New pictures of the VW Passat released

[valgabr]

Wolfsburg, 16. February 2005 - The sixth generation Passat will be launched on the German market on 11 March. Advanced sales start today for the saloon.

The Passat will initially be offered with four different engines: the 1.6 l FSI with 85 kW / 115 PS and the 2.0 l FSI with 110 kW / 150 PS with homogeneous direct injection will be available in the Passat for the first time, as will be the 1.9 l TDI with 77 kW / 105 PS and the 2.0 l TDI with 103 kW / 140 PS. All four engines are combined with a manual gearbox. During the coming year, the FSI engine will be available with an automatic gearbox, and the 2.0 l TDI 103 kW / 140 PS will be paired with a direct shift gearbox. The engine and gearbox combinations will be extended throughout the year. The 75 kW / 102 PS petrol engine will go on sale shortly after the market launch.

The new Passat can be ordered in four equipment levels: Trend­line is the entry level package with a high standard of comfort, convenience and safety. Comfortline places even more emphasis on functionality, convenience and comfort. Sportline is a dynamic version of the Passat. The Passat Highline equipment level positions the Passat in the range of the upper-mid-class.

With its chrome radiator grille, its stylish interior design and its intelligent safety and functional elements, such as the electronic parking brake, the innovative starting and locking system and the automatic luggage compartment opening feature, the new Passat has a range of features unique to its segment and which are usually found only in luxury class vehicles. However, the Passat remains affordable: with the entry level 75 kW / 102 PS petrol engine, the new Passat costs exactly the same as it did in the previous generation. At the market launch, the 1.6 l FSI with the Trendline equipment level is available from 23,075 euros, the 2.0 l FSI costs 25,450 euros. The TDI-engines have a starting price of 24,010 euros for the 1.9 l TDI, and 25,650 euros for the 2.0 l TDI.

The Passat – the continuation of a success story
The first Passat was built at the Volkswagen factory in Emden 32 years ago. The Passat has become the most successful Volkswagen model after the Golf and Beetle. Over 13 million vehicles have been built since 1973. This means that on average, some 1.150 Passats have been delivered every day for over three decades (2004: 2,700 per working day). The most important markets for the Passat are Germany, Italy, France and Great Britain in Europe. China and the USA are the strongest overseas markets.

[valgabr]

Wolfsburg / Hamburg, 16. February 2005 - World Premiere. The new Passat is on its way. It is entirely new and looks different, but it is still the Passat we all know. The development team has created a Passat whose rational qualities – such as the body and chassis properties and comfort – have been consistently perfected. At the same time, however, the team has injected emotion and life into this Passat using a uncompromising combination of form and function, design and ergonomics.

Exterior: New Face and Outstanding Quality

* Body I – Design: The sixth Passat features a powerful and avant-garde design. The new VW face with its chrome radiator evoking a coat of arms and the challenging “stare” of the headlights represent the greatest design progression since the creation of the series. The same applies to the athletic silhouette and the powerful rear section lines.

* Body II – Dimensions: The same applies for the outside design of the Passat as for the interior: everything is new and different. For example, the dimensio­ns: The new Passat is 4.77 metres long (+ 62mm), 1.82 metres wide (+ 74mm) and 1.47 metres tall (+ 10 mm). The wheelbase measures 2.71 metres.

* Body III – Quality: One real indicator of outstanding quality is the static torsional stiffness. It is 57 percent (!) greater than the very good value for the previous model and is now the best figure in this class. Furthermore, thanks to highly innovative production methods and materials, the weight spiral has been stopped even though there have been major improvements in body properties and a clear increase in size. The body of the new Passat does not weigh any more than that of its predecessor.


Interior: Perfect Ergonomics and 565-litre Boot

* Interior: A look inside shows a clear, fresh, stylish design with a remarkable lightness. It features high-quality materials and technology oriented to people and not to the theoretically possible. The aim was to achieve perfect ergonomics and operation. The boot volume has grown substantially to a maximum 565 litres (+ 90 litres).


Engines: Seven Out of Eight Use Direct Injection

* Four New Petrol Engines: Volkswagen is using the FSI engines with homogeneous direct injection for the first time in the Passat. They deliver 85kW / 115hp, 110kW / 150hp and 147kW / 200hp (Turbo FSI). In the fourth quarter of 2005, a 3.2-litre V6-FSI with 184kW / 250hp will top off the range. The entry-level engine is the economic 1.6-litre four-cylinder delivering 75kW / 102hp.

* Three New Diesels: Each of the TDIs on offer is being used for the first time in this series. They deliver 77kW / 105hp, 103kW / 140hp and 125kW / 170hp. The Passat TDI will also be available with a diesel particulate filter. The most powerful TDI features the innovative Piezo high-pressure unit-injector system.

* Dual-clutch Gearbox (DSG): The 2.0-litre TDI (and later also the V6 FSI) will be available with the automatic dual-clutch gearbox (DSG). It has six forward gears and shifts extremely fast. DSG together with TDI is an ideal combination as, for the first time ever, the low consumption of a diesel engine has been fully maintained in conjunction with automatic gear changes.

* The petrol engines with outputs of 85kW / 115hp, 110kW / 150hp and 147kW / 200hp can be optionally combined with a driver-friendly six-speed automatic gearbox (Tiptronic).


