Now, it seems that the revamped Passat will also be tailor-made to cater for the needs of Chinese customers. In other words, the B7 Passat will also be produced in China, receiving a stretched version, as China Car Times reports.
The long wheelbase incarnation of the Passat will be 120 mm (4.7 inches) longer, offering an enhanced rear leg room. This is an important asset, as Chinese customers often use the Passat as a chauffeur-driven vehicle.
VW currently runs two joint-ventures in China: Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive and FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Company. Both of these have handled the production of certain previous generations of the Passat. The aforementioned source indicates that the latter is expected to get the new Passat, as it is the one that currently produces the Passat B6 (using the Magotan name).
In Europe, the B7 Passat will allow customers to chose between three petrol units and three diesel engines, as well as a 150 hp powerplant that can run on natural gas. The entry-level engine is a petrol 1.4 liter TSI delivering 122 hp. This is followed by a 1.8 liter TSI that produces 160 hp and by a 2.0 liter TSI that offers 211 hp. As for the diesel part of the line-up, this includes a 1.6 liter 105 hp, as well as two versions of a 2.0 liter TDI that deliver 140 and 170 hp, respectively.
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