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Volkswagen's new Chattanooga plant
that will produce the Passat is part of a $4 billion investment
by the company in the U.S. market. The environmentally friendly
facility includes a revolutionary paint shop that significantly
reduces emissions. A state-of-the-art $40 million employee
training center ensures adherence to Volkswagen's exacting
quality standards.
The Passat will set new benchmarks
for safety, driving performance and environmental responsibility
in the midsize segment.
Engine and Transmission
The all-new Passat offers three
drivetrain options: a responsive 2.5L gasoline engine, a
remarkably eco-friendly 2.0L TDI Clean Diesel and a powerful
3.6L VR6.
The 2.5L five cylinder engine (170
hp/177 lb.-ft.), which is being offered in the Passat for the
first time, will be mated to a standard 5 speed manual
transmission. As an alternative, the 2.5 multi port injection
engine may be paired with a 6-speed automatic.
The quiet, four cylinder 2.0L TDI
Clean Diesel (140 hp/236 lb.-ft.) has the power of a six
cylinder gasoline engine and the fuel economy of a hybrid. The
Passat TDI is expected to deliver 43 miles per gallon on the
highway, with a range of approximately 800 miles. Volkswagen's
TDI clean diesel engines, which come with a NOx storage
catalytic converter, are among the cleanest engines in the
world, fulfilling emissions requirements in all 50 states.
Optional on the Passat TDI will be Volkswagen's legendary
6-speed DSG transmission.
The 3.6 liter VR6 (280 hp/258
lb.-ft.) makes the new Passat a top-flight sport sedan. It
offers power and luxury-class driving comfort, with
European-type restraint in its fuel consumption -- estimated at
28 mpg on the highway.
Gear shifting on the new Passat
VR6 is handled by a standard 6-speed DSG; the dual-clutch
transmission is considered the most efficient automatic in the
world. This technologically advanced six-speed transmission
incorporates an automatic dual-clutch system that instantly
engages and disengages gears without the need for a clutch
pedal. With a special computer controlling the process, one
clutch is engaged on the next gear while the clutch from the
previous gear is released. The results are crisp, quick shifts,
without the loss of power that is experienced with a traditional
manual gearbox.
Premium Features
The Passat will be offered in
three trim levels, S, SE and SEL, with a total of 16 equipment
levels. All will offer first-in-class safety and comfort.
The Passat's safety features
include Volkswagen's advanced Intelligent Crash Response
Systems, which initiates automatic safety protections in a
collision -- the fuel supply and high consumption electronic
equipment shuts off; the doors unlock; the battery terminal
disconnects from the alternator cable; the hazard lights switch
on.
The Passat also comes with a tire
pressure monitoring system, ESP electronic stabilization
program, ABS with braking assistant, Hill Climb Assist (with
manual transmission), six airbags and an extremely rigid body
structure to protect the driver and passengers.
The Passat sets new standards for
