Say hello to the lighter, more efficient Volkswagen Passat Saloon and Estate.
German car manufacturer Volkswagen has unveiled the eight-generation Passat at a special event at the VW Design Centre in Potsdam of Germany, having previously teased us with a few concept drawings.
UK pricing and specifications will be released later this year, but we can at least share a myriad details and pictures with you.
The 2015 VW Passat Saloon and Estate are 85kg lighter than their predecessors, which has the knock on effect of improving fuel economy by up to 20 per cent. The saloon is 14mm lower and 2mm shorter, at 4,767mm, while the wheelbase is 79mm longer at 2,791mm.
These new proportions have allowed VW to shift the windscreen further back and there’s a new radiator grille comprised four chrome bars, both of which give the new Passat a more premium, stately look. Wider, leaner rear lights on the Saloon continue the clean look at the back.
Somehow the new Passat is actually more spacious inside, even though the proportions say otherwise. There’s more head room, more leg room and increased luggage space. Not only that, VW has created a very open, classy cockpit.
The engine line up includes a plug-in hybrid for the first time, which VW claims will have an all-electric range of 31-miles and a range of 600-miles with both the engine and electric motor working together.
A 2.0-litre bi-turbo, 4-cylinder diesel that outputs 240PS and 500Nm from as little as 1,750rpm will also be available. The latter is mated to a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox and 4Motion all-wheel drive as standard.
Inside you can expect a 12.3-inch TFT display instead of your usual analogue instrument cluster, head-up display and an infotainment system. Safety comes in the form of the latest version of Park Assist, Rear Traffic Alert, Traffic Jam Assist, Emergency Assist and Front Assist System with City Emergency Braking.
The new Passat Estate and Saloon will go on sale before 2014 is out, with first deliveries arriving in early 2015. Full UK pricing and specifications will be revealed at the Paris Motor Show in September.
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