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More details on Volkswagen’s next-generation Passat

 
32 289,185 views Mar 25, 2009

2012 volkswagen passat preview rendering 002

New Passat will be positioned more upmarket in order to compete with the likes of BMW’s 3-Series and the Audi A4

New Passat will be positioned more upmarket in order to compete with the likes of BMW’s 3-Series and the Audi A4

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Volkswagen's next-generation Passat is expected to up the stakes against Germany’s luxury carmakers, with the car’s designers hoping it will be mentioned in the same breath as the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes Benz C-Class and Audi A4.

Under the hood, a replacement for the VR6 engine will be in place, putting out close to 300hp (224kW) from a displacement of 3.0L. To improve mileage and maintain power, the new engine will also be using direct injection, while the rest of the powertrain lineup is expected to benefit from some form of forced induction as well. Other models will include a new hybrid as well as a high-performance diesel with AWD.

To give the Passat some much needed panache, VW will be pulling out all the stops to make the next-generation a technological showcase, with features that should have the traditional German manufacturers feeling a little worried.

Expected to debut in late 2011 as a 2012 model, the next-generation Passat is tipped to feature a host of new technologies, including airless tires, a wiperless window cleaning system, and an advanced user interface. There may also be an electronic stability system with a feature that automatically offers counter-steering assistance in adverse driving conditions.

One year after the launch of the Passat sedan will be the station wagon. This will be followed closely by a new high-performance model to replace the current R36.
Next generation VW Passat

HI-RES GALLERY: 2012 volkswagen passat preview rendering 002




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Comments (32)

  1. By Andrey Posted: 7/16/2008 10:53am PDT

    it sure does look pretty good and with such a wide range of engines i'm sure VW will be laughin all the way to the bank
     
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  2. By Dane Posted: 7/16/2008 11:46am PDT

    how about a Polo???? or the likes....

    also.... Get rid of the stupid 'Rabbit' name... What yahoo marketing idiot thought that was cool?????
     
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  3. By james Posted: 7/16/2008 2:58pm PDT

    those headlights are very cool but i think that this car would be even better with a more radical styling option on the air intake dams. to me, that usually decides the mood of the car (whether it be boring or sporty)
     
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  4. By james Posted: 7/16/2008 2:59pm PDT

    on second thought, they aren't that bad, i take it back
     
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  5. By S.H. Posted: 7/16/2008 3:09pm PDT

    IT'S ALREADY ON THE STREETS HERE IN ROMANIA!
     
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  6. By HECTOR Posted: 7/16/2008 7:40pm PDT

    Is that really the best they can do with the design? Why must the Passat get more boring with each passing generation?
     
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  7. ma_LandroverCrazy avatar LandroverCrazy Posted: 12/17/2008 7:38am PST

    Hector said it best :)
     
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  8. ma_james avatar James Martinez Posted: 12/17/2008 11:55am PST

    snoresville...
     
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  9. ma_iluvamericancarz avatar iluvamericancarz Posted: 12/17/2008 1:12pm PST

    they are gettin rid of the rabbit name. i thought vw wanted to make an ultimate midsize sedan that would compete edge to edge with the camry and sonata. they also wanted to replace the passat name
     
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  10. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 12/17/2008 2:44pm PST

    I want to try the eight speed DSG
     
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  11. ma_HECTOR avatar HECTOR Posted: 12/18/2008 3:31am PST

    Also, every time that I hear *this or that VW is being positioned more upmarket to compete with BWM and Audi* I cringe.

    Counterproductive: VW already owns Audi. It's sort of like Toyota owning Lexus and trying to compete with it.

    Counterintuitive: The Passat competes with the 3 series like I compete with Brad Pitt (not at all)

    So instead of making good quality cars that are affordably priced they make expensive crapmobiles in Mexico that break down all the time (My boss has a Passat and I've given him 3 rides to the dealership in one year).

    It's a weird marketing ploy but.... whatever...
     
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  12. ma_iluvamericancarz avatar iluvamericancarz Posted: 12/25/2008 8:56am PST

    This car is not on sale anywhere. This is just the current car with a different front fascia.
    not impressive Motorauthority.
     
