Preview: 2011 Volkswagen Passat

Posted Wed Jul 16 2008 9:01 AM by Siddharth Raja

Volkswagen has confirmed that a new sedan, slightly bigger than the Passat, will be manufactured at its future Tennessee plant and will be on sale in the U.S. in time for the 2011 model year. This new car won’t replace the Passat. Instead, VW will launch its next-generation Passat, as previewed in these latest renderings, only 12 months after.

Due in early 2011, the new Passat will adopt similar styling to the recently launched CC including the sleek headlights and contoured body. The new model is also expected to grow in size, getting closer to cars like the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E-Class in terms of interior space.

The car’s running gear will be based on the new modular platform design spawning the Audi A4 to A8 line of cars, but a range of unique engines will be offered. The new lineup will be dominated by VW’s next-generation of compact engines, starting with a 1.2L TSI with 105hp (80kW) followed by a similarly powered 1.6L TDI. V6 engines will still be available and will include a 260hp (194kW) 3.2L V6 and a 300hp (224kW) 3.6L unit reserved for the R36.

In 2012 Volkswagen will launch the wagon model and this could also be the year that the new R36 model joins the lineup.

In the U.S. the new Passat will be positioned higher than the current model. While the Tennessee plant’s new midsize sedan will be targeted at cars like the Chevrolet Malibu and Honda Accord, the new Passat will be aimed at more premium marques.

Gallery: Next generation VW Passat

Reader Comments

Wed Jul 16 2008 10:53 AM
Andrey says

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
Wed Jul 16 2008 11:46 AM
Dane says

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

also.... Get rid of the stupid 'Rabbit' name... What yahoo marketing idiot thought that was cool?????
Wed Jul 16 2008 2:58 PM
james says

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)
Wed Jul 16 2008 2:59 PM
james says

on second thought, they aren't that bad, i take it back
Wed Jul 16 2008 3:09 PM
S.H. says

IT'S ALREADY ON THE STREETS HERE IN ROMANIA!
Wed Jul 16 2008 7:40 PM
HECTOR says

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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