2011 Volkswagen Passat US has been unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show. The vehicle will be built in an all-new factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and designed specifically for the North American market.
The new Mid-size Sedan combines efficiency, comfort and value – the starting price is $20 000.
However, the US version is very different from the EU. (more…)
Volkswagen released a new model of the one of the bestselling cars in the world – Volkswagen Passat. There are more than 15 million units sold and this is the seventh generation since 1973. Because of that, Volkswagen consider that they don’t have to offer something better than the previous model.
Lets begin with the exterior… Yes, they did it! The company actually made Passat to look like Jetta at the front and the rear is exact copy of Audi A4. The last nail in the coffin of the Passat’s bad exterior are the LED daylights, which are directly taken from Touareg. The whole vision is a little bland compared to the predecessor.
As far as the Variant version, it is even worse than the Saloon. There is no sporty stance and the windows are too big, it looks like aquarium. However, the reason for the bad look is inside, there is plenty of space for passengers and luggage, but that is not an excuse.
As a conclusion for the exterior, the new Passat is boring, it doesn’t offer the aggressiveness of the predecessor and some details are very annoying like the chrome lower grille.
The interior is exactly the same like the one in Passat CC, which is a bad news. The only different element is the steering wheel, which looks comfy, but that is the only „innovation”. The company releases a new model and offers the same interior. Volkswagen claims that they put a new high-end materials in the interior. Honestly, we dont see them. The company also reports that there are new seats, new door trims and ambience lighting. Maybe the last one is true, but the seats are the same and the new door trims are probably an option. And as we are talking about the option list, it is enormous, because the standard equipment is not as rich as it has to be.
The safety features are at high level and the car attained 5 stars in Euro-NCAP crash testing. Of course, if you order the base version, you’ll have to pay a bit more for your security and to order horizontally adjustable head restraints on the front seats. At least, the 6 airbags come as standard.
The engines are really good, but we can’t see a hybrid version of the new Passat. Everybody else makes hybrids and electrical cars, but Volkswagen’s large family car doesn’t offers such model. Instead of that, they bet on low powered diesel engines with Stop/Start system to achieve less fuel consumption. The 1.6TDI with 105PS, which is as fast as a dead cow, achieved 4.2 l/100km and 109 g/km of CO2. The Passat BlueTDI comes with 140PS and 4.6 l/100 km. The petrol variant 1.4TSI with 122PS is very pleasant to drive, because of its elasticity and low fuel consumption – just 5.9 l/100km.
2011 Passat is not a bad car, but Volkswagen have to try a bit harder, because the other companies offer even better cars at lower price. For example Ford Mondeo has a great interior and exterior and costs just around 17 000 pounds. The other competitors are also very good – Mazda 6, Renault Laguna, Toyota Avensis and Opel Insignia. So, if you consider a deal for 2011 Volkswagen Passat, you have to choose very carefully.
2011 Volkswagen Passat
Assistance and driving dynamics systems: DCC adaptive chassis control, ACC adaptive cruise control, Easy Open, Front Assist with city emergency braking function, Dynamic Light Assist, Keyless Access, Lane Assist, Light Assist, fatigue detection, Park Assist, Park Pilot with visual display, Rear Assist rearview camera, Side Assist, traffic sign detection
Automatic gearbox: 6-speed DSG, 7-speed DSG
Cargo capacity, Estate: 603 litres to 1,731 litres
Cargo capacity, saloon: 565 litres
Character: Long-distance touring car for business and private use
Colours: Uni (standard): “Candy White,” “Uran Grey.” Uni (optional): “Tornado Red.” Metallic (optional): “Cashmere Brown,” “Night Blue,” “Reflex Silver.” Pearl effect (optional): “Deep Black,” “Iceland Grey,” “Mocca Anthracite.” Standard colours for Passat BlueMotion, 77 kW: “Glacier Blue,” “Iron Grey”
Design: Walter de Silva (Group), Klaus Bischoff (Brand)
Dimensions, Estate: 4,771 mm length, 2,062 mm width (including mirror), 1,481 mm height, 2,712 mm wheelbase
Dimensions, Saloon: 4,769 mm length, 2,062 mm width (including mirrors), 1,472 mm height, 2,712 mm wheelbase
Drive type: Standard front-wheel drive,
optional all-wheel drive (4MOTION)
Engines – diesel: Launching with 77 kW / 105 PS (TDI), 103 kW / 140 PS (TDI), 125 kW / 170 PS (TDI)
Engines – petrol / natural gas (EcoFuel): Launching with
90 kW / 122 PS (TSI), 110 kW / 150 PS (TSI EcoFuel),
118 kW / 160 PS (TSI), 155 kW / 211 PS (TSI)
Equipment lines: Trendline, Comfortline, Highline
