As expected, the eighth-gen Passat gets a more dynamic-looking design that borrows styling cues such a narrow three-slat radiator grille, a rippled hood and angular headlights from recent Volkswagen concepts like the T-Roc and the NMC. The middle section of the car carries over roughly unchanged, but the rear end features a cleaner design with sharp LED tail lamps and a rounded bumper.
Technical details are still scarce, but the next Passat will be up to 187 pounds lighter than the current model thanks to the use of lightweight materials such as aluminum and high-strength steel. Although it will be slightly smaller than the current model in all directions, clever packaging will allow it to offer a more spacious cockpit and a bigger trunk.
The Passast moves up a notch on the market thanks to improved materials and more high-tech equipment. A 12.3-inch TFT screen will replace the instrument cluster on all but the least expensive trim levels, and high-end models will be offered with a heads-up display as well as the latest generation of Volkswagen’s touch screen-based infotainment system.
Tech-conscious buyers will be able to order the Passat with a wide array of electronic driving aids including Side Assist with Rear Traffic Assist, Trailer Assist, Front Assist System with Emergency Braking as well as Traffic Jam Assist. Finally, the Passat will be able to park itself when ordered with an optional new function called Park Assist.
Mechanically, the next Passat will be offered with a host of gasoline- and diesel-burning engines whose outputs will range from 118 to 276 horsepower. The headline-grabber will be a new 2.0-liter twin-turbocharged TDI mill that will send 236 horsepower and a potent 368 lb-ft. of torque to all four wheels via a seven-speed DSG gearbox and Volkswagen’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive system. Volkswagen expects the oil-burner to return up to 47 mpg in a mixed European cycle.
The most fuel-efficient member of the next-gen Passat lineup will be a plug-in hybrid model powered by a 1.4-liter TSI four-cylinder engine linked to a 100-horsepower electric motor. Reports coming out of Germany indicate the plug-in hybrid Passat will boast a total of 201 horsepower and be capable of cruising on electricity alone for up to 31 miles. With both power sources running, the plug-in hybrid will offer a total driving range of over 600 miles.
The European-spec Passat will go on sale across Europe shortly after greeting the show-going public in Paris. The U.S.-spec model’s replacement is still a couple of years away but the current variant is expected to get a thorough facelift in 2016.
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