2017 Volkswagen Passat R-Line – Driven
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Volkswagen Passat R-Line – Driven
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Year:2017
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Make:
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Model:
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Engine:inline-4
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Transmission:six-speed automatic
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Horsepower @ RPM:170 @ 6200
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MPG(Cty):23
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MPG(Hwy):34
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Torque @ RPM:184 @ 1500
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Displacement:1.8 L
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Top Speed:130 mph
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Price:
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car segment:
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size:
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Purpose:
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body style:
A minimalist’s idea of family transportation
Crossovers and SUVs might be the hot-ticket item these days, but sedans still hold an extremely important part in the automotive landscape. Mid-size sedans, especially, continue to post impressive sales numbers. Back for the 2011 model year, Volkswagen decided it needed a bigger slice of the American pie, so it introduced a version of its popular Passat build especially for the U.S. market. A refresh for 2016 brought sharpened body lines, a more chiseled face, and a slightly reworked interior. Now, a year later, the 2017 Passat soldiers on with nary a change. But, is this mid-size sedan got what it takes to rival the segment stalwarts, namely the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord?
To find out, I recently spent three weeks behind the wheel of a Passat R-Line. What’s the R-Line, you ask? It boils down to a dolled-up version of the base Passat. It comes with larger wheels, a more up-scale front fascia, and the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Better yet, the swankier trim doesn’t come with a massive price tag. It’s only $1,535 more than the base Passat S and retails for $23,875. And thanks to its 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and FWD, it’s frugal at the pump, too, returning an EPA-estimated 34 mpg on the highway. Nevertheless, both the Camry and Accord are completely new for 2018 and will be stiff competition for this Tennessee-built car with German roots.
Continue reading for more on the Volkswagen Passat R-Line.
Latest Volkswagen Passat news and reviews:
The Time Is Near: Death Is Coming for Volkswagen’s Manual Transmission
It looks like the last hour has come for the manual transmission at Volkswagen. Since VW is basically on the road to electro-mobility and is saying goodbye to the combustion engine, it is also inadvertently saying goodbye to the manual transmission.
2022 Volkswagen Passat Limited Edition
The Volkswagen Passat is officially dead in the United States. Well, not quite yet, but it’s definitely taking its last breaths as Volkswagen prepares the Chattanooga plant in Tennessee for production of the Atlas, Atlas Cross, and all-electric ID.4. As the U.S. market bids farewell to the Passat, it’s going to honor it in the only way it knows how – a special edition. The car you see here is just one of four configurations, with a total of 1,973 examples being built. Why 1,973? Because 1973 was the first year the Passat was offered.
Volkswagen will produce 411 examples of the Passat special edition in a combination of Aurora Red Metallic with a Titan Black interior. This model represents the original production code of the Passat – 411. Next, there will be 423 examples of the passat finished in Racing Green Metallic with a Mauro Brown interior. 423 represents the Chattanooga, TN area code. Another version finished in Pure White with Mauro Brown interior will be produced in just 524 examples, representing the opening date of the Chattanooga plant: May 24, 2011. Finally, the fourth iteration of the Passat special edition will be offered in Grey Metallic with a Titan Black interior. 615 represents six generations of imported Passats (6), one generation assembled in Chattanooga (1), and 5 decades of U.S. sales (5).
Outside of the exclusive exterior paint and interior theme, there’s not a whole lot to set the Passat special edition apart from the pack. The seats inside will feature a “x of 1973” tag on one side and “Chattanooga 2011” on the other. Comfort sports seats will come standard with Vienna leather while the exterior will ride on distinctive 18-inch, fifteen-spoke wheels. Pricing for the Passat special edition comes in at $30,295 but the Aurora Red Metallic will add an extra $395 to the ticket.
2020 Volkswagen Passat - Driven
Sometimes, a car needs a full redesign to address a fundamental flaw. Perhaps it’s too small, or too big. Maybe its styling is stale or unappealing. Or perhaps its platform can’t support modern needs.
The 2020 Passat has revised interior and exterior styling, more standard features, and an updated engine. That’s a cheaper set of changes than a full redesign, and Volkswagen is passing those savings on to the customer. Is that enough to excuse the Passat’s old bones? Or are you better off opting for a fresher competitor? Here’s what we learned from our time behind the wheel.
Watch a 2019 Volkswagen Passat Fail Miserably During Chinese Crash Testing
If you’re from China and you’re in the market for a new four-door sedan, you might want to steer clear of the Volkswagen Passat. The German sedan of Chinese roots was recently subjected to a safety test by China’s C-IASI (that’s the country’s equivalent of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety), and to the surprise of many, the Passat recorded one of the worst performances of any car in the crash test.
A video of the C-IASI’s crashworthiness assessment shows the Passat undergoing several crash tests that end in a similar fashion: the sedan gets beaten up pretty badly. The Chinese Passat’s poor performance in the crash tests has bought into question the quality of the model relative to Passat models that aren’t built in China, including Passat models that have received good safety ratings in American crash tests. Is this a case of one Passat being much safer than the other?
2019 Volkswagen Passat Variant R-Line Edition
Less than a month after the company launched the facelifted version, Volkswagen is all set to launch the sporty variant of the Passat Estate at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show. The Passat Variant R-Line Edition comes with a lot of new goodies and will certainly induce the younger folks’ interest. The company has announced that the R-Line edition will be limited to just 2,000 units!
Volkswagen gives 2019 Passat for Europe its midlife nip and tuck
Volkswagen has updated the current Euro market Passat and as with all new products from the German giant, you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference. But it is certainly different if you look at details like the Arteon-infused styling refresh as well as the long list of new tech features added along with the facelift.
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - 2020 Volkswagen Passat
This car is nothing short of a legend, and when it goes down, it will be remembered as one of the longest running and the most successful sedans to have graced the Earth. Sounds like a tribute, doesn’t it? Well, that’s because the 2020 Volkswagen Passat may very well represent the last time the German company invests its time, money and resources into this car. The 2020 Volkswagen Passat was displayed at the Detroit Auto Show and, even though it is a very good package overall, we might give it a miss in favor of say, a crossover.
Nevertheless, here is a list of the things that work in the 2020 Passat’s favor, and some things that don’t:
Volkswagen Brings The Old Passat To Detroit With A Fresh Face
The SUV and crossover boom has left sedans in a precarious position. Despite the dwindling sales and their half-dead state, automakers are bound to freshen up their sedan range in their final run before they are retired. Here is Volkswagen’s half-hearted attempt to refresh the Passat and give a quality product to the people who still yearn for a well-packaged, mid-sized sedan.
For 2018, Volkswagen is introducing a new Passat GT model. The GT introduces some sporty touches to the Passat line. The Passat has mostly been about sensible family transportation until now, excluding the 2003-2004 Passat W8 perhaps. It would have been very easy for Volkswagen to come up with a sporty version of the Passat but they instead have gone for more luxurious models. It looks like Volkswagen is finally dipping their toes into the sports sedan waters to judge the public’s reaction with the Passat GT.
The European version of the Volkswagen Passat is set to get a facelift for the 2019 model year, bringing it more in line with the new look of the new Volkswagen Arteon and maybe even bring some new updated engines and technology into play as well. It was recently spotted being put through the general testing phase, so it’s time to get the speculation mill running at full speed.
