VOLKSWAGEN’S 2001.5 NEW PASSAT

Today’s new Passat represents the latest iteration of this revolutionary sedan and wagon, incorporating some 2,300 changes both technically and visually. Improvements include fresh new design elements inside and out, improved safety, power, and even better handling and control. And while many changes are inconspicuous in their exacting details, the result is a newly presented car.

With its many updates the base price of the 2001.5 Passat GLS Sedan only goes up $300, from $21,450 to $21,750. Even the top-of-the-line V6 GLX Sedan with 4MOTION™ only goes up $540 to $31,575. The 2001.5 Passat GLS Wagon is base priced at $22,550 while the 2001.5 Passat GLX Wagon with 4MOTION™ is a great value at $32,375.

An update of a very popular design, the 2001.5 Passat’s styling changes are subtle but significant, adding a more dynamic elegance and aggressiveness to the car’s visual statement. Indeed, nearly the entire exterior of the 2001.5 Passat is new. Only the roof and doors remain unchanged from its predecessor.

The freshly styled front end is especially striking with abundant chrome accents, a more sharply raked grill, and seamless transition to the bumper. Its visage is further accentuated by a tasteful but much more pronounced VW logo treatment.

The high-tech and precise design of the new Passat is accentuated by the front headlight treatment. Lighting the way to the future of automotive designs, the new Passat’s front-end illumination—halogen headlamps, and clear lens side blinkers—is housed within chip-resistant polycarbonate that gives the distinct high-tech appearance of ultra-clear glass. Standard halogen projector lens front foglamps are expertly integrated into the front bumpers.

The dynamic character of the new Passat is just as pronounced in the rear, presenting sporty rear wing corners, which frame newly shaped tail lamps. These fully transparent rear lamps each encompass two small round lenses for the brake light and rear light, as well as turn signals.

Inside, the new Passat once again employs only the highest quality, soft-to-touch painted surfaces, and—depending on the trim level—leather and wood. In keeping with the rest of the car, the cockpit offers a more upscale design, presenting a new instrument panel design with brushed aluminum.

Also new is a center console between the front seats that offers size-adjustable cup holders and a unique jumbo compartmentalized storage area. The rear seating also benefits from a unique folding rear center armrest that includes a cupholder and additional storage.

At the driver’s wheel, the new Passat’s GLX receives a standard multifunction control steering wheel (optional on GLS) that adjusts the stereo and cruise control. Also standard on the GLX is Volkswagen’s new HomeLink® system, a push-button transmitter mounted to the driver’s sun visor that can be programmed to operate garage door openers, indoor and outdoor lighting, and many home security systems.

Added theft security in the new Passat is made possible by Volkswagen’s Immobilizer system, which adds a new transparent layer of protection to the vehicle’s standard anti-theft protection. Every time the car is started, the Immobilizer control unit checks for the special Immobilizer key that houses a computer code. The car cannot be started without the properly coded key.

Mechanically, the core of the new Passat has been significantly upgraded. Both the sedan and wagon add more dynamic torsional rigidity, or flex resistance during driving, placing them in the ranks of the most dynamically solid cars in the world. Volkswagen accomplished this by reworking key details of the new Passat body, employing several advanced reinforcement measures, including more strategic laser welding techniques.

With its class-leading dynamic body stiffness, Volkswagen engineers were able to accomplish significant benefits. Since a more solid car makes it possible to dial in a more ideal balance between sports-car-like responsiveness and driving comfort, the overall driving experience is improved. It also provides better crash resistance in the critical safety cage parameter of the body. Even the styling of the new Passat benefits from its solid structure, as it allows for extremely tight-fitting exterior panel gaps, which strengthen the body shell and exude a more solid high-quality appearance.

Safety is further enhanced in the new Passat with Volkswagen’s Side Curtain Protection™[iii]—an airbag system that deploys a curtain of air down the side windows during a severe side-impact collision to help protect the heads of the front and rear passengers. This advanced safety system is standard on all Passat models.

Also updated in the new Passat is the standard four-cylinder engine in the GLS models. This award-winning 1.8 T engine now creates 20 more horsepower, increasing its output from 150 hp to 170 hp. Just as importantly, the maximum torque is increased from 155 lbs. ft. to 166.

Providing substantial, six-cylinder-like power and performance, this remarkably efficient powerplant uses a turbocharger and an intercooler for cool, high- density intake air—a basic ingredient of power. Its five-valves per cylinder design results in excellent top-end breathing, and the double overhead camshafts optimize valve control. All of this is built into a compact and efficient long-stroke 1.8 liter four-cylinder package. The result: 170 horsepower at 5,900 revolutions per minute and 166 lbs. ft. of torque all the way from 1,950 to 5,000 rpm–an extraordinarily flat torque curve that provides plenty of pulling power from the low end through the top.

Volkswagen’s top-of-the-line engine option remains its 2.8 liter V6 that features five-valve technology, dual overhead cams, variable intake valve timing and a variable geometry composite intake manifold. This advanced 30-valve V6 delivers 190 hp at 6,000 rpm and 206 lbs. ft. of torque at just 3,200 rpm. The result is an engine that delivers its exceptional pulling power smoothly and consistently over a broad rpm range.

Mated to these advanced engines is a standard five-speed manual transmission, or an optional five-speed automatic with Tiptronic® that can either be operated as a normal automatic transmission or, when the driver desires more control, it can be shifted through the gears manually using a special shift gate.

