8th Generation Volkswagen Passat - The Business Class Passats +VIDEO
Debuting at the Volkswagen Design Center in Potsdam, Germany, the new Passat will enter the markets worldwide with new engines and the latest driver assistance and convenience systems.
By Henny Hemmes
Sr. European Editor
The Auto Channel
• SEE ALSO: Volkswagen Buyers Guide
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BERLIN - July 14, 2014: With nearly 22 million units built over seven generations, the Passat is a best-seller. Just in 2013, more than 1.1 million people bought a Passat model.
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The popular sedan and estate models will continue in the future to be very important for the German car manufacturer. The arrival of the eighth generation Passat does not come too early and will compete in Europe with new and fuel efficient models in its mid-size car segment like the Opel Insignia and Peugeot 508.
According to Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkwagen, the new Passat “Heralds a new era, when it comes to design and proportions, engines and drive systems, infotainment and assistance systems or in matters of safety, convenience and driving pleasure.”
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The new Passat is up to 85 kg/187 pounds lighter than the outgoing model and will offer a more premium atmosphere with better fuel efficiency. Up to 40 kg of the total weight saving has been achieved by using turbocharged four-cylinder engines, 3 kg comes from electrical systems, 33 kg from equipment (such as a new lighter air conditioner) and the remaining 9 kg comes from the use of ultra-high strength and hot-formed steel and aluminum for the body structure.
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There will be a choice of ten direct injected turbocharged petrol and diesel engines with power ranging from 88 kW/120 hp to 206 kW/280 hp, all meeting the Euro 6 emission standards. All engine variants are equipped with a start-stop system and a regenerative braking mode.
Both fuel consumption and CO2 emission are up to 20 percent lower. A plug-in hybrid will also be available. Its driveline consists of a 115 kW TSI petrol engine and a 80 kW electric motor, with a combined output of 155 kW/211 hp. The Passat PHEV will have an electric range of 50 km/31 miles
With a fresher design, longer wheel base and larger wheels, the new Passat undoubtedly looks more dynamic.
The new Passat will be available in both a sedan model and as an estate car (station wagon) at the end of 2014.