Updated 12/06/2018: The Volkswagen Passat is inching closer to production status and we’ve just updated the gallery below with the latest spy shots.
13 Crossover Wagons You Could Buy Instead of an SUV
High-riding vehicles, like crossovers and SUVs are at the height of popularity right now, but they’re not the only way to go if you want practicality and some off-road capability. Crossover style raised wagons are a great alternative and while they can still drive you over a rough field or rutted road with ease, they’re better to drive on road and actually pretty stylish.
They are essentially the wagon versions of different cars which have gained extra ride height and plastic cladding on the outside to protect them from scratches in their most vulnerable points. These vehicles usually have standard all-wheel drive and are usually a higher trim level, so they are not cheap (compared to the vehicle they’re based on) but they also come with a lot of equipment.
Here’s a list of the 13 coolest crossover-style wagons you can buy today.
10 Best Used Cars For New Drivers
While most modern cars pack in the safety features and offer plenty of value-per-dollar, there are some out there that seem to stand above the rest. If you’re scouring the used market looking for just the right ride for your new driver, fear not, as we’ve put together a list that outlines ten models that are just a few years old, but still come with just about everything you could want.
Each entry also includes a rundown on crashworthiness, as tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, or IIHS, a U.S.-based non-profit organization that conducts research on almost all new cars.
So with that, read on for our list of the ten best-used cars for new drivers.
Volkswagen Passat Gets GTI Treatment in Detroit, Sans the Big Horsepower
Remember the Passat GT concept that Volkswagen unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2016? It was actually a production sedan with exterior features borrowed from the Golf GTI. Well, it’s been a little more than two years and it made it into production as a limited-edition model. It was just unveiled at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show and it appears to be identical to the concept we first saw back in November 2016.
2018 Volkswagen Passat GT
Launched all the way back in 1973, the Passat is one of Volkswagen’s most iconic models, up there with the Golf and the Beetle. But unlike the Golf, the midsize has yet to gain a higher performance GTI version. Even the tiny Polo got the infamous red stripe, but for some reason, VW kept the Passat away from this badge. It doesn’t really seem as this would change anytime soon, but Volkswagen just introduced something similar in the United States. Developed based on extensive feedback from U.S. customers and dealers, the Passat GT is pretty much a GTI model without the massive power and the chassis upgrades.
Visually, the GT is heavily based on the Golf GTI. Not only it sports the iconic red stripe on its front grille, but it also has a number of blacked-up out features that give it a more menacing look. The interior was upgraded too and received quite a few extra standard features. Things aren’t as spectacular under the hood, where we can find the same VR6 engine as in the regular range-topping model, but the Passat GT benefits from a retuned suspension for a sportier ride. Based on the R-Line version, the Passat GT is a limited-run model, but Volkswagen had nothing to say about production figures. Let’s find out more about it below.
Continue reading to learn more about the Volkswagen Passat GT.
2017 Volkswagen Passat R-Line – Driven
Crossovers and SUVs might be the hot-ticket item these days, but sedans still hold an extremely important part in the automotive landscape. Mid-size sedans, especially, continue to post impressive sales numbers. Back for the 2011 model year, Volkswagen decided it needed a bigger slice of the American pie, so it introduced a version of its popular Passat build especially for the U.S. market. A refresh for 2016 brought sharpened body lines, a more chiseled face, and a slightly reworked interior. Now, a year later, the 2017 Passat soldiers on with nary a change. But, is this mid-size sedan got what it takes to rival the segment stalwarts, namely the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord?
To find out, I recently spent three weeks behind the wheel of a Passat R-Line. What’s the R-Line, you ask? It boils down to a dolled-up version of the base Passat. It comes with larger wheels, a more up-scale front fascia, and the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Better yet, the swankier trim doesn’t come with a massive price tag. It’s only $1,535 more than the base Passat S and retails for $23,875. And thanks to its 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and FWD, it’s frugal at the pump, too, returning an EPA-estimated 34 mpg on the highway. Nevertheless, both the Camry and Accord are completely new for 2018 and will be stiff competition for this Tennessee-built car with German roots.
Continue reading for more on the Volkswagen Passat R-Line.
Losing Love For The Volkswagen Passat
A 2017 Volkswagen Passat R-Line finds itself in my driveway this week. This mid-size family hauler offers tons of interior room for four people, or five in a pinch. The trunk is massive, too, holding 15.9 cubic feet of cargo. Mix that with the handsomely minimalistic exterior, an as-tested price around $24,000, and 34 mpg on the highway from its 1.8-liter turbo-four, and the VW Passat makes a strong case for itself. I even sang high praises for the upper-trimmed Passat I drove at its launch event in Vermont and the last time a Passat spent time at my house. But somehow, this go-round has me falling out of love. It mostly centers on the Passat’s ergonomics behind the wheel and a brake feel that’s less than ideal.
Hoping in the driver’s seat for the first time in my tester quickly revealed the negatives. First, the tilting and telescoping steering column doesn’t extend far enough out. Adjusting the seat to where my feet and legs are properly positions on the pedals leaves my arms extended to reach the wheel. That means I have to scoot the seat closer to the dash, which decreases my leg room and moves the center armrest further away from my elbow. With a dress shirt on, my arm constantly slides off the armrests tapered front edge. And no, the armrest doesn’t extend forward. This basically leaves me in a less than comfortable seating position without a center armrest and reaching for the steering wheel like I’m too young to drive.
Adding to my frustration, the Passat’s brakes are annoyingly sensitive when coming to a stop. At highway speeds, it’s fine. Smoothly depressing the pedal results in a decent initial feel and stopping force, say when adjusting to traffic speeds. Trying to smoothly decrease braking pressure below 20 mph, however, is met with an inconsistent braking force and within roughly a half-inch of pedal travel. It’s near impossible to accomplish a smooth stop. Being stuck in stop and go traffic only made my frustration grow.
While the 2017 Volkswagen Passat R-Line does have its annoying qualities, it still represents a good value stuffed in a classy wrapper. Of course, I’ll have more to say about the Passat in my full driven review coming soon.
2016 Volkswagen Passat 1.8T – Driven
Family sedans might not be the hottest thing on the market, having given that spot to crossovers and SUVs, but the humble four-door is certainly not down and out. Volkswagen set out to capture more of this market with the revised 2016 Passat. It wears an updated face, has a new rear end, and even sees some updated bits on the dashboard. Volkswagen even says it redesigned the 2016 Passat to appeal towards American buyers who want muscular lines and upscale interiors.
In reality, you’d have to be a Volkswagen enthusiast to spot the differences without a side-by-side comparison photo (which we have in the Exterior section below.) Nevertheless, the changes are apparent and the Passat feels more mature and less bulbous for it.
The changes inside are equally minimal but no less important. A slight change in the dashboard’s shape and trim piece are all that’s new for 2016. However, the modest update gives the dash a more angular appearance, which mirrors the Passat’s fresh face.
To see how these changes impacted the Passat, I spent a week driving a 2016 model like I would if I owned it. Trips to the grocery store, the Lacrosse field, preschool, and even date night at the movie theater were all taken. My four-year-old’s car seat was buckled in the back seat and the trunk was filled with everyday items. This is a departure from [my last experience with the 2016 Passat. Volkswagen had flown me to Vermont in 2015 to experience the car when it first launched, so I knew what to expect. This time the car was on my home turf in Central Florida. So how’d it do? Keep reading to find out.
