Radical New Passat Eyes Executive Class

Pushing for the posh - that's Volkswagen's plan for the all-new Passat. Exclusive images in the current issue of Auto Express magazine clearly reveal how the Passat is aiming at the more prestige end of the market when it hits UK showrooms next summer.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Craig Cheetham

09th June 2004

The front of the car draws heavily on the Concept C coup΃©-cabriolet, which will itself be joining the VW line-up before the end of 2005. It features angular headlamps with a central round pod, while the grille dips into the front bumper in the style of the new Golf.

At the rear, the Passat echoes the look of the Phaeton luxury saloon, a deliberate move to give it an upmarket air. It will initially be offered as a four-door saloon only, although an estate will appear later. There are no plans to introduce a five-door hatch, despite such models accounting for more than two-thirds of fleet sector sales in the UK.

An Audi Allroad-style four-wheel-drive lifestyle load-lugger will appear in 2006, using VW's 4Motion transmission. Externally, the newcomer will be much bigger than the current Passat, with a wheelbase which is 50mm longer, while the rear overhang will also be increased to create additional luggage space. Boot capacity goes up from the current-generation vehicle's 475 litres to approximately 485 litres, giving the new-
comer class-leading carrying ability.

Inside, the Passat will be more spacious than the model it replaces, too, with extra leg and shoulder room. A 70-litre fuel tank replaces the existing 62-litre item, and provides an improved range of between 50 and 120 miles, depending on the model.

Along with the new look, the next-generation Passat will come with an engine line-up comprising all the German company's most advanced powerplants. That means both normally aspirated and turbocharged versions of the 2.0-litre FSI unit found in the Golf, as well as several variants of the firm's frugal 2.0-litre TDI oil-burner.

A 1.6-litre FSI entry-level petrol version is to be introduced, along with a 105bhp diesel using the existing 1.9 TDI PD unit. Flagship models are likely to retain the current range-topper's W8 petrol powerplant, with four-wheel drive for maximum traction. A 3.2-litre V6 is also in the pipeline and is expected to revive the established VR6 name.

All models will be offered with a six-speed manual gearbox, including the entry-level 1.6 petrol and 1.9 diesel variants. Further up the range, the 2.0 FSI, 3.2 FSI and 2.0 TDI versions will come with the DSG sequential transmission as an optional extra, while no conventional automatic gearboxes will be available.

Expect to see the Passat at the Geneva Motor Show next March, as part of a product explosion from VW. A Golf-based MPV, the Concept C drop-top, Lupo replacement and Bora are also scheduled for a debut during 2005.