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  13. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 2/10/2009 3:56pm PST

    "New Passat will be positioned more upmarket in order to compete with the likes of BMW’s 3-Series and the Audi A4" VW wants to compete with the Audi A4? I am confused since they have the same owners, but whatever makes them happy, and good luck trying to knock off the 3 series.
     
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  14. ma_NaBUru38 avatar NaBUru38 Posted: 2/10/2009 5:07pm PST

    That upmarket talk is one of the oldest lies one can hear from a mainstream carmaker. The Passat will be bigger, roomier, cheaper and less powerful than the A4/C-Class/3-Series trio as usual. Trivial proof: the Passat must be uglier, less upmarket and roomier than the Passat CC or however it's called. The same applies for the Passat CC in comparison to the German compact exec trio. Apply transitive, q.e.d.

    The frond headlights from the rendering look stolen from the Civic, and the hood looks too flat for EuroNCAP. I believe that the Passat will look rounder than this.
     
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  15. ma_gazzed avatar gazzed Posted: 3/25/2009 11:28pm PDT

    Very nice aggressive stance and so much better looking than any of the new Mercs and BMW's.
     
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  16. ma_NC2010 avatar NC2010 Posted: 3/26/2009 4:57am PDT

    Always confused by those who think VW should not have model and feature offerings in the upper spec/price ranges. Why should their model line be restricted? Unfortunately, the VW product management for the USA market seem confused too. They have started stripping out most of the premium options from the USA product, and restricting availability of colors and features available in most other markets. The USA GTI (and 2008 R32) are available with only one interior color choice, for example! What's next, VW's sold at Wal*Mart?






    1
     
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  17. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 3/26/2009 7:17am PDT

    Always confused by those who think VW should not have model and feature offerings in the upper spec/price ranges. Why should their model line be restricted? Unfortunately, the VW product management for the USA market seem confused too. They have started stripping out most of the premium options from the USA product, and restricting availability of colors and features available in most other markets. The USA GTI (and 2008 R32) are available with only one interior color choice, for example! What's next, VW's sold at Wal*Mart
    1

    Maybe because VW has Lambo, Porsche, Bugatti, and Audi to do upscale and high powered exotics
     
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  18. ma_PAJ avatar PAJ Posted: 3/26/2009 7:40am PDT

    Does VW hate the Audi division or something? I've never seen a company so hell bent on cannibalizing its most profitable division. Makes no sense.

    In the U.S., VW should focus its brands on Toyota, Honda, Chevy, Ford, Nissan all of which out sell VW by huge amounts.
     
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  19. ma_Mike avatar Mike Posted: 3/26/2009 7:49am PDT

    I still don't see the point of having the regular Passat and the Passat CC; the CC is such a better looking car, and doesn't it already fill the "upmarket midsize sedan" niche for VW?
     
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  20. ma_NaBUru38 avatar NaBUru38 Posted: 3/26/2009 10:39am PDT

    Mike, the plus side of the regular Passat is its rear seat room. I've read that the Passat CC's one is terrible, just like what happens with the E-Class and CLS-Class. And the Passat CC couldn't be offered with a wagon bodystyle.
     
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  21. ma_NC2010 avatar NC2010 Posted: 3/26/2009 11:22am PDT

    Maybe because VW has Lambo, Porsche, Bugatti, and Audi to do upscale and high powered exotics

    I have owned a number of Audi, have a new A3 in the family, and dearly love my 911, but, quite frankly, when it comes to the look and the feel of a car I want to drive every day and draws a smile as I walk up to it, it's my 10 year old GTI-GLX. The Audi A3 has everything I want in a car, but the appearance and the stance. The 4 door Mk5 or Mk6 GTI just blows it away.
     
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  22. ma_GNAGEL avatar GNAGEL Posted: 3/27/2009 12:41pm PDT

    An audi with Volkswagen looks and opel rims. Funny
     
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  23. By Kelly Van Rijn Posted: 10/2/2009 6:42pm PDT

    Upmarket? Please. This Passat, like all VWs, will probably spend more time in a dealer's service bay than your garage. I know, I was stupid enough to own two VWs- a Passat and a Golf. Never again.
     
