Detroit 2008: VW Passat CC

Move over Mercedes, there's a new kid on the block......again. Volkswagen is going to give it another go with the luxury car market with the new up scale Passat CC. inspired by the lines of the Mercedes Benz CLS, which is also this car's chief competitor.

Styling is distinctly Volkswagen, with a nice mix of Audi flair. Definitely a nice place car if you want to jump from the Passat to the Audi A6. Four door coupe styling with pillarless doors. A drastically sloping roof line leads into a short trunk overhang. But don't let that fool you. The trunk is spacious, and big enough for golf clubs.

The Passat CC will feature a three engine choices. A 3.6 liter FSI V6 with 300hp. A 2.0 TSI with 200hp. And lastly the baby motor, the 1.8 liter TSI with 160hp.

Also a first for Volkswagen are three new drive systems. Lane Assist, which is entirely new will countersteer the car if an unintentional lane change takes place. It will cancel itself out if the turn signals is used.

Dynamic Drive Control allows for instant chassis adjustment. A the quick turn of a switch. The drive can select from three different chassis settings. "Normal", "Sport" and "Comfort". Each setting adjusts the suspension and power steering settings depending on the driver's tastes.

Lastly comes Park Assist. This is Volkswagen's adaptation of the same program offered by Lexus. This will guide the Passat CC into a parking spot without any driver interference other than gas and brake control.

This makes for one of the most technologically advanced VWs ever produced. Look for the Passat CC in showrooms later this year.

Source: Volkswagen.

New VW Passat CC Coupe spotted in Finland

Out for some winter testing and cunningly disguised as a Lexus. Here we have the VW Passat CC. The CC will be a 4 door coupe, following along the lines of the Mercedes Benz CLS.




The car has not been officialy unveiled yet, though is expected to bow at the Geneva auto show this year. The CC is rumored to have up to 5 different engine choices, including a diesel option. Initial specs list the wheelbase at 106 inches and the overall length at 190 inches.



The Passat CC is going right for the jugular of the Mercedes CLS 4 door coupe. And was originally planed as a replacement for the Phaeton after it's dismal at best try at the U.S. Market. Though it should still play a part as an upscale jump for VW.

This spy phot was taken in Finland doing some winter testing. Complete with a CLS in tow. So we can definately understand the market VW is after. The Passat CC in the is sans any kind of camoflage, though it is disguised to looke like a Lexus. Note the dummy lights in the grille and the imitation badge.

Source: TheAutoChannel.

Volkswagen builds 15 millionth Passat

Emden, GERMANY – Today, the 15 millionth Passat produced throughout the world rolled off the assembly line at Volkswagen’s Emden plant. Official DKMS ambassador Sybille Beckenbauer accepted the vehicle as a donation from Prof. Jochem Heizmann, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, Pavel Vacek, plant manager at Emden and Peter Jacobs, Chairman of the Works Council of Emden plant.

The anniversary vehicle is a Passat Variant BlueMotion 1.9 TDI in arctic blue silver metallic with 77 kW (105 HP). The Passat is one of the most successful Volkswagen models throughout the world and also one of the most popular midsized models in Germany.

“Fifteen million Passats produced in 34 years are a fantastic achievement which everyone at the Emden plant can take pride in together with all the other members of the Passat family at plants throughout the world,” Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann stressed.

Plant manager Pavel Vacek added: “This round figure has a very special significance for our plant. Of the 15 million Passats produced in total, 5.9 million were made in Emden. This indicates the tremendous importance of the model as a symbol for our plant and our region."

Works Council Chairman Peter Jacobs commented: “13 plants around the globe have been involved in the Passat success story since 1973 and the model has provided work, security and income for people throughout the world. The Passat has become a flagship of the Volkswagen brand. At Emden, we are proud of the Passat and we share this success with our colleagues at plants around the world.

On the presentation of the vehicle in Emden, Sybille Beckenbauer said: “I am very pleased that Volkswagen has actively supported the charitable work of the German Bone Marrow Donor Center (DKMS) for many years. By presenting the 15 millionth Passat, Volkswagen has provided the DKMS with even more mobility, flexibility and safety. This is important for the large number of tissue typing campaigns organized by the Center for leukemia sufferers throughout Germany. Potential stem cell donors are included in the world’s largest donor database.”

The popularity of the Passat with Volkswagen customers throughout the world is underlined by the accolades received by the leading mid-sized model from specialists, journalists and customers over the past few months. In particular, the Passat BlueMotion has been awarded the coveted “Auto Environment Certificate” by the ÖKO-TREND institute; the Passat is therefore one of the most environmentally compatible automobiles of 2007.