Sedan and wagon prototypes of the redesigned 2011 Volkswagen Passat have been pulling travel trailers all over Germany. They have the sleeker lines of the current VW CC, but we can never quite make out their face. Well, someone scanned in a photo of the car from a brochure and now the mystery is over.
We won't get this exact car, of course, but more than likely, the Tennessee-built New Midsize Sedan will look like this car -- while adding a little country-western flair, perhaps matching boots with special-edition Wrangler jeans.
Auto Express is predicting a Paris Auto Show unveil for the revamped Passat, which seems reasonable. The Web site also suggests that in addition to mainstream diesel and 2.0T flavors, there will be a Volkswagen Passat R with the Golf R's 268-horsepower version of the 2.0T. Also possible, we guess, since VW has sold an R36 Passat in Europe.
But does 268 hp really constitute an "R" offering on a midsize sedan that weighs over 3,300 pounds in 2010? We think not. Seriously, geez, this should be the base state of tune for the gas engine on the Passat/NMS.
Auto Express via Autoblog
cr_driver says:
01:11 PM, 06/ 4/10
"But does 268 hp really constitute an "R" offering on a midsize sedan that weighs over 3,500 pounds? We think not. Seriously, geez, this should be the base gas engine on the Passat/NMS."
Liked that one!
clarkma5 says:
06:53 PM, 06/ 4/10
Le sigh...Volkswagen is coming up with some really great looking products these days but they're also getting really boring.
2006chargerlua says:
09:43 PM, 06/ 4/10
*Cough* Avalon */cough*
...Seriously... That's the first thing I thought of when I saw that nose... And that's NOT a good thing.
93aero says:
01:40 AM, 06/ 5/10
Yea, they must have got into the habit of putting faux Toyota badges on their car to the point that they also threw on Toyota styling; this is defiantly very Avalon. Not as boring as the new jettas we've been seeing, but thats only because the body seems to make up for the face.
xorbe says:
11:14 PM, 06/ 5/10
oh gawd another helping of forgettable toyota-like styling please!! where is vw going??
firstwagon says:
07:20 PM, 06/ 6/10
Aside from the original Beetle (which wasn't really styled) when has VW had any real style?
Germans don't do form over function very well. (As an example I present the new Beetle).
The reason people buy VW is how they drive, not how they look.
gbaze says:
09:06 AM, 06/ 7/10
People's car for sure. Boring, utlititarian, lacking passion. Obviously you must opt for the Audi.
ballerdc says:
07:28 PM, 06/13/10
Has an Honda Accord CrossTour grille... So ugly.