Continue reading for the full driven review.
2016 Volkswagen Passat GT Concept
In the land of high-horsepower tuning potential and luscious sporty design, the Volkswagen Passat has never really had a home. Even when it was introduced back in the 70’s as a funky looking hatchback, it wasn’t exactly a car you looked to if you wanted sporty handling or a quick sprint to 60 mph. Fast forward to today, and the current Passat, which was introduced in 2011, is sportier than ever and can be had with a V-6, but it’s still nothing more than a cheaper family car with a somewhat interesting design. VW could be looking to change all of that as it begins to focus on its North American presence, and it’s slowly becoming evident with the announcement of this Passat GT Concept. Featuring at least 20 different design changes compared to the current model, this GT Concept could very well become a real production model. And, it could be sooner than later, as the Passat is due for a facelift in the very near future.
“The Passat GT is an early example of how the new Volkswagen North American Region will meet the needs and desires of American customers going forward,” said Dr. Matthias Erb, Chief Engineering Officer, North American Region, Volkswagen. “We have the freedom and the responsibility to shape future North American vehicles here in the U.S., combining engineering resources from around the world with our unique perspective and talented local team.”
So, will the public give the Passat GT concept the warm welcome it needs to find its way into production when it debuts in Los Angeles? It’s too early to tell just yet, but for VW fans, it could very well be the Passat model they’ve been begging for all along. Let’s take a good look at it and what it brings to the table.
Continue reading to learn more about the Volkswagen Passat GT Concept.
The Affordable Audi: Volkswagen’s 2016 Passat
I’ve been driving the 2016 Volkswagen Passat for the last week as a press loaner. I didn’t think much about the car when I heard it was arriving. After all, I had attended the press launch back last year and basically knew what to expect. But my appreciation for the Passat definitely grew the longer I spent with it.
The four-door sedan has a surprisingly long wheelbase that affords tons of interior room. Rear seat passengers have more than ample legroom, so long as anyone shorter than an NBA player is sitting up front. Headroom for all positions is equally large. Even the trunk is massive, seemingly rivaling that of the old-school Lincoln Town Car.
But it’s not just the roomy space that makes the interior attractive. The Passat has plenty of high-end touches that bring a certain level of luxury to the car. Though the materials might not be up to Audi’s quality, the appearance and overall feel of the cabin is rather upscale, giving the Passat a much richer vibe than its price tag should allow.
Behind the wheel, the same German-ness holds true. The leather-wrapped steering wheel with its thin rim and plethora of controls feels very Audi-ish. The floor-mounted accelerator pedal controls the silky smooth 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and the shifts from the six-speed automatic are just as amicable. Highway speeds feel leisurely thanks to the quiet cabin and compliant suspension. The Passat just has this air of German flair and an ode to the Volkswagen Group’s pricier divisions.
The Passat might not be a true substitute for an Audi, but with an as-tested price of just $29,230, it’s easy to forgive the few nit-picky cost-saving parts when you’re saving 10 grand.
We have a full driven review of the refreshed 2016 Volkswagen Passat coming soon.
Own Or Lease A Cheating VW Diesel? This Is How To Get Paid
Last week, it was announced Volkswagen must pony up a whopping $14.7 billion to settle claims stemming from last year’s Dieselgate scandal. The settlement applies to nearly a half million U.S. passenger vehicles equipped with “defeat devices” that enable “cheating” in emissions tests (for an overview of Dieselgate, click here). Included in the settlement are options for vehicle buybacks, lease termination, and equipment modification, plus hefty cash restitution (between $5,100 and $10,000). We’ve put together a comprehensive synopsis of the settlement proposal, including how to get paid if you own or lease an affected car.
The settlement covers 2009 to 2015 model year Volkswagen and Audi vehicles, including: 2013 – 2015 VW Beetle, 2010 – 2015 VW Golf, 2009 – 2015 VW Jetta, 2012 – 2015 VW Passat, 2010 – 2013 Audi A3, and 2015 Audi A3. It’s the largest auto-related class-action settlement in history, affecting roughly 15 percent of all new VW and Audi models sold in the U.S. during the relevant six-year timespan (475,000 of 3,099,678 total units sold, source: Wikipedia).
To make matters worse for VW, the settlement only applies to models equipped with a 2.0-liter diesel engine. The 80,000 or so vehicles equipped with a cheating 3.0-liter engine will be settled separately.
At the moment, the settlement proposal is still pending, with a preliminary approval court hearing scheduled for July 26. However, it looks more than likely the plan will go through, in which case notices will be mailed to inform owners and lessees of the settlement terms.
Read on for a breakdown of who is entitled to compensation, the options on the table, how much money you might get, and how to get it.
Continue reading to learn more about the massive VW settlement.
Volkswagen’s approach to the modern automobile is much like Apple’s approach to hardware design. Clean lines, crisp angles, purposeful details, and ease of use are commonalities shared by both. Like the MacBook I’m writing on, Volkswagen cars are beautifully simple in appearance with no frivolous extras cluttering the aesthetics.
This holds true with VW’s mid-cycle refresh of its popular Passat. For 2016, the simple lines continue, changed only slightly from 2015, but with an eye on the American market. VW designers say the refresh is targeted towards U.S. buyers. They even went so far as to include a “power dome” in the hood.
Slight as they might be, the changes are there. The interior receives a similarly understated redo, with the dashboard and infotainment system constituting the bulk of the changes. Even the powertrain lineup is relatively unchanged – and that’s only if you count the current absence of a TDI model.
Like Apple, small changes make big waves for Volkswagen, and the 2016 Passat is no different. So much so, in fact, VW flew me to Vermont for some seat time. Twisty roads over mountains and through rock-strewn valleys dotted with farmlands provided the perfect setting for testing Germany’s latest take on an American sedan.
Continue reading for the full driven review
The reasons to be suspicious of the new Volkswagen Passat start right in the first sentence of the press release, where it is stated that the car was “designed for the American lifestyle.” This is troubling because, for many years, the most compelling reason to buy a Passat instead of a Honda Accord was that it offered a bit of German-ness for less than the cost of an Audi. A good chunk of that went away in 2012, when VW announced a U.S.-specific version of the car that came in at a much lower price point, but at the expense of the things that had made the car special.
The U.S. Passat has effectively been a different model from the one the rest of the world gets ever since then, a bit bigger and a bit cheaper. With the 2016 model, Volkswagen has made an effort to make the Passat more similar to the European B8 2015 Volkswagen Passat, which has been sold there for nearly a year at this point. This has largely been successful, and it will probably sell quite well, assuming that Volkswagen ever recovers from the Dieselgate scandal. Because as dull as it was, the previous generation of the Passat was a huge sales hit.
Updated 10/19/2015: Volkswagen announced full pricing details on the 2016 Passat which will be put on sale later this fall. Prices will range from $22,440 for the base version and up to $36,835 for the V6 SEL Premium one. The model will be produced at the company’s factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Continue reading to learn more about the 2016 Volkswagen Passat.
