Volkswagen is presenting the world premiere of an entirely new Passat – as a saloon and an estate car simultaneously. At the 2010 Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris (October 2-17), The seventh generation of this bestseller will be available in initial European markets starting as soon as mid-November.
The new Passat also sets standards in sustainability. All ten engines (77 kW / 105 PS through 220 kW / 300 PS) are more fuel efficient – up to 18 percent more. The “smallest” and yet torque-strong turbodiesel (1.6 TDI with 105 PS and 250 Nm) now consumes just 4.2 l/100 km; that is equivalent to 109 g/km CO2. Meanwhile, downsizing and technologies such as the Stop/Start system contribute to extraordinary fuel efficiency in the petrol-powered versions. Pioneering here is the 1.4 TSI (90 kW / 122 PS); in the BlueMotion Technology version, it only consumes 5.8 l/100 km. The equivalent CO2 value is 138 g/km. The entirely new front-end design gives the Volkswagen Passat – now 1,820 mm wide and 4,769 mm (Estate: 4,771 mm) long – an even more dominant look. Although the car has not grown in width, it has a greater presence and more visual dynamism. The heights of the two body versions also remained constant (saloon: 1,474 mm; Estate: 1,519 mm).
The dominant expression of the Volkswagen Passat is reinforced by its new dual-reflector headlights with optional bi-xenon light source and its LED daytime running lights. Each daytime running light consists of 15 LEDs. Beneath the lines formed by the headlights and grille is the body-coloured bumper section. The next level down sports another air intake framed by chrome-plated fins – as stylised elements similar to the wing tips of commercial aircraft. The very low profile fog lights are integrated here. On the Highline equipment line, another chrome trim strip at the centre of the air intake joins the fins. At the lowest level, there is the front spoiler. As on motorsport cars, it is designed as a so-called splitter. From the Comfortline equipment level, a chrome trim strip is also applied here.
Volkswagen is offering a selection of ten direct-injection engines with four valves per cylinder in the new Passat. Four of them are classic high-tech petrol engines that output 90 kW / 122 PS (1.4 TSI), 118 kW / 160 PS (1.8 TSI), 155 kW / 211 PS (2.0 TSI) and 220 kW / 300 PS (V6). The top engine has six cylinders; all of the other petrol engines are charged four-cylinder engines. Also charged is the 110 kW / 150 PS engine (1.4 EcoFuel) that is configured for natural gas. Another derivative of the 1.4 TSI is the MultiFuel engine with 118 kW / 160 PS designed for use with up to 85 percent ethanol fuel.