All Passats continue to employ power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering and four-wheel disc brakes (ventilated in front) with the latest generation ABS. This advanced electronic ABS allows for standard traction control, which comes by way of electronic differential locking (EDL) and Volkswagen’s anti-slip reduction system (ASR) in front-wheel drive models. EDL is enabled at speeds of up to 24 miles per hour. It detects wheel slippage and applies braking force to that particular wheel. Working in conjunction with EDL, the ASR system uses sophisticated electronics to control throttle response to maximize traction and minimize slipping.

The ultimate level of control and handling is found in Passat sedans and wagons equipped with the optional 4MOTION™ system—a traction enhancing system that continuously distributes power to all four wheels all the time at all speeds. An automatic-locking Torsen® center differential distributes engine torque to the front and rear axles. In normal driving conditions, the drive ratio is 50 percent to the front and 50 percent to the rear. On low-grip surfaces, the wheels with the higher level of adhesion receive more of the power—up to a front-rear ratio of 67 percent to 33 percent or vice versa.

All new Passats come impressively equipped. In addition to the features previously alluded to, the GLS sedans and wagons offer full instrumentation, including an analog tachometer and digital clock; air conditioning with rear vents; a multifunction, two-program trip computer; anti-theft alarm system; split-folding rear seat (not on sedans with 4MOTION™); folding ignition key with remote transmitter; electronic cruise control; one-touch up and down front power windows; central power locking; remote trunk and fuel flap release; power heated side mirrors; an eight-speaker cassette stereo system; tinted glass; front and rear carpeted floor mats; a full-size spare; height adjustable and telescoping steering wheel, and much more.

The GLX’s comprehensive list of standard features not previously mentioned include leather upholstery; heatable eight-way power front seats; an eight-speaker Monsoon® sound system; walnut wood trim; a fully automatic climate control system; a multifunction, two-program trip computer (with a display location in the bottom center of the instrument cluster and a dot matrix font); an anti-theft alarm system; split-folding rear seat (not available on 4MOTION™); a power glass sunroof; heated windshield washer nozzles; rain sensor; newly styled 16” alloy wheels; and a self-dimming rearview mirror.

An added convenience and safety feature on the GLX now includes power side mirrors that automatically point downward for optimal line of sight when the car is in reverse.

The only options on a GLX are a dealer-installed six-disc CD changer, a dealer-installed in-dash CD player, no-charge metallic paint, and automatic transmission.

Available options on the GLS not previously mentioned include leather upholstery, with leatherette steering wheel, shift boot, handbrake and door panels; a 5-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic®; a power glass sunroof; an eight-speaker Monsoon® sound system; the HomeLink® system; multi-function steering wheel; newly styled alloy wheels; six-disc CD changer with in-dash option; and Cold Weather Package that includes heatable front seats and heated windshield washer nozzles.

Unparalleled Safety

Active safety in all Passats comes from their precise handling, the security of front-wheel drive, advanced ABS braking and other accident avoidance aids like daytime running lights (DRL).

For protection when an accident can’t be avoided, the new Passat offers a highly advanced passive safety system that comprises a multitude of state-of-the-art safety features and structural elements designed to work together to help protect its occupants.

This system begins with the Passat’s exceptionally rigid body structure that includes energy absorbing crumple zones. In a severe crash, these deformation zones sacrifice themselves in an accordian-like fashion, absorbing the energy to help spare the critical central structure.

This system works in concert with an advanced supplemental restraint system. In addition to front driver and passenger airbags, the new Passat uses a seat belt tensioning system that tightens and optimally positions all outboard belts within milliseconds of a severe crash. These three-point safety belts are also equipped with shoulder height adjustments, and to help secure a child safety seat, which should only be used in the rear seats, automatic locking retractors (ALR) and emergency locking retractors (ELR) are provided.

The Passat was the first Volkswagen to utilize standard side airbags for front seat occupants. This system is integrated into the front seats for good reason: no matter where the front occupant adjusts his or her seat position, the airbag maintains its protective relationship. This cannot always be assured if the side airbag is installed in the door or the roof pillar. As mentioned, the new Passat also comes equipped with Volkswagen’s Side Curtain Protection™ for added protection for the head and upper torso in the event of a severe side collision.

Side protection is further ensured by special reinforcements and structural members, including anti-intrusion tubes and foam padding at all four doors.

Additional frontal impact protection comes from the steering system via a collapsible steering column, and a steering wheel specially cushioned and designed to manage impact energy.

Further details of how the new Passat interior provides occupant protection are found in the absence of sharp interior edges, recessed handles and control switches, crushable sun visors, a foldable rearview mirror and non-override door locks. The Passat also provides three height-adjustable head restraints for rear passengers, a feature found on few other cars in its segment.

Standard on the Passat is one of the most comprehensive warranty and maintenance protection plans available to new car buyers. Volkswagen’s Protection Plus includes a two-year/24,000 mile new vehicle limited warranty and the industry’s best manufacturer’s limited powertrain warranty at ten years/100,000 miles. Now, with the fully galvanized Passat, the Protection Plus package includes an outstanding limited corrosion warranty of 12 years with no mileage restrictions.

In addition to the extensive warranties, Volkswagen dealers will perform all scheduled maintenance at no charge for two years or 24,000 miles. Two-year, 24-hour roadside assistance is also provided.

Source:  Volkswagen

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