The Volkswagen Passat has occupied VW’s mid-sized sedan segment since 1973. In the 42 years since, the Passat has become one of the company’s go-to models, evolving through eight design generations and a handful of other names in various markets — Dasher, Santana, Quantum, Magotan, Corsar and Carat — to retain its place in the Volkswagen hierarchy. Until recently, the Passat was built exclusively as a sedan, but recent trends in the industry gave VW the opportunity to shed the Passat’s sedan skin to build other body types. One such model that was born out of this transformation is the Passat Alltrack, a high-riding, four-wheel-drive wagon that bridges the gap between the standard Passat Estate and an SUV like the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan.
The Passat Alltrack is in its second generation, and while it may look the part of a wagon, it functions like a true off-roader, thanks in large part to a raised ride height, permanent 4Motion all-wheel drive, and electronic differential lock. It also has a total of four engines: a turbocharged gas mill and three turbodiesels, all of which carry enough power to handle road conditions that standard wagons would have a hard time dealing with.
The Passat Alltrack is an interesting car that might command a following if Volkswagen makes it available in the U.S. Unfortunately, there are no plans for that, which is a shame considering that a vehicle like this could be a hit among American customers looking to hit two birds, or in this case, car types, with one stone.
Continue reading to learn more about the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack.
After a five-year break from drifting, Tanner Foust will return to the sport that jumpstarted his career, making his Formula D homecoming behind the wheel of this 2015 Passat. With a competition debut this weekend at the Long Beach Grand Prix, the four-door grocery-getter is extensively modified and purpose-built for sideways combat, including a conversion to RWD and a 900-horsepower V-8 transplant.
The two-time drift champion says he’s excited to be back in the smoke, especially with a car as insane as this particular VW: "One of the things I have always loved about drifting in the United States is how inventive you can get with the car builds. You can put a high-horsepower V-8 into a Volkswagen Passat to make something completely unique," Foust says in a press release. "You don’t see that in another series in the word."
The Passat, which Foust says was a similar build to his previous Scion drifter, is the latest from Tanner Foust Racing, also responsible for the RAUH-Welt Begriff Volkswagen Beetle that debuted at SEMA last year.
"At the heart of it, I’m an enthusiast," Foust said. "Having the chance to dream up something incredible and then work with a team to modify and build and make it real is incredibly rewarding."
Continue reading to learn more about the Volkswagen Passat Rockstar Energy Drink / Nitto Tire.
The last time Volkswagen attempted to sell a car larger than the Passat in the U.S., things didn’t go so well. Before it was axed on our shores after the 2006 model year, the Phaeton sold only 2,253 units. Now, according to the U.K.’s Car Magazine, Volkswagen is brainstorming a new model aimed at the growing large sedan markets in the U.S. and China. It will slot in between the Passat and Phaeton, which is still sold in several markets and is due to be replaced soon.
The new car will could be built on either Volkswagen’s modular MQB architecture or possibly Audi’s MLB architecture. It will have a more sleek and sporty look than either the Passat or Phaeton, with power and components to match, and will probably be available as a sedan or wagon.
Continue reading to learn more about the Volkswagen’s future Super-Passat.
The recent success of the Volkswagen Passat has a lot to do with its North American production, which allowed the sedan to become more competitive in price while also receiving a region-specific design that best caters to buyers. By moving vehicle assembly to Chattanooga, TN, VW was able to lower the price of the 2012 Passat by thousands of dollars over the outgoing 2010 model, and VW has even more value-laden plans in store for the 2015 model year.
Unlike its name suggests, the 2015 Volkswagen Passat Limited Edition is not actually a limited-production model. Instead, it simultaneously replaces both the Wolfsburg Edition and SE trims by bundling together a bunch of the Passat’s popular equipment, and it does so with a much lower starting price. The Passat S is still positioned below the Limited Edition as the entry-level trim level on the Passat 1.8T, while the SEL Premium continues to be the top trim for the Passat across the full range (1.8T, TDI and V-6).
Continue reading to learn more about the 2015 Volkswagen Passat Limited Edition.
Although we have to wait for it until 2016, the eighth-generation Volkswagen Passat is ready to hit the roads in Germany, with the Euro-spec version being launched back in July 2014. Redesigned inside and out and dressed in a more stylish suit, the Passat no longer seems like the dull-looking people’s car we got used to over the last few decades. The new Passat is gorgeous to look at, but what makes the eighth-gen vehicle a lot more special is that it is now available with a hybrid drivetrain. Revealed in September, the Passat GTE is the first PHEV to wear the famed badge and borrows its powertrain components from the Golf GTE.
We already know everything there is to know about the Passat GTE, except some of the technical details Volkswagen has yet to unveil of course, and all we have to do is wait for a couple more years to find this plug-in hybrid in U.S. dealerships. Meanwhile, the Passat GTE is slated to hit European street in 2015 in both civilian and police guises. Yes, you read that correct, this German hybrid has just signed up for a police career in Heligoland, an archipelago of islands located in the North Sea.
As you might have already guessed, this is only an initial trial for the Passat GTE as a patrol car, with its duties to be extended should it complete its task successfully in the small archipelago that’s home to roughly 1,100 people. While hiring hybrids for police duty isn’t exactly a premier, it is indeed a first for the Passat, who now joins the fleet of Golf GTE plug-ins the same community received in the summer of 2014. Check out the full details below.
Click past the jump to read more about the Volkswagen Passat GTE Police Car.
2015 - 2017 Volkswagen Passat GTE
It took the Volkswagen Passat about 40 years to become the vehicle we all know today. It all started when the Germans introduced the Dasher in the U.S. in 1974. Although named differently and equipped with some additional safety and emission-reducing features, the Dasher was the same as the Euro-spec Passat. The name was changed to Quantum in 1982, eight years before the Passat nameplate finally arrive in North America. 2014 brought the eighth-generation Passat in Europe, a vehicle that rides on the company’s new MQB platform and boasts a redesigned exterior and interior. Set to find its way Stateside in 2016, the new Passat also marks the introduction of a hybrid model, the first for the popular moniker.
Dubbed Passat GTE, the plug-in hybrid borrows the same powertrain launched with the Golf GTE, although output has been increased to cope with the increased curb weight of a midsize sedan and wagon. The bad news is the U.S. isn’t getting the GTE anytime soon, but the launch that’s set to take place at the 2014 Paris Motor Show is a good preview of what we’ll be getting in a few years.
Update 08-01-2016: Volkswagen has announced U.K. Pricing for the Volkswagen Passat GTE. Check out the Prices section below for all the details.
Click past the jump to read more about the Volkswagen Passat GTE.
The Volkswagen Passat has been around since 1973 under one of six other names. For 2015, the Passat finally entered its eighth generation for 2015, which is actually the sixth generation here in the U.S. The most important thing to come out of this generational shift is that is rides on the new MQB platform that is used in everything from the Audi A3 MK3 to the Volkswagen Golf, to the Volkswagen Tiguan. On the outside, the Passat got a more aggressive front end with narrower headlamps and grille, Audi-like taillights, a muscular rear fascia, and a lower stance. Inside, the Passat offers up plenty of premium quality without being too flashy or overbearing. A new Active Information Display replaces the old instrument cluster, and there is a rear-seat infotainment system. As a global car, the Passat is offered with a long list of gasoline and diesel engines, depending on the given market. Of all of this, the most important drivetrain news comes in the form of a new hybrid powertrain that combines a 154-horsepower engine and a 107-horsepower electric motor.
