand was soon discontinued.
What it meant for the range
The Vita sat at the cheaper end of FAW’s passenger car range, below the larger models of the group, and it used Toyota-derived engines rather than FAW’s own designs. Its life of nine years covered a period in which FAW Tianjin moved from the older Xiali models towards newer names, and the planned V2 Cross showed an intention to add a crossover derivative that never reached the market.
Design and features
- Toyota engines: the 5A-FE and 8A-FE 1.5-litre four-cylinder units with 75 kW and 130 N·m.
- Choice of gearboxes: a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic.
- Two bodies: hatchback and saloon, sold as the Vita hatch and Vita sedan.
- Low price: from 53,800 to 68,800 yuan at launch.
FAW Vita versions
- Vita hatch: the hatchback version introduced in 2006.
- Vita sedan: the four-door saloon.
- Vita C1 / Weizhi C1: names and codes CA 7130 and CA 7140 used in some markets.
- Vita V5 (2012–2015): the facelifted sedan with the code CA 7150 BUE.
- V2 Cross: a planned crossover version that was never produced.
The Vita was one of the Tianjin-built cars of FAW Group, which also made the Jiabao microvan and sold the Senya. More models are listed in the FAW collection.
Video: FAW Vita test drive (autoliga.tv)
Video by autoliga.tv on YouTube.
Sources
- FAW Vita, English Wikipedia: production, engines, prices, versions
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