sundance_gold

It may look good and it may drive nice but be forewarned that it is a german car (cars full of gadgets that either break easily or cause electrical failures or which dealer service departments are not trained to fix when the cars are released) and the current Passats are plagued with many electrical problems and poor quality issues based on parts suppliers (poor quality control). As a VW owner I can attest to that first hand.

I caution anyone considering a german car, especially a VW, to do their research before purchasing. For example, on VWVortex.com, the hot topic is 2004.5 4 motion (AWD) system currently has some serious flaws that result in the driver feeling as if they've just been hit from behind. This problem has been around since VW released the 4 motion on the Passat but there is no fix and many people are opting to take advantage of the lemon law. Other common Passat issues are cars being shipped with broken seat frames, dash back-lights that go out, and there was an electrical recall related to the homelink set up. VW's biggest deficit is the quality of its service departments. It seems universal in the US that the customer does not come first and repeated service is required for the same issue--either because the derlership doesn't have trained mechanics (many people have to resort to calling in VW factory reps) or they don't care if people are inconvenienced (VW does not authorize loaner cars for any service. Accounts of people getting a loaner car are extremely rare).

gavriil

Source: www.autobild.de

charliemike

I don't know what to make of those ...

It looks like a Golf/Jetta front end pasted onto something ... I still don't think that's it.

ItalianStallion

yeah, the autobild ones are not so hot.

gavriil

Radical New Passat Eyes Executive Class - - By Craig Cheetham
- - Source: Autoexpress


Pushing for the posh - that's Volkswagen's plan for the all-new Passat. Exclusive images in the current issue of Auto Express magazine clearly reveal how the Passat is aiming at the more prestige end of the market when it hits UK showrooms next summer.

The front of the car draws heavily on the Concept C coupé-cabriolet, which will itself be joining the VW line-up before the end of 2005. It features angular headlamps with a central round pod, while the grille dips into the front bumper in the style of the new Golf.

At the rear, the Passat echoes the look of the Phaeton luxury saloon, a deliberate move to give it an upmarket air. It will initially be offered as a four-door saloon only, although an estate will appear later. There are no plans to introduce a five-door hatch, despite such models accounting for more than two-thirds of fleet sector sales in the UK.

An Audi Allroad-style four-wheel-drive lifestyle load-lugger will appear in 2006, using VW's 4Motion transmission. Externally, the newcomer will be much bigger than the current Passat, with a wheelbase which is 50mm longer, while the rear overhang will also be increased to create additional luggage space. Boot capacity goes up from the current-generation vehicle's 475 litres to approximately 485 litres, giving the new-
comer class-leading carrying ability.

Inside, the Passat will be more spacious than the model it replaces, too, with extra leg and shoulder room. A 70-litre fuel tank replaces the existing 62-litre item, and provides an improved range of between 50 and 120 miles, depending on the model.

Along with the new look, the next-generation Passat will come with an engine line-up comprising all the German company's most advanced powerplants. That means both normally aspirated and turbocharged versions of the 2.0-litre FSI unit found in the Golf, as well as several variants of the firm's frugal 2.0-litre TDI oil-burner.

A 1.6-litre FSI entry-level petrol version is to be introduced, along with a 105bhp diesel using the existing 1.9 TDI PD unit. Flagship models are likely to retain the current range-topper's W8 petrol powerplant, with four-wheel drive for maximum traction. A 3.2-litre V6 is also in the pipeline and is expected to revive the established VR6 name.

All models will be offered with a six-speed manual gearbox, including the entry-level 1.6 petrol and 1.9 diesel variants. Further up the range, the 2.0 FSI, 3.2 FSI and 2.0 TDI versions will come with the DSG sequential transmission as an optional extra, while no conventional automatic gearboxes will be available.

Expect to see the Passat at the Geneva Motor Show next March, as part of a product explosion from VW. A Golf-based MPV, the Concept C drop-top, Lupo replacement and Bora are also scheduled for a debut during 2005.

charliemike

Well I think that clinches it .. the Autobild one is wrong.

However, if it were the new Jetta, that would make sense.

Hooligan

I agree. If there's one thing that VAG does especially well, it's the interiors. I wonder when/if VW will adopt something akin to Audi's MMI system... I sure hope never!

biker

The LCD interface idea that started in the high end cars will trickle down to cheaper cars with time. It won't happen to the typical family vehicle in current designs but in 10 years most cars will have some sort of non-mechanical interface for most vehicle systems.

Mokos23

looks ok, but not sure if VW reliablility is the best

Wolfman22

Radical New Passat Eyes Executive Class


Pushing for the posh - that's Volkswagen's plan for the all-new Passat. Exclusive images in the current issue of Auto Express magazine clearly reveal how the Passat is aiming at the more prestige end of the market when it hits UK showrooms next summer.

The front of the car draws heavily on the Concept C coupé-cabriolet, which will itself be joining the VW line-up before the end of 2005. It features angular headlamps with a central round pod, while the grille dips into the front bumper in the style of the new Golf.

