Chapter 129: The God-Tier Vehicle Model, Golf

Zhao Guoyang had experienced far too much of being surrounded by crowds of onlookers in his past life, so he remained remarkably calm and composed.

In contrast, Zhao Siyan felt somewhat embarrassed. Especially since there was no way she could possibly afford this Golf, being pulled onto the stage by Zhao Guoyang made her feel even more uneasy. Sensing her apprehension, Zhao Guoyang turned back, winked at her, and made a gesture to "stay calm," before stepping onto the stage with measured ease.

The Volkswagen staff member—a man with small, squinting eyes—beamed with a brilliant smile as he saw them approach. "Welcome, both of you, to test out our new Volkswagen model. May I ask your names?" he asked, his eyes narrowing into slits.

Zhao Guoyang waved his hand dismissively. "No need for formalities. We don't intend to buy a car; we're just here to get a feel for it. Do we really need to leave our names?"

The muscles in the small-eyed man's face twitched at these words. As one of the few local staff members for the German Volkswagen company, he had attended several domestic auto shows. While he had occasionally encountered odd customers who couldn't afford a car but wanted to put on airs, this was his first time meeting someone who openly declared they were just there for the experience.

As the man stood there, stunned, a flush of unnatural pink spread across Zhao Siyan's cheeks. She glared at Zhao Guoyang with a hint of reproach, muttering to herself: *I know you're honest, but you don't have to say it like that. At least give the man a way to save face.*

Zhao Guoyang didn't take it to heart at all. After speaking, he clasped his hands behind his back and began circling the Golf with an air of serious professional assessment. The way he scrutinized every detail made it seem as if he truly knew his stuff.

By now, the man had regained his composure. He forced a smile at Zhao Siyan and said, "Miss, your companion is quite the humorist..."

Zhao Siyan coughed and replied, "Yes, he just likes to joke around. Please, don't take it to heart."

Her words finally made the man feel a bit better. Seeing that Zhao Guoyang had finished his inspection, he opened the car door, gestured for them to enter, and said with a smile, "Sir, Miss, would you like to sit inside and have a go?"

Zhao Guoyang rubbed his chin and murmured, "Hmm, looking at the exterior, the length, width, and height seem to have increased compared to the 3985x1665x1415mm dimensions of the second-generation Golf. I imagine the interior space must be quite a bit larger. Let's go in and take a look; it's worth the experience..."

The man felt a sudden jolt in his heart. As a veteran employee of German Volkswagen who handled sales, he naturally had a solid understanding of his company's products. Compared to the second generation, the main feature of the third-generation Golf was indeed the expanded interior space, designed to provide passengers with a superior riding experience. However, this was a detail that very few people in China should have known. The reason was simple: the second-generation Golf was never mass-produced in China and was sold primarily in the European and American markets. Yet, the way this young man spoke, as if he knew the parameters of the second generation by heart, was truly astonishing.

After they sat inside, the man no longer dared to be negligent. He stood by the window, silently observing every move Zhao Guoyang made, eager to hear if he would offer any more surprising insights.

Inside the Golf, Zhao Guoyang periodically explained the functions of the controls to Zhao Siyan. In truth, as the Golf was one of the top three best-selling car models in history, Zhao Guoyang had studied it extensively in his previous life. When he later led the development of domestic electric vehicles, he drew inspiration for several aspects of the body structure from the Golf. Consequently, he knew the history of the model and the differences between each generation like the back of his hand—perhaps even better than the structural engineers working on it now.

Leaning back in his seat, Zhao Guoyang said to Zhao Siyan, "Look, Siyan, this third-generation Volkswagen Golf has made some real breakthroughs in its interior design. Go ahead, touch the texture of the trim—isn't it much better than the Santana we rode in yesterday? If you ask me, when buying a car, it's best to go for something refined..."

Zhao Siyan pursed her lips into a smile and nodded gently. "It’s nice, but it’s not cheap. We’re lucky enough to have the Santana; we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves."

Zhao Guoyang smiled noncommittally and continued his explanation. "Hmm, I almost overlooked the changes in the center console. Compared to the second generation, the layout is much more logical. Also, the original analog clock has been replaced by a digital one..."

As he spoke, Zhao Guoyang demonstrated how to use the various buttons. Watching him operate the controls with such proficiency, the small-eyed man outside, who had been listening intently, was already filled with shock.

"Zhao Guoyang, I really don't know how you know so much..." Although Zhao Siyan was used to his brilliance, she couldn't help but widen her eyes in admiration when she saw him effortlessly operate the electric sunroof and the electronically adjustable rearview mirrors.

"Oh, I read it in magazines. Just from reading magazines..." Realizing he might have been a bit too impressive, Zhao Guoyang laughed it off.

"Sir, may I ask which magazine you read this in?" the man outside suddenly interjected. "Our German Volkswagen third-generation Golf is only scheduled for official global release after this Songjiang International Auto Show. Logically, it shouldn't be possible for this information to have leaked early..."

Zhao Guoyang gave an "uh" sound, unsure of how to smooth over the situation. He pretended not to hear and continued fiddling with the vehicle's equipment. Fortunately, the man's attention was entirely focused on his astonishment at Zhao Guoyang's comprehensive familiarity with the car, so he didn't press the issue and simply watched as Zhao Guoyang explored the other features.

As for Zhao Siyan, she knew Zhao Guoyang wasn't telling the truth, but she couldn't imagine how else he could have accessed such up-to-date information from abroad. So, even if she had her doubts, she kept them to herself.

Zhao Guoyang walked Zhao Siyan through all the controls, explaining many of them in meticulous detail. In particular, regarding the powertrain, he broke down the pros and cons of the three engines available for the Golf, specifically mentioning the top-tier 1.9 TDI turbocharged model, which represented the pinnacle of the Golf's performance.

To the man outside, this explanation was no less professional than one given by their own powertrain engineers.