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  24. By yateesh Posted: 1/12/2010 5:12am PST

    it looks much like the 2010 chevvy camaro!
    why do you guys dislike passat? its one of the peppiest diesels i've ever driven. the car is very stable and handles like magic bullet
     
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  25. By Chris Posted: 3/19/2010 8:55pm PDT

    I love my 2008 Passat. Same room as 5 series BMW. Jetta has more room and comfort than 3 series BMW. My 2.0T goes o-60 in 6.7 Sec and with the 18.5 gallon fuel tank and 35mph on the highway it stops for fuel less than any BMW! I'm 6'1" tall with seat all the way back and can fit an adult the same height behind me without moving my seat ( cant do that in a BMW unless you spend over 40K on 5 series. Sorry BMW but you need to build bigger cars and maybe make a FWD because I don't want to spend premium for xi models. My Passat runs circles around and 3 Series! This new Passat or whatever they want to call it isn't cookie cutter styling like all the Jap or Korean cars. Look at how Toyota is now in trouble with hiding all their problems the engineers told them they had. Camry roofs also collapse when they end up on their roofs in an accident. Granted that Hyundai may kick everyone's butt with their affordable cars with crazy long warranties. Japanese cars are boring to drive and they all look alike. Honda's will run forever but their cars rust to pieces. Basically I feel that I got more car than a 3 series BMW for $10,000 less! A tow truck driver told me that BMW's see more flatbed trucks than any brand. Don't count out VW for reliability since they redid most of their cars in 2006...the other brands they own have been pillaged (Audi,Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley and Bugatti...) for their technology and lots of it has been incorporated into the VW brand!
     
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  26. By Paul Posted: 4/26/2010 2:16pm PDT

    I used to have a 06 Passat sport. When it came to change I test drove a Audi A4 SE and was so dissapointed... Unless you buy a S-line you get handling no where near as good as the Passat. Many of my collegues have rejected A4 for the same. My Passat was a joy to drive and looked great, totally reliable too. The A4 however is premium in other ways, take a look under the bonnet. The A4 has additional bulk head, and better sound proofing. They are different and compete in different markets. VW and Audi love all this discussion just what they want, think about it.... They're not doing such a bad job.
     
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  27. By gearhead Posted: 6/8/2010 7:09am PDT

    It looks good. VW has made a big turnaround in reliability and I hope the upcoming model helps it even more.
     
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  28. By bradster Posted: 6/15/2010 5:48pm PDT

    I think VWs are great cars. I have owned a Jetta and a Touareg. But for those who are comparing a VW to a BMW is laughable. There are two totally different vehicles. I am on my 3rd BMW (two 5 series and one 7 series) I have driven the 3 series several times for days straight. The 3 series is the BEST car in its segment and well worth the money. For the price, the VWs are excellent vehicles. BMWs are in a different league.
     
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  29. By neil Posted: 7/22/2010 5:47pm PDT

    that 3.0 liter is most likely the same one found in the 2010 audi A6! even the horsepower is the same! i just noticed the 2011 jetta's front end looks like a '99 passat's front end! thats funny!
     
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  30. By Dee Posted: 12/30/2010 7:36am PST

    I think the Passat was really better than Accord or Camry (but not really intended to beat the 3series or A4). I drove them all and felt it fell above base manufactured brands and shy of their relative luxury models. (I think that is a great niche and they should take advantage of that image.)
     
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  31. By EastTenn Posted: 1/10/2011 5:41am PST

    And you guys thought the concept Passat was boring. They just unveiled the real thing here in Chattanooga; it's just ugly. It's a large Jetta, and that's it. Huge disappointment.
     
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  32. By Kelly Van Rijn Posted: 3/9/2011 5:48pm PST

    I agree with EastTenn. The Passat made for the US is a dumbed down version on the Euro Passat, and even uglier. If you check out the US Passat, especially the rear pillar, you could swear you were looking at at 15 year old Ford Taurus. Way to go VW. Last year you sold something like 20,000 Passats to Toyota's 320,000+ Camrys. While the Camry is also boring, at least it is rock solid dependable!
     
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