Tuesday, January 18, 2005
NEW PASSAT REVEALED
Volkswagen has revealed its eagerly awaited new Passat, which will be officially unveiled at March's Geneva show before UK sales start in the summer.
A significant leap in quality over the current model-which itself forged an upmarket reputation eight years ago-the new Passat seeks to occupy a market position ahead of Ford's Mondeo and Vauxhall's Vectra, knocking on the door of prestige badge products such as BMW's 3-series and Audi's A4.
On the outside, cues from the Concept C and R show cars, such as the large chrome grille; are evident and are set to make their way onto future VWs. On the inside, cabin quality levels are said to move the current car's reputation on even further. Interior technical innovations include an electronic parking brake and dual zone climate control as standard while Bluetooth phone compatibility and a higher quality sound system will also be available.
Handling should be improved, too, thanks toa new four-link rear suspension system and a body that's some 57% stiffer.
As is the trend for nearly all new cars, the 2005 Passat is bigger in every way than its predecessor and with lenght up 62mm to 4770mm, its only 48mm shorter than the Mercedes E-class, but some 174mm longer than the Vauxhall Vectra. Coupled with a 6mm increase in the wheelbase, VW claims more legroom as a result, while bootspace groows 90 litres to 565 litres.
Four engines will be available from launch including a 115ps 1.6-litre FSI petrol, a 140ps 2.0-litre GSI petrol, a 105ps 1.9-litre TDI diesil and a 140ps 2.0-litre TDI diesil. VW's DSG gearbox will be available on the diesils shortly after launch, with six-speed tiptronic autos for the petrols. Four-wheel-drive 4motion models will follow later.
"It is a case of business as usual" said a spoksman for VW. "The new car will continue to be a mass market product with premium values that appeals to both retail and fleet buyers. But like the previous generation, the new Passat will move even further upmarket thanks to improved levels of perceived quality.
A significant leap in quality over the current model-which itself forged an upmarket reputation eight years ago-the new Passat seeks to occupy a market position ahead of Ford's Mondeo and Vauxhall's Vectra, knocking on the door of prestige badge products such as BMW's 3-series and Audi's A4.
On the outside, cues from the Concept C and R show cars, such as the large chrome grille; are evident and are set to make their way onto future VWs. On the inside, cabin quality levels are said to move the current car's reputation on even further. Interior technical innovations include an electronic parking brake and dual zone climate control as standard while Bluetooth phone compatibility and a higher quality sound system will also be available.
Handling should be improved, too, thanks toa new four-link rear suspension system and a body that's some 57% stiffer.
As is the trend for nearly all new cars, the 2005 Passat is bigger in every way than its predecessor and with lenght up 62mm to 4770mm, its only 48mm shorter than the Mercedes E-class, but some 174mm longer than the Vauxhall Vectra. Coupled with a 6mm increase in the wheelbase, VW claims more legroom as a result, while bootspace groows 90 litres to 565 litres.
Four engines will be available from launch including a 115ps 1.6-litre FSI petrol, a 140ps 2.0-litre GSI petrol, a 105ps 1.9-litre TDI diesil and a 140ps 2.0-litre TDI diesil. VW's DSG gearbox will be available on the diesils shortly after launch, with six-speed tiptronic autos for the petrols. Four-wheel-drive 4motion models will follow later.
"It is a case of business as usual" said a spoksman for VW. "The new car will continue to be a mass market product with premium values that appeals to both retail and fleet buyers. But like the previous generation, the new Passat will move even further upmarket thanks to improved levels of perceived quality.
# posted by Liz Laurie @ 1:01 PM 