Fuel economy range: 4.2 l/100 km to 9.3 l/100 km
Infotainment: Radio-CD systems: RCD 210, RCD 310, RCD 510. Radio-navigation systems: RNS 315 and RNS 510 (optional TV module). Peripherals: MEDIA-IN port, AUX-IN port, Dynaudio sound system (600 Watt), Volkswagen Sound system (300 Watt), hands-free telephone
Market launch, Europe: End of November 2010
Market launch, Germany: Mid-November 2010
Passats produced to date: over 15 million
Production sites: Emden and Zwickau, Germany
Running gear: MacPherson-type suspension in front, four-link suspension in rear, standard ESP. Optional DCC adaptive chassis control, sport chassis, ride levelling for Estate
Standard features (Trendline): include ESP, 6 airbags, air conditioning, electromechanical power-assisted steering, electric windows, multifunctional display, central locking, height-adjustable driver’s seat, RCD 210 audio system
Standard gearbox: 6-speed manual
Volkswagen are famous with their diesel engines. Since 90’s, they proved, that the diesel power units coming from VAG have great potential and extremely low fuel consumption. As a matter of fact, 1.9TDI became a byword for economy. Of course, the technologies advanced and the diesel engines become even more efficient. Now a Volkswagen Passat 1.6TDI BlueMotion set a new world record by doing 2464 km (1 531 miles) on a single tank of fuel.
The “test pilot” was Sunday Times journalist Gavin Conway, who put his name in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The amazing Passat was powered by 1.6 liter TDI with 105PS and 250Nm with BlueMotion technology that includes a Stop/Start system for improved fuel-economy. The car is a standard production model with no modifications. (more…)
Elegant, sporty, dynamic – The accessories for the “Best of the Best” title-holder and “red dot design award” winner: The Passat CC. From aerodynamics to wheels onward to noble sill protectors: the product range offers a broad selection of design-oriented, perfectly fitting Volkswagen Genuine Accessories products. (more…)
International panels of design experts have chosen their winners and one Volkswagen model has made an exceptional impression: the Passat CC. (more…)
Volkswagen is revising its Passat saloon and Estate ranges, adding a new R Line model to give customers more equipment and value for money.
The familiar Passat range line-up of S, Highline, Sport and SEL is replaced with a new streamlined selection of S, R Line and Highline. BlueMotion remains the choice for efficiency while R36 continues as the range-topping performance model. (more…)
On the opening day of the Auto Shanghai 2009, Volkswagen along with its two joint ventures Shanghai Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen, appeared before the public at W2 Hall, with 25 latest models and technologies. (more…)
– New Golf Plus: all-around car with new design and new TDI engines
– Scirocco Studie R: derived directly from car racing for the street
– New Golf BiFuel: economical and clean with auto gas (LPG)
– Passat TSI EcoFuel: begins a new era of natural gas cars
– New Passat CC Individual: exterior and interior upgrades from the factory (more…)
The Volkswagen Passat CC took first place in the voting category of innovative process, production and plant concepts at the 10th international car body benchmark conference in Bad Nauheim, and came a close second in the overall ranking just behind the winner, the Audi Q5. The Volkswagen Group has thus taken the top two places for the first time in the history of this award. (more…)
The most efficient, economical and environmentally friendly Passat yet produced, the new BlueMotion 2, opens for ordering this week.
Building on the gains in efficiency made by the existing Passat BlueMotion, the new BlueMotion 2 features an automatic Stop/start system linked to a new 2.0-litre TDI 110 PS common rail diesel engine. This replaces the outgoing 1.9-litre TDI 105 PS unit injector powerplant. (more…)
Golf, Jetta, Passat, Eos and Tiguan achieve top scores in demanding US crash tests
Four Volkswagen models at once were awarded the best grade of “top safety pick” in the most recent publication of the independent US safety institute, “Insurance Institute for Highway Safety”. The models Golf, Jetta, Passat and Eos each earned the best evaluation in their respective categories, thus winning the renowned prize for themselves. Together with this same outstanding safety award presented to the Tiguan in August, these new awards place Volkswagen among the car manufacturers with the most top safety picks. (more…)
Wide selection: three equipment lines and two engines
DSG dual clutch transmission offered
Today, in Mumbai, Volkswagen begins market introduction of the Jetta in India. The sedan – eight million of which have been sold since 1979 – will be available in three versions. At market launch the innovative 6-speed DSG dual clutch transmission will be offered. Other comfort and convenience features round out the program. (more…)