Photo: autohome.com.cn
The all-new Passat is shaping up to be the best and most revolutionary car Volkswagen has made in decades. How do we know? Because of leaked information, of course. Even though the sedan was supposed to come out next month, thanks to Chinese media, we now have ample details of major features like the dimensions, engine range and safety features to paint a clear picture.
Starting with the engines, leaked brochure images from autohome.com.cn suggest a total of 9 four-cylinder mills will be available at the launch of the new Passat, 5 petrol and 4 diesel, all of them turbocharged and making between 120 and 280 PS, as Volkswagen said back in May.
The petrol range will start with the basic 1.4 TSI making 125 PS (92 kW). There's also a 150 PS (110 kW) version of the 1.4 that will feature cylinder deactivation. Audi will lend the use of their 1.8-liter TSI turbo, making 180 PS (132 kW). Two more powerful 2-liter TSIs will also be borrowed from others cars, the 220 PS one from the Golf GTI and the 280 PS version from the Japanese market Golf R.
Most of the diesels are brand new, starting with the base 1.6-liter TDI, which now makes 120 PS instead of 110 PS and probably around 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) of torque (currently only has 250 Nm or 184 lb-ft). After that, all TDI choices will be 2-liter one: 150 PS (110 kW), 190 PS (140 kW) like in the recent Audi A4 ultra and even a twin-turbo making 240 PS (176 kW).
Of course, it's tempting to be impresses by a 2-liter diesel with more umpf than a Golf GTI, but it's going to be really expensive to buy, so you'd better be committed. We think the all-wheel drive, DSG-motivated 280 PS petrol probably deserves more praise for what will undoubtedly be the fastest 0 to 100 km/h times ever posted by a Passat. Does it deserve the Passat R moniker? Probably not.
In typical VW fashion, detailed charts explaining the weight savings are available, but they're in Chinese. What you really need to know is that it's lighter by up to 85 kg (188 lbs)… because MQB and aluminum.
From bumper to bumper, the 2015 Passat will measure 4,767mm long (187.67mm), shorter by an unperceivably small 2mm. Despite this, the passenger cell will be longer by 33mm (1.3 inches), which is sure to make the legroom-conscious Chinese customers happy. The overall height of the sedan will be 1,456mm (57.3 inches), down by 14mm (0.55 inches) in order to improve handling. Despite this, the leaked patent images suggest headroom will be increased by 26mm (1 inch).
On the technological side, the Passat 8 will be a veritable jewel in VW's crown. Starting with the dash, the traditional instrument cluster will be replaced by a 12.3-inch digital system that can look like a normal speedo and rev counter or double as a navigation screen. Stepping into the digital era, car specs are looking increasingly like ones for smartphones and tablets. The digital instrument cluster will have a resolution of 1440 x 540 pixels, similar to your average tablet.
All Passat B8 variants, European or Chinese, will be based on a revised version of the MQB that underpinned the Golf. It will be packed with safety features like City Emergency Braking, Traffic Jam Assist, Side Assist with Rear Traffic Alert and Front Assist. LED taillights will be standard but they will be an option for the front end. The scary thing is that pretty much everything they put on the car sounds expensive. We could be looking at the first family midsize that costs as much as a BMW 5 Series when fully kitted out.
The petrol range will start with the basic 1.4 TSI making 125 PS (92 kW). There's also a 150 PS (110 kW) version of the 1.4 that will feature cylinder deactivation. Audi will lend the use of their 1.8-liter TSI turbo, making 180 PS (132 kW). Two more powerful 2-liter TSIs will also be borrowed from others cars, the 220 PS one from the Golf GTI and the 280 PS version from the Japanese market Golf R.
Most of the diesels are brand new, starting with the base 1.6-liter TDI, which now makes 120 PS instead of 110 PS and probably around 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) of torque (currently only has 250 Nm or 184 lb-ft). After that, all TDI choices will be 2-liter one: 150 PS (110 kW), 190 PS (140 kW) like in the recent Audi A4 ultra and even a twin-turbo making 240 PS (176 kW).
Of course, it's tempting to be impresses by a 2-liter diesel with more umpf than a Golf GTI, but it's going to be really expensive to buy, so you'd better be committed. We think the all-wheel drive, DSG-motivated 280 PS petrol probably deserves more praise for what will undoubtedly be the fastest 0 to 100 km/h times ever posted by a Passat. Does it deserve the Passat R moniker? Probably not.
In typical VW fashion, detailed charts explaining the weight savings are available, but they're in Chinese. What you really need to know is that it's lighter by up to 85 kg (188 lbs)… because MQB and aluminum.
From bumper to bumper, the 2015 Passat will measure 4,767mm long (187.67mm), shorter by an unperceivably small 2mm. Despite this, the passenger cell will be longer by 33mm (1.3 inches), which is sure to make the legroom-conscious Chinese customers happy. The overall height of the sedan will be 1,456mm (57.3 inches), down by 14mm (0.55 inches) in order to improve handling. Despite this, the leaked patent images suggest headroom will be increased by 26mm (1 inch).
On the technological side, the Passat 8 will be a veritable jewel in VW's crown. Starting with the dash, the traditional instrument cluster will be replaced by a 12.3-inch digital system that can look like a normal speedo and rev counter or double as a navigation screen. Stepping into the digital era, car specs are looking increasingly like ones for smartphones and tablets. The digital instrument cluster will have a resolution of 1440 x 540 pixels, similar to your average tablet.
All Passat B8 variants, European or Chinese, will be based on a revised version of the MQB that underpinned the Golf. It will be packed with safety features like City Emergency Braking, Traffic Jam Assist, Side Assist with Rear Traffic Alert and Front Assist. LED taillights will be standard but they will be an option for the front end. The scary thing is that pretty much everything they put on the car sounds expensive. We could be looking at the first family midsize that costs as much as a BMW 5 Series when fully kitted out.
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