Chassis: Top-class Ride Comfort

* New chassis: The new four-link rear axle, which has been decoupled from the body to reduce noise, along with the McPherson front axle using aluminium components (weight: -13.3 kilogrammes) guarantee a maximum level of agility, comfort and safety.

* New ESP + Trailer Stabilisation: The chassis technology has been perfected with the ESP + Trailer Stabilisation that comes as standard on all vehicles with a tow bar.

* New brakes with “Wipers”: All Passats have 16-inch brakes with an integrated “wiper” function. The brake pads are applied lightly at specific intervals. This “wipes away” any water film that may have formed while driving on wet surfaces and thus shortens the braking distance.


Innovative Force: Combining Technology from the Midrange and Luxury Classes

* New Electronic Parking Brake: For the first time in this class, the Passat comes with an electronic parking brake as standard. It works at the push of a button. Thanks to the electronic control and networking with other control units, it has been possible to realise numerous new functions. They include a dynamic emergency braking function, the dynamic auto release (for hill starts, for example) and vehicle hold (you no longer have to hold down the brake pedal at traffic lights).

* New Starting and Locking System: The remote-controlled starting and locking system used in the Passat is a completely new development. It no longer uses a traditional ignition key. Instead you push the transmitter for opening and closing the central locking almost completely into a holder to the right of the steering wheel and then press it to start the engine. If your Passat has been equipped with the keyless-entry system (Kessy), which is also new to this series, you can start the engine at the push of a button.

* New Automatic Adaptive Cruise Control: A further new feature in this segment is the automatic adaptive cruise control available for the Passat. The Passat will automatically brake from the speed you preset on the cruise control as soon as it falls below a defined safety distance to the vehicle in front. Once the road ahead is clear again, the car will accelerate to the previously selected speed.

* New Bluetooth Telephone: A new hands-free telephone system with a Bluetooth interface is available as an option for the Passat. Your mobile phone is linked to the vehicle wirelessly and you do not even have to take it out of your pocket. The actual mobile functions in the car are handled by a permanently built-in telephone that queries the required data from the SIM card in your mobile phone. The telephone is operated using a separate keypad.

* New Sound System from Dynaudio: Volkswagen has paid maximum attention to the quality of entertainment and infotainment in the Passat. The 600-Watt high-end sound system from hi-fi specia­list Dynaudio provides a very special audio experience. The 10-channel system with its excellent components sets a new standard in this class.

* New Draught-free Climatronic: Two-zone automatic climate control is available as an extra. As in the Phaeton, this system provides draught-free ventilation at the push of a button.

* New Power Supply: Business travellers will welcome the possibility of charging their laptop using an optional 230-volt power supply.

* New Bi-Xenon Headlights with Cornering Function: All headlight systems have been improved substantially compared with the previous model. This applies especially to the full-beam lights. The adaptive Bi-Xenon headlights on the new Passat ensure even better illumination of the road. The integrated dynamic cornering lights follow the path of the road with a maximum swivelling angle of 15 degrees and thus always guarantee optimum illumination. This system has been perfected with the addition of static cornering lights. Aligned to around 35 degrees to the side of the vehicle axle, these lights give you a considerable advantage particularly when turning off at crossroads and into side roads.

[valgabr]

some more pictures

[Manik]

don't got any pictures but all i can say is that VW did a great job on it!

[valgabr]

last pictures

[UCR]

New A4?
http://images.newcarnet.co.uk/news_pic1/A4_2005.jpg
http://img85.exs.cx/img85/7080/pass2ty.jpg
Wait for a cheapo one. :D

[Quiggs]

VW should have released pics of the Passat before the Jetta. Compare the two, and you wouldn't have the 'Jetta-Corolla' comparisons.

New Passat should be a success.

[Egg Nog]

I love how VW isn't following new industry standards of making hideous cars.

[:Exige:]

I love how VW isn't following new industry standards of making hideous cars.
Does that mean that VW are old fashioned and "out of trend" :)

[ScionDriver]

Looks great to me. I like the styling, kind of following the Pheaton, but it doesn't look JUST like it. Its a suttle but good look.

[Sweeney921]

i definitely like it, it's fresh

[Wolf03]

Wow, those rims are fab. Oh yea, the car looks awesome. It's new and refined, yet it still looks like a VW. It also looks very luxurious but I doubt it's a lot more expensive than the current version.

[Quiggs]

Wow, those rims are fab. Oh yea, the car looks awesome. It's new and refined, yet it still looks like a VW. It also looks very luxurious but I doubt it's a lot more expensive than the current version.


Pricing is expected to start around $24,000 and climb to around $38,000 fully loaded with AWD, HID, 280hp 3.6l VR6, navigation, leather and more.
I think that's a fair price. It's a whole lot of car.

[Wolf03]

24,000.00 USD United States Dollars = 29,683.72 CAD Canada Dollars
1 USD = 1.23682 CAD
1 CAD = 0.808524 USD
From www.xe.com

Wow, if it's true, that's great! A Passat under 30,000. :)

38,000.00 USD United States Dollars = 46,997.82 CAD Canada Dollars
Fully loaded! Not bad.

[Spastik_Roach]

Shit thats pretty damn cheap! Pity it'll be priced so higher once it arrives in NZ :(

[Fumacher]

VW have really made a good look! ...... i didnt like the back light unit of the older model, but they fixed it with a good result!