At the rear, the Passat echoes the look of the Phaeton luxury saloon, a deliberate move to give it an upmarket air. It will initially be offered as a four-door saloon only, although an estate will appear later. There are no plans to introduce a five-door hatch, despite such models accounting for more than two-thirds of fleet sector sales in the UK.

An Audi Allroad-style four-wheel-drive lifestyle load-lugger will appear in 2006, using VW's 4Motion transmission. Externally, the newcomer will be much bigger than the current Passat, with a wheelbase which is 50mm longer, while the rear overhang will also be increased to create additional luggage space. Boot capacity goes up from the current-generation vehicle's 475 litres to approximately 485 litres, giving the new-
comer class-leading carrying ability.

Inside, the Passat will be more spacious than the model it replaces, too, with extra leg and shoulder room. A 70-litre fuel tank replaces the existing 62-litre item, and provides an improved range of between 50 and 120 miles, depending on the model.

Along with the new look, the next-generation Passat will come with an engine line-up comprising all the German company's most advanced powerplants. That means both normally aspirated and turbocharged versions of the 2.0-litre FSI unit found in the Golf, as well as several variants of the firm's frugal 2.0-litre TDI oil-burner.

A 1.6-litre FSI entry-level petrol version is to be introduced, along with a 105bhp diesel using the existing 1.9 TDI PD unit. Flagship models are likely to retain the current range-topper's W8 petrol powerplant, with four-wheel drive for maximum traction. A 3.2-litre V6 is also in the pipeline and is expected to revive the established VR6 name.

All models will be offered with a six-speed manual gearbox, including the entry-level 1.6 petrol and 1.9 diesel variants. Further up the range, the 2.0 FSI, 3.2 FSI and 2.0 TDI versions will come with the DSG sequential transmission as an optional extra, while no conventional automatic gearboxes will be available.

Expect to see the Passat at the Geneva Motor Show next March, as part of a product explosion from VW. A Golf-based MPV, the Concept C drop-top, Lupo replacement and Bora are also scheduled for a debut during 2005. Craig Cheetham

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/?http:/...y.php?id=47445

Professor Gascan

Hot!
Engines will be 2.0T FSI with 200hp and 207 lb.ft and 3.6L VR6 with 280hp. 4 motion will be an option on both models.

Whiskers

Nice - I think it looks like a Altima / Maxima combo.

Dan Martin

meh.

Might look better in another color like CG or a darker blue. This one just isn't doing it for me.
The dash and the front end is nice though.

jcg878

I wonder if they will all have a 15" ground clearance like that one.


Otherwise, looks good

TSX 'R' US

did they use the same taillights as the Jetta??

dom

meh.. + 1

Not liking the new VW rear ends.

DEI99662

It looks ok. The interior looks better, but the rear end looks ugly.

Professor Gascan

I think you need to turn up your monitor brightness, there's black/grey valences at the bottom of the car.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

meh + 2

VW...

biker

The corporate Phaeton look is evident in this car.

Now if they could work on the reliability numbers......

95gt

How big is that thing. Looks enormous

End = ugly as hell. Like the front

TSX Hokie

That interior takes a page from the TSX book.

Its not stunning, but it looks a helluva lot better than the Accord, its prime competition.

dom

I agree that it looks better but that rear end isn't a whole lot better than the Accords.

jaydub

I don't see any similarity between the TSX interior and the Passat (minus the fact that they both have steering wheels and seats.....)

dom

The hump above the gauge cluster is very similar. But thats all I can see.

jaydub

Looks just like the jetta one.

jcg878

lokman

My comments: The greenhouse looks like an Altima/BMW 7-series. The car looks huge though - will VW scrap the Phaeton and just go with this larger Passat? Rear end looks very plain, like it belongs on a lower-end model. Interior looks OK but not great - maybe in a darker color it would be better, but in that light gray it looks very sterile (like something Stanley Kubrick put in 2001).

Overall, this new Passat would probably easily push $40K in Canada nicely loaded - I'd pass and get the TL instead.

slo007

I like the interior. Outside looks plain ugly.

scheißterhöffer

Well which one is it? Do you think it looks nice or do you think it looks like an Altima / Maxima combo? It can't be both.

Fibonacci

Instrument panel lighting looks awfully Acura-esque if I do say so.

jaydub

blue lighting with red needles? VW's been using that since 1998.

Whiskers

Thems are sexy Nissans.....

Fibonacci

Judging by the dash of the Jetta - apparently not. If I recall correctly, the current passat has red needle w/ white background.

Beltfed

06 Passat......Autoweek.

Infamous425

^ hate that rear bumper and the interior looks so 90-ish mercedes

FutureBagdA4

i love it.

Crazy Bimmer

classy, i like it.

jcg878

Nope, you do not recall correctly They are black, and at night the numbers are blue and needles are red, with red ambient lighting radiating from the rear-view mirror.

phile

Looks just like a little Phaeton. I don't know, I like the silhouette very much, probably roomy as hell. I'm just waiting to see if someone's going to call VW out for using the so-called BMW Hoffmeister kink in the rear window, as people are so quick to point out when the Japanese copy anything.

I so have issues with the body panel creases. Just doesn't look right. Instead of going for a crisp look, it looks crinkled.