Spy photos: 2009 Volkswagen Passat coupe

Yes, yes, yes, I'm sure it's a nice car, but when is VW going to get the news that VW's are NOT luxury cars in the US? Nobody wanted a $70K VW, not many more are going to want a $40K.

Exactly Mirth. This thing will not sell in the US and it is amazing that VW management has not realised this fact yet. People in the US do not want expensive VWs. The top end Passats are selling poorly. So bring in something more expensive??? If peeps wanted that, they'd buy an Audi.
VW need to return to its roots, and make dependable, reliable, cheap cars. They are currently missing on all three counts.

This thing will be a FAILURE. If VW can't make a golf or Beetle reliable and and value-priced, why would people all of a sudden jump to a more expensive model with the same atrocious reliability? If VW global sales were dependent on the U.S., this company would be circling the drain by now. Hey VW - we want value-priced, RELIABLE cars serviced by HONEST and HELPFUL dealers! Get it? GET IT?

No wonder VW is in the shape their in. They try too hard to compete with the higher end makes (MB-BMW) when they already have a luxury division (Audi).
 
This "coupes" proportions are all out of wack because of the high hoodline which stems from the FWD platform. The 2nd picture is not at all flattering.
 
VW should stick to offering "premium" vehicles at competitice pricing but it looks as if they have not learned from past mistakes.

Is this gonna be like the phaeton and just be an audi with a lesser badge for more money?
 
just like the phaeton was to the a8

I we sure this isn't like an audi a7 or something? So far, I dont like it. And i LOVE the passat and vw...

I think it looks like ford decided to redesign the last generation Taurus(not the current ford 500 taurus).

The fact that VW is trying to target MB is a accomplisment in itself because with the estimated sticker and its appearance so far its a better buy than the MB.

The wheels pictured above look similar to the E90 325i/328i sedan wheels.

fordlepka,
 
Isn't that what the Audi name is for? VW needs to get rid of its denial about where its true standing is in the auto industry... and, newsflash, it's not as a luxury brand!

For the US market, VW does need to return to it's roots of the peoples car. I was surprised to see this one... I thought they got the idea with the poor sales of the W8 and Phaeton. From what I've heard higher end VW's do sell better in Europe.
On another note - anyone notice it's pulling a Uhaul trailer? hmm..

I have no idea why VW is still push its car to high end market. Were the lesson of phaeton and Touareg enough?
 
As for the New coupe Passat, I didn't see there is any market anywhere, for anywhere close to 35K(not even 40K) range in US, people would love to buy BMW, Audi, or others.
 
Unless VW could make it somewhere around 28K, that may be a statement.
 
As a touareg owner, I am happy with the design and technology, but the reliability is the issue and it is overweight, not to mention the low resale value.

I bet it'd make a nice Audi A7.

Although I think it looks great and will probably sell well in Europe, I am not really sure how it will do in the U.S. People are willing to pay more for some VW vehicles, look at the Touareg. The Phaeton was not unique enough to be successful here, especially for the price. Every other company (MB, Porshe, Jaguar) is jumping on the four door coupe bandwagon and I think the Passat Coupe may be an interest to some looking for a similar experience, but can't afford to pay over $60k.

Why is VW making a Dodge Intrepid? Anyone else see the resemblance?

It is definitely the next generation Dodge Intrepid.
Plus it shares its door side character lines with the Chrysler Sebring.
Most certainly a Dodge Intrepid/Chrysler Concorde.
You go Chrysler!

this is cute but i dont know if i like the back it sort of looks like those ugly lemon shaped merecedes

i think this will do realy well ! of course its not goin to sell in america because they just dont know wot a good car is. the top spec VW passat V6 FSI 4motion is a great car and here in australia is selling realy well. americans however would rather go out and buy a Cadillac escalade or sumthing far to big and vulgar for the needs of anyone on this planet. further evidence of this can be seen in ford. Ford europe's design theme is so diferent to americas that u cant even tell that there from the same company... The world outside america has a very diferent tast in cars... witch is why alot of european brands dont even bother selling there product there.

American stereotypes aside, this car looks like a rounded, flattened Passat, which is already round enough!!! This makes the Passat look about as chiseled as the Dodge Challenger, because it looks like the old 1999 Chrysler 300M ( http://car-reviews.automobile.com/images/cars/ArtImages/24731/alt11.jpg ) . Also, even if this car miraculously becomes better looking, the car is too close to A4 territory to justify its price, and will cannibalize sales of both the A4 and A5, and future A7 (also possibly a four door "coupe"). Clearly this is a dumb car to produce in so many ways, but one more obstacle is argubaly the worst of them all: the BMW 335i.

Just sold an '03 Jetta before things continued to fall apart - had to spend $700 on electrical before selling it. And I'm supposed to spend $40K+ on a VW?
 
Despite great handling, performance and economy, the electrical, paint flaws and rip-you-off dealer attitude has soured me forever. When I spend that kind of change on a car, you will see an Acura or Infiniti or BMW in my garage...