All told, the new Passat is a pretty big evolution from the previous generation. But, that evolution is exactly what Volkswagen needed to keep the Passat competitive with models like the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord, to name just a couple. With the premium-feeling interior and the reliability of German engineering, the new-generation Passat promises some pretty strong competition in its respective market. That said, there is still a lot about the new Passat that we haven’t talked about, so read about all the details in our full review below.
Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 Volkswagen Passat
The Volkswagen Passat may be one of the company’s most popular offerings in America, but, despite being slightly larger and cheaper than its rivals, the midsize sedan is far behind the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord in terms of sales.
Aware that in order to become the world’s biggest automaker by 2018 they have to be more than just a niche player in the U.S., the Germans are struggling to up the ante with new or refreshed products such as the 2015 Jetta. Vehicles aside, they’ve also appointed Michael Horn as the new CEO for Volkswagen of America.
As it usually happens, a change in leadership is set to cause some strategy adjustments, but it’s a bit too early to draw any conclusions. However, when Mr. Horn sat down for a chat with the folks over at Motor Trend in New York last week, he revealed that the Volkswagen Passat is in for a major refresh for the 2016 model year.
The executive, who has already seen some of the facelift’s developments, claims the 2016 Passat will represent "a big step" in the sedan’s recent history. Specifically, while referring to the newly-unveiled Jetta, he stressed that VW’s design team is taking things up a notch for a "very strong" end result.
Well, I do hope Mr. Horn knows what he’s talking about, because the Passat has been America’s boring midsize sedan for quite some time now. Maybe not exactly as dull as the Toyota Camry, but the Japanese came up with a much more attractive design for 2015.
Click past the jump to read more about the 2016 Volkswagen Passat.
It looks like the 2014 Passat Sport isnt’t be the only Passat making its way to the 2014 [Detroit Auto Show]. Alongside it, the German company will also present the Passat BlueMotion Concept, which shows that a car doesn’t necessarily need a hybrid powertrain to be fuel efficient.
The new Passat BlueMotion Concept is powered by a 1.4-liter TSI engine, dubbed the EA211. This petite powerplant makes use of direct fuel injection and turbocharging to pump out a tidy 150 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, and travel an estimated 42 miles on a single gallon of fuel.
To achieve this Prius-like fuel economy, the BlueMotion Concept is equipped with an Active Cylinder Management (ACM) technology that deactivates cylinders two and three under light loads, and a stop/start system that shuts off the engine when the car comes to a stop.
Click past the jump to read more about the Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion Concept.
Do you recall the Volkswagen Passat Performance Concept that we saw at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show? Well, it looks like Volkswagen decided to wait a year before giving it the concept a place in its production lineup.
Known as the Passat Sport in its production guise, this concept-turned-production model will be displayed at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show and will hit the market in early 2014. It will start at $27,295 with a manual transmission or $28,495 with a six-speed automatic transmission, and it will take a mid-level spot between the SE and SEL Premium trims.
The Passat Sport will take lots of design cues from the concept car, including the black roof, black mirror caps, sport seats, interior carbon trim and more.
The new addition to the Passat lineup will be powered by a 1.8-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers a total of 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque.
Click past the jump to read more about the 2014 Volkswagen Passat Sport.
Last time we caught the next-generation Volkswagen Passat out testing, all we saw was a mule. Today, however, it looks like Volkswagen took the real deal out for a testing session in Spain. As expected, the car wears tons of camouflage, but even it’s still easy to see that is will be completely revised.
The new Passat will be built on Volkswagen’s new MQB platform — also used for the new Golf — making it the biggest car on that platform. Despite being larger than the current generation, the next Passat will be about 140 to 220 pounds lighter and will get a family of four-cylinder, turbocharged diesel and gasoline engines to help increase fuel efficiency. Volkswagen also plans to work in a plug-in version of the next Passat.
The model will be offered either as sedan or wagon and with optional Haldex 4Motion all-wheel drive. It should arrive on the market sometime in late 2014.
Click past the jump to read more about the new Volkswagen Passat.
The Volkswagen Passat CC is quite the luxury car. It’s not quite in the level of a Mercedes or a BMW, but as far as receiving premium amenities are concerned, this German luxury sedan carries a lot of them.
But even with its good standing, you can’t deny that there’s still room for improvement.
That’s where FolienCenter-NRW enters the picture. The German tuner has made our pages before, most recently when they upgraded the Audi TT to impressive levels.
Well, the tuner’s follow up to that is no less impressive, even though the program was built specifically for a customer. We love the matte chocolate brown color that FolienCenter-NRW used on the Passat.
Plus, it’s got a pretty significant performance boost that’s impossible to just brush aside and ignore. Interior upgrades are also part of the program, which means that FolienCenter-NRW spared no expense in building a comprehensive program for the Passat CC.
Click past the jump to see what FolienCenter-NRW did to the Passat CC
Volkswagen has announced the launch of the new Passat Wolfsburg Edition. The special edition sedan will sit between the base S and mid-level SE in the model lineup.
This special edition looks to build on the company’s heritage, as Wolfsburg where all VW models ultimately hail from. When VW started making the original Type 1 (a.k.a. Bug) most cars came with the Wolfsburg Castle image on the car’s horn button.
The German automaker’s headquarters has been used in many past special editions and the cars that bear the Wolfsburg name usually give buyers a few upgrades over the base model and additional badging.
The new car is based on the S model trim, but includes a number of standard features to add some extra value to the pot, while keeping costs as low as possible. The Wolfsburg model is distinguished by special wheels and badging.
Hit the jump to read more about the Volkswagen Passat Wolfsburg Edition
The latest Passat in the U.S market is perceived as a less-expensive executive car with hardly any sporting character. However, VW thinks that the upcoming Passat Performance Concept to be unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show, will change that notion.
The subtle nature of the body kit that this “Performance Concept” wears may be a little misleading, as this is one timid-looking sedan that’s ready to run. The concept will feature 19-inch Luxor wheels, a new front bumper with honeycomb inserts, to go along with HID headlamps and LED tail lamps borrowed from the Chinese Passat.
Step inside and two-tone leather upholstery welcomes you along with, carbon-fiber-looking accent pieces and black headliner. We’re a little turned off by the faux carbon fiber, but we’ll deal with it or now.
The main highlight of this concept is the EA888 1.8-liter turbocharged four-pot engine that will most likely be used in the U.S.-spec Beetle, Jetta and Passat. This engine is already used in the Asian and European markets, and would theoretically replace the 2.5-liter in-line five-cylinder in the U.S.-spec models.
Though the number of the cylinders is fewer and the displacement is lower than the engine it would replace, this new four-cylinder produces 250-horsepower – an increase of 80 ponies from the 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine – and it’s more fuel efficient.
Since it is still just a concept, eager customers will have to wait for VW to officially announce the release of this model, which could be dubbed Passat R-Line.
Usually, a car like the Volkswagen Passat CC doesn’t enjoy much attention from us. However, when we are talking about a 502-horsepower version, things change significantly. This model has been specially developed by MR Car Design and boasts an incredible increase over the car’s standard 300 horsepower.
This package is based on the 3.6-liter V-6 version and adds an extensive HGP turbo kit and a custom exhaust system. This combination pumps the engine output from the standard 300 ponies and 258 pound-feet of torque to an amazing 502 horses and 516 pound-feet.
