On the heels of our latest spy photos, an official sketch of the Volkswagen vehicle known only as NMS has surfaced online. Prototypes of the future Toyota Camry-fighter were last spotted undergoing testing in late January. VW has some pretty ambitious sales goals for the U.S. market in the coming years, with the bulk of those plans centering around the model — the new mid-market sedan, or NMS for short.

The vehicle will be assembled in 2011 at VW’s Chattanooga assembly plant in Tennessee. The new sedan is intended to go head-to-head with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. It will fit between the Jetta and Passat in VW’s lineup, and will likely have a starting price of around $20,000.

In contrast to most future vehicle plans, Volkswagen has openly mentioned the NMS and what they hope to accomplish with this vehicle, as well as required amenities. VW has hinted that the new sedan will boast generous legroom, a larger trunk, bigger cup holders, improved interior quality, a six-speed dual clutch transmission, gas and diesel powerplants and the possibility of all-wheel drive.

Initially, engines and transmissions will be manufactured in Mexico – the same ones as found in the New Beetle and Jetta. A previously-spotted test mule – as clearly seen on the paper affixed to the windshield – was powered by VW’s 2.5-liter I5.

In addition to the North American market, VW may be also developing this platform for the Chinese market.

VW’s new Tennessee plant is expected to be up and running by early 2011, so look for the NMS to hit the market sometime after that.

After months with nothing but quiet rumors, Volkswagen has released a more detailed official sketch of its upcoming as-of-yet unnamed “New Mid-Market Sedan,” or NMS. Designed to fight against class sales leaders Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, the new sedan is aimed at helping VW achieve its rather ambitious sales goals

Earlier this month while at the official drive event for the new Golf, High Gear Media managed to get an exclusive take on VW's plans for the still unnamed New Midsize Sedan (NMS), and how it will effectively replace the Passat for North America. Today, VW released a second sketch of the NMS that shows the first sketch's design theme carried forward, but reveals little of what we can expect of the production sedan outside of general themes.

The new sketch shows a fairly short hood, a more sedan-like profile than the previous sketch, and the same basic corporate front end that's become familiar with the new Mark VI Golf. The roofline is somewhat reminiscent of the Passat, but not enough to be confused for one. Which is a good thing, considering the Passat is going away with the arrival of the NMS.

The problem, says VW's U.S. president Stephan Jacoby, is that the Passat simply isn't suited to the distances Americans drive or the size of vehicle we prefer. That's why the NMS, a four-door built at the Chattanooga, Tennessee plant, will offer a wider cabin and more rear seat legroom. It is also expected to start around $20,000.

The car has been previewed in sketches before (pictured), but a trio of new sketches were previewed in Germany today, revealing that the car will resemble the VW Quantum, meaning a lower rear roofline, tightly integrated front end and angular headlamps like those seen on the Mark VI Golf.

The Phaeton large sedan will also return to the U.S. soon, as we confirmed in Germany earlier this month. The Phaeton has been under consideration for a U.S. return for some time, with Jacoby thinking the market is once again primed, provided the maker learns from its past mistakes.

The Phaeton large sedan will also return to the U.S. soon, as we confirmed in Germany earlier this month. The Phaeton has been under consideration for a U.S. return for some time, with Jacoby thinking the market is once again primed, provided the maker learns from its past mistakes.

With the company’s new mid-size sedan (NMS) waiting in the wings, Volkswagen has decided to pull the plug on the U.S. version of its Passat premium sedan. The Passat will exit the United States market after the 2010 model year.

The Jetta, NMS and Passat apparently equated to too many cooks in the kitchen, with VW execs confirming that the current range-topping Passat sedan will not return to the automaker’s U.S. lineup after the 2010 model year. The Passat current stands as VW’s mid-size sedan offering.

VW will replace the Passat with its upcoming NMS. The NMS will make its world debut at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show, with sales expected to begin shortly thereafter.

Intended to compete with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry -- both in price and size -- the NMW will be produced at VW’s new Chattanooga, Tennessee production facility