Volkswagen India announced earlier this month that it has begun production of the new generation Passat in the country. With the model being a long awaited one from the manufacturer, we can now tell you that the upcoming full-size sedan is scheduled to go on sale on October 10, 2017. The all-new Volkswagen Passat made its global debut at the 2014 Paris Motor Show and is based on the lighter and flexible MQB platform. It is Volkswagen's second major launch this year after the Tiguan SUV in India.
Also Read: Volkswagen Begins Production Of New Passat In India
The eighth generation Volkswagen Passat gets a sharper design language over its predecessor while keeping things simple. The overall styling is familiar to the Volkswagen territory and you get a wide triple-slat grille, LED headlamps with signature DRLs and dynamic Light Assist feature. The overall design looks smoother and clutter-free and the car looks longer as well. However, the new Passat is 2 mm shorter, but gets a 79 mm longer wheelbase. In the process, the new generation Passat gets shorter overhangs, while the model is also 12 mm wider and 14 mm lower than the previous model. The boot capacity has increased by 26 litres to 586 litres.
(The new Volkswagen Passat was first unveiled at the 2014 Paris Motor Show)
Inside, the 2017 Volkswagen Passat gets a completely new and luxurious cabin with a host of new tech wizardry on board. A 12.3-inch TFT digital instrument cluster makes it to the Passat, shared with the Audi TT, while you also get the a touchscreen infotainment system on the centre console with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. In addition, the sedan comes with new Park Assist, Head Up Display (HUD) unit, and a host of new safety features on board.
Under the hood, the new generation Volkswagen Passat will draw power from the 2-litre TDI four-cylinder diesel engine tuned to produce 174 bhp, while paired to a 6-speed DSG automatic transmission. It needs to be seen though if Volkswagen India will bring the Passat GTE plug-in hybrid to India.
Also Read: Volkwagen Passat GTE Review
(Power on the Volkswagen Passat will come from a 2-litre TDI diesel engine)
The all-new Volkswagen Passat will have a host of rivals to compete against including the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord as well as its Czech sibling the Skoda Superb. In fact, both the Superb and Passat share the same underpinnings and features as well, but differentiate on several aspects. Prices for the new VW Passat are expect to start over the Rs. 25 lakh (ex-showroom) mark. Make sure to keep watching the space for more details on the upcoming offering.