This special Passat CC has also been equipped with a DDC coil-over suspension system and a set of Ultraleggera wheels in the dimension of 8-by-18-inches wrapped up in 235/40R18 rubber. As you probably imagined the extra 202 horsepower also requires a new braking system and MR Car Design has obliged by installing a Stoptech ST-40 brake system with 355 x 32 mm (13.57- x 1.26-inch) discs.
Before the 2013 model year, the top trim level of the Passat in the UK was the SE trim, which was relatively decked out, but lacked some of the extras that most premium sedans came with. In 2013, VW plans to change that by offering up a replacement for the outgoing SE trim level, the Passat Highline. Not only does the “Highline” name sound more luxurious than “SE,” but it also boasts an array of standard features that the SE did not.
This new addition affects both the Passat Saloon and the Passat Estate, which are a sedan and wagon, respectively. This gives the Passat lineup three trim levels in each body style, starting with the base-level S, the mid-grade BlueMotion, and capping off with the Highline. The real test is whether the additions to the top-level trim on the Passat really warrant the price the VW will place on it.
Click past the jump to read the full list of features and more.
By almost all accounts, the Volkswagen Passat CC is a pretty sweet car despite the fact that there’s not a lot about it that actually stands out. So how can a Passat CC gain an extra edge in the eyes of the people?
You dress it up like this.
This is the Volkswagen Passat CC "S.W.A.T.," an aftermarket creation from KBR Motorsport, Cover EFX, SH CarCare, and CFX. The program has been christened as "S.W.A.T." not because it’s dressed like a ’Special Weapons And Tactics’ vehicle, because it’s actually an acronym from ’Special Wagons And Tuning,’ a joined tuning company comprised of the companies that were mentioned above.
Nevertheless, the special camouflage-themed matte foil wrap does add a bad-ass look to the Passat, even if it goes against the actual purpose of camouflaging since there’s no way this car can blend in on the streets. Apart from the ironic camouflage wrap, the program also comes with a lowered sport suspension with shortened coilovers, a new set of 21" alloy wheels, and an engine and exhaust system upgrade that improves the car’s output to 280 horsepower. That is a 72 HP jump from the standard 2.0L inline four engine.
All of that is pretty cool...but that camouflage wrap is just a little too tacky for our taste.
No, Volkswagen is not creating a lineup of cars dedicated to your favorite southern rock band, Credence Clearwater Revival. We "Heard it through the Grapevine" that VW is actually moving its sporty trim level, dubbed the R-Line, over to its current sports sedan, the CC. This new trim level is set to debut on June 1st at the Leipzig Auto Show in Germany.
This new addition to the CC lineup will give the CC a sixth trim level to accompany the Sport, Sport Plus, Lux, Lux V6, and VR6 4Motion. Though this model receives the R-line badges and sportier appearance, it does not have higher horsepower, like other R-line vehicles, so it won’t get you “Up Around The Bend” any faster than the top-level CC VR6.
So what can we really expect from this new CC R-line? Does this mean that there is a “Bad Moon Rising” for fellow sports sedans, like the Maxima or 3-Series?
UPDATE 10/18/12: Volkswagen has released the price for the CC R-Line. Want to know how much the model costs? Hop on over past the jump and find out.
Check out our complete review by clicking past the jump and find out if this new VW CC R-line is “Born To Move.”
Volkswagen Europe is offering a R-Line treatment to the new Passat facelift. The package will be offered for both sedan and station wagon versions and prices will start from 30,225 euro ($39,600 at the current exchange rates) while the optional R-Line Design Package adds an extra 990 euro (about $1,300).
The new R-Line package will be distinguished by a new front bumper with larger cooling air vents, a R-Line logo in the grille and integrated fog lamps. The rear will get a diffuser be painted in "Gloss Black" and an elegant roof spoiler in body color. The car will sit on a new set of 17" "Mallory" alloy wheels (optional 18-inch) combined with a dynamically tuned sports suspension that can lower the car’s ride by 15 mm.
The interior adds sports seats in "Kyalami" design, decorative inserts in "titanium silver" on the dashboard, door panels and center console for extra sportiness. There is also a leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel and stainless steel pedals.
The extra R-Line Design Package will include: rear and roof spoiler in body color, newly designed side sills and R-Line logo on the radiator grille.
In November 2011, Volkswagen displayed a concept called the Passat Alltrack at the Tokyo Motor Show with no plans of it coming to the U.S. In the auto industry, things tend to change quickly, as now Volkswagen has decided to display a concept car bearing just the Alltrack name at the 2012 New York Auto Show.
At this point, the Alltrack is strictly considered to be a concept, but it wouldn’t be completely outlandish to see it hit the market here soon, especially given the fact that VW no longer offers a wagon model in the U.S. The closest to a wagon that VW offers is the Tiguan, a crossover SUV, and the Routan, a minivan.
The Alltrack is reported to arrive with a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine that cranks out a respectable 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. Along with the TDI engine, the Alltrack will feature a six-speed, dual clutch automatic transmission and 4Motion AWD.
The Jetta Alltrack is a really good looking car, for a station wagon that is. The question that really arises is can a traditional station wagon not named “Volvo,” roam the streets of America anymore? Lately automakers are starting to move back into the wagon market, but most are “sport wagons,” including: Acura TSX Sport Wagon, Audi A3 Wagon, Cadillac CTS-V Wagon, and so on. Its most likely competition would be the BMW 3-Series Wagon and the upcoming Volvo V40.
The determining factor will be the response it gets at the auto show. If potential buyers start clamoring for it, you can expect VW to release it almost as quickly as they can produce them. We will continue to provide details on this potential new model, as VW releases them. One thing is for sure, we can all appreciate VW spelling “Track” the right way. Not “Trac,” “Trak,” “Trax,” or any other odd variation.
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Volkswagen will be coming to the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show (December 3rd-11th) with a very interesting version of their successful Passat. The new model is called the Passat Alltrack and is supposed to close the gap between the conventional Passat Estate and SUVs such as the Tiguan. Sales of the new model will begin in early 2012.
But what makes this new Alltrack version different from the Estate version? Well, it comes equipped with new bumpers in an SUV style – with wheel well and side sill flares. The car also offers a greater off-road ramp angle, approach angle, departure angle, and higher ground clearance.
The engine line-up will include two turbocharged direct injection petrol engines (TSI) and two turbodiesels. The petrol engines will deliver up to 210 HP and the most powerful ones will be equipped with standard 4MOTION all-wheel drive and a dual clutch transmission (DSG). In the diesel version, this option will offer a low combined fuel consumption of 41 mpg in the 140 HP version and 40 mpg in the 170 HP version.
UPDATE 02/21/12: Volkswagen has officially released a comprehensive photo gallery of the Passat Alltrack. On top of the photos, the gallery also has a visual instructional guide detailing and describing all the cool features in the vehicle. Check it out!
Volkswagen first unveiled the Passat CC (known simply as the CC in the USA and South Africa) in 2008 and since then, the company has managed to sell an impressive 270,000 units. Now, for the 2013 model year (2012 in Europe), the CC has received a technically and visually updated version to make it look and perform even better.
Changes for the 2013 model year include a new front and rear styling, and an extended range of standard equipment, including standard Bi-Xenon headlights with an Adaptive Front Lighting System and LED taillights. On the US market, the CC will be offered with a choice of 197 HP and 276 HP engines and with a manual six-speed gearbox. In Europe, the engine line-up will also include diesel versions.
The Volkswagen CC’s official debut will be made in November at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show and sales will begin in the Spring of 2012.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 Volkswagen CC.
UPDATE 01/17/2012: Fresh off of its unveiling at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show last November 2011, the Volkswagen Passat CC has fresh new photos and videos that VW just released. Check out the pics in the gallery and the videos by clicking on the photo above!
UPDATE 02/28/2012: Volkswagen has announced prices for the 2013 CC that will go on sale at US dealers this spring. Prices will range from $30,250 for the base 2.0T Sport to $41,420 for the VR6 4Motion Executive version.
The 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show will begin in about a month and we already have the first details on the models scheduled to be displayed. The first details come from Volkswagen who confirmed they will be coming with two new production vehicles — not concepts. Both will be global debuts, meaning they have not appeared at any other motor show.
Volkswagen hasn’t offered any other details on these two new models, but we are pretty sure that one of them will be the Convertible version of the new generation Beetle. The second production car can be one of two possibilities: the next generation Golf - very unlikely - or the facelift version of the Passat CC. Our bets on the Passat CC.
Whichever direction Volkswagen has chosen to go, we should have more details at the 2011 L.A. Auto Show during the media preview on November 16th and 17th.
That’s a Star Wars reference in case you haven’t noticed.
For a lot of people who don’t follow football, the Superbowl is as much about the commercials as it is about the game itself. So you can imagine the lengths - and costs - companies go to so that they’re visibly present in the single most anticipated sporting event in the US.
This year, Volkswagen is making sure that the American consumer will be introduced to the all-new Passat during the Big Game. And yes, even if it means using Star Wars’ "The Force" to get your attention.
In this ad, Li’l Darth Vader is trying to hone his skills in using the Force, albeit to no avail. He tries it on their dog, his sister’s doll, and even the washing machine. It wasn’t until his dad goes home with the new Volkswagen Passat where all his concentrations pay off...except that, unknowingly, he received a little help from pops himself.
Very cute commercial, Volkswagen. You certainly got our attention with this ad. Nice touch on the Star Wars reference too.
The European market has proven to be a moneymaking investment for the Volkswagen Passat, but in the U.S., the sedan has not seen impressive sales numbers. This could very well be the reason Volkswagen has unveiled the 2012 Passat at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show just after revealing their 2011MY sedan just a few months ago at the Paris Auto Show. Known as the NMS until just recently, the 2012 Passat will go on sale in mid-August, and is rumored to be priced under $20K.
US customers will get to choose from three equipment lines - S, SE, and SEL - and three different engine options. These options consist of two gasoline engines and one diesel, with power ranging from 140 to 280 HP. All of them will be offered with a standard dual clutch transmission (DSG). Volkswagen has announced that, with the new Passat, the diesel engine will be able to deliver an impressive 43 mpg.
Hit the jump to read more about the U.S.’s 2012 Volkswagen Passat.
It may not be the type of record that gets us all out of our seats, but it’s still a record worth mentioning, especially for those that gets their thrills on the exciting world of fuel efficiency.
A Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion set the Guinness World Record for the longest distance traveled by an unmodified production vehicle carrying a single tank of gas. The record, which was set by fellow scribe Gavin Conway of the Sunday Times, covered a distance of 1,526.63 miles while carrying 77.25 liters – about 20.41 gallons – of gas.
To verify the authenticity of the record-breaking attempt, Conway, together with his navigator and video crew, was accompanied by a pair of Automobile Association patrolmen for the entire duration of the trip. Speaking of the car’s fuel efficiency, the Passat ran at an average of 45 mph while consuming 74.88 US mpg or 3.4 liters/100km, breaking its previous combined average of 53.46 US mpg or 4.40 liter/100km.
Those numbers aren’t exactly the type of figures that gets us all geeked up, but hey, a record is a record. And so, we tip our hats off to Mr. Conway and the Volkswagen Passat Bluemotion for their record-breaking performance.
The seventh generation Volkswagen Passat, in both sedan and station wagon version, made its world debut at the Paris Auto Show. With a design language inspired by theVolkswagen New Compact Coupe concept, the new Passat will go on sale in early 2011.
The new design is defined by a new grille element with prominent horizontal chrome fins, heavily contoured headlight units with LED running lights, a set of distinctive tail lights and a subtle chrome highlights. The interior gets new seats, a revised dashboard with new dials, trim finishes and an analogue clock and subtle chrome inserts.
Under the hood Volkswagen will offer both petrol and diesel engines. The petrol line-up includes: a 1.4-liter TSI engine developing 122 HP, a 1.8-liter TSI unit with 160 HP, a 2.0-liter TSI 210 HP engine and a 3.6-liter V6 producing 300 HP. Diesel line-up includes: a 1.6-liter TDI units offered in two versions 105 HP and a 2.0-liter TDI engine offered in two power outputs – 140 HP and 170 HP. Each of this engine will be coupled to a choice of manual or DSG gearboxes.
Press release after the jump.
For those of you who have been waiting for the facelifted 2011 Volkswagen Passat to be unveiled, you’ll be happy to know that the Paris Motor Show organizers have confirmed the car’s attendance at this year’s event.
Even better, Volkswagen is bringing a sedan and an estate version of the Passat, which should bode even better for those who have been pining to see the re-tooled version of the car for a quite some time now.
While we haven’t seen the new Passat in all its glory, we’re expecting to see a wholesale of changes on the model, including some modifications to the front and rear end, a new hood grille, and redesigned front and tail lights that should give the facelifted Passat a refreshed aesthetic appeal. In addition to the exterior upgrades, the new Passat model will also undergo an interior metamorphosis that includes a newly installed navigation system.
We expect more information from Volkswagen and the new Passat on the days leading up to the Paris Motor Show so until then, sit tight, kids, we’ll send along new developments as soon as they come out.
Not many people have bought the Volkswagen Eos and it’s easy to see why. Even Volkswagen didn’t like it. For 2011, the Eos will get a little makeover, but even that won’t save it in the long term.
For 2015, the Passat Cabriolet will be replacing the Eos. The open top Passat is the only variant of the car that will make it to the United States. VW has decided to drop the sedan from its lineup. In its place will be a revamped CC and this Cabriolet. To close the gap between the CC and the upcoming Phaeton, VW will be revamping them both. The luxury Phaeton will be moving down in the world, while the CC and the Cabriolet will be heading up.
The Passat Cabriolet will be taking a few of the toys that are found on its sister, the Audi A5. These include a power-operated soft top with a heated rear window, a pop up roll bar, and optional neck warmers. According to Automobile, the Passat will be a genuine four-seater with room in the back for your kids and space in the trunk for luggage.
The current suspension setup will likely make its way into the new Cabriolet, albeit in a slightly modified form. Under the hood will be a turbocharged four-cylinder that will put out 250 horsepower and a 2.0-liter diesel that is rated at 220 horsepower. Both engines will use front-wheel drive.
Don’t expect to see the drop-top Passat anytime soon. The sedan won’t be here until 2014, so the Cabriolet might be here around 2015.
Only on slow automotive news Mondays would a rumor like this matter. It might also be the fact that it’s summer and the automotive industry has slowed a bit. Either way, Autocar has generated some interesting news. The UK based magazine is reporting that Volkswagen is debating on producing a wagon version of the CC four-door coupe.
According to Autocar, an unnamed source within the German company leaked plans for a CC wagon and the board will vote on it later this month. Why build another wagon? Well, Autocar believes that the Passat is on its way out in the United States and the next generation won’t be available in a wagon trim. So, VW is supposedly looking for something to fill the void.
Of course, we are skeptical, but one never knows. With no real competition in the segment, VW might have a winner.
Volkswagen has decided to add a couple of packages this past year to keep the interest in the Passat CC at a reasonable level for VW standards. Towards the end of last year, they came out with the R-line package for the Passat CC and this year they are coming at us again with another package. The new Volkswagen Exclusive options package is now available from 35,225 € ($42,100 US) in Germany. This special model can be combined with all engine variants of the Passat CC.
The Exclusive package comes with two-tone leather upholstery for the six-way electrically adjustable comfort seats - "Nougat" combined with black Nappa leather. There are also illuminated door entry strips, ambient lighting, an extended chrome package, "Black Piano" lacquer trim, and other identifying features of the Passat CC Exclusive.
For the exterior Volkswagen is offering the "Moonlight blue pearl effect" paint which is reserved for only the Exclusive models. There is also a set of 18-inch alloy wheels in a black color version.
According to the German magazine Autobild, this is not a Photoshop version of the Passat, but the actual first image of the next Volkswagen Passat that will go on sale this fall.
The new Passat gets a curved front with a refining of the front end that freshens up the traditional brand face. It sits a little wider than the current model and gets the first set of LED daytime running lights that are similar to the ones found on the Touareg. This model follows along the same design lines as the newly renovated luxury Phaeton model and the similarities are evident in this first image.
Under the hood there will be a wide range of engines, starting with a 105 HP 1.2 liters engine and going to up to 300 HP 3.6-liter V-6.
The new Passat is said to have a lifespan taking it into 2014, but then the mid-size sedan will be replaced with a completely new model yet to be determined.
Stay tuned for more details!
We’ve heard about the next generation Passat for a couple of years now. We have even seen a rendering of this Passat back in 2008. Now, at the Paris Auto Show, Volkswagen will finally unveil new generation Passat with a fresh new look and a restyled cabin.
Volkswagen styling director Walter de Silva said when talking about the new Passat: "We have been accused of visual sameness. But to understand our strategy, you need to look at the big picture. First of all, we must create a truly sustainable common form language for all VW models. Once the customers have taken in the new identity, we can start to differentiate slowly and very carefully. Consider for example the redefined family face, the implementation of which will be complete early next year. It defines the brand, and it must in essence remain about as consistent and classy as the design philosophy pursued by Apple. What makes all the difference is how the sculpture, the surfaces and the detailing relay exactly the right mix of style and substance."
The new Passat will feature bolder air intakes, a more angular grille, slimmer mirrors and parallel double streaks along the cleaned up flanks. Under the hood there will be a wide range of engines, starting with a 105 HP 1.2 liters engine and going to up to 300 HP 3.6-liter V-6.
This new Passat will live on until its eventual demise in 2014 when it will be replaced by an entirely new model. The Passat name will live on as the Passat CC and the Passat cabriolet continue their ride.
Exactly one month ago, we brought some interesting information about an Audi TTS that was planning on making the Pike Peaks International Hill Climb without a driver sitting in the driver’s seat. That technology was brought forth by the masterminds over at Stanford University who have spent a lot of time working on the automobiles of the future. This technology is rapidly approaching reality and eventually there will be no need for drivers at all. Case in point is the Volkswagen Passat by the name of Junior. The VW was wired up before the Audi TTS (Shelley) was born and has even placed second in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) 2007 Urban Challenge, a race in which an autonomous car must navigate city streets, obey traffic laws, avoid obstructions, and, crucially, drive well among other cars in traffic. The video shown here illustrates Junior’s capabilities as they were back in 2007 when it was attempting to qualify for the Urban Challenge. The folks over at Stanford University came across some problems with Junior, but in the video shown after the jump, the solution to these problems is explained.
Volkswagen has just announced that they are now taking orders for their premium full size sports inspired Passat CC R-Line for a 2,200 Euro premium when combined with the Passat CC 2.0 TDI version. The R-Line package includes more aggressive exterior bodywork including a deeper front spoiler and side skirts, R-Line logos and smoked rear lights out back. Rounding out the R-Line design are a set of 17 inch "Mallory" alloy wheels, with 18 inch R-Line rollers available as an option. Upgrading the Comfort Coupe’s luxurious interior, Volkswagen has added a host of customized aluminum kick plates complete with engraved R-Line Logo as well as a sports inspired three spoke leather trimmed multifunction steering wheel. With the new Passat CC R-Line, VW is taking their most stylish full size car to date and injects a healthy helping of fun, giving the CC a whole new attitude.
Press release after the jump.
Yesterday, we talked about a group of scientists from Stanford’s Volkswagen Automotive Innovation Laboratory that have been working on an robotic Audi TTS and their ambitious attempt at running the fully automated vehicle at the Pikes Peak climb.
It turns out that the Audi TTS isn’t the only car these geniuses have been working on. In addition to the Audi TTS, the scientists also have a standard-looking VW Passat in tow, and while it looks unspectacular, to say the least, the Passat also comes with the some highly-advanced computer gear in the trunk that allows the car to park itself without any manual assistance.
Amazing as it sounds, the technology does have a few catches of its own. For the technology to show off its true worth, the car needs to have a layout of the area where it’s parking and, in addition to that, the computers inside the Passat have no means of detecting outside forces that may obstruct the car from parking on its own.
Nevertheless, a car that parks by itself is still something none of us have in our garages and it’s worth noting that in the event the technology goes mainstream in the future, you should know that the whole genius of an idea was made to fruition by these guys over a Stanford.
The German automotive conglomerate’s personalization line, Volkswagen Individual, has just revealed the new R-Line package for the new Golf, Scirocco and Passat CC at the Frankfurt Motor Show, all three of which will go on sale later on this Fall.
The sixth generation Golf is upgraded with a set of stylish 17 inch alloy wheels and a sport suspension to make it handle better as well as a set of body colored side skirts and a pair of aggressively redesigned set of bumpers inspired by the new Golf R. Down force is improved with a new rear diffuser integrated into the back bumper and a roof spoiler to finish off the top of the hatch while on the inside a pair of decorative door tread plates wears the R-Line logo. Volkswagen’s newest hot hatch, the Scirocco, benefits from both interior and exterior upgrades as well. The new Scirocco R-Line follows a similar diet as the Golf R-Line, except that the Scirocco’s modifications are based more on improving the vehicle’s appearance as opposed to swapping out the mechanicals underneath.
For the more luxurious end of the Volkswagen R-Line, the Passat CC gets a set of 18 inch wheels, a freshly redesigned front spoiler and lower hanging side skirts to complete the ground effects package, while the interior is upgraded with four special edition kick plates and a leather wrapped multifunction three spoke steering wheel finished off with the R-Line logo.
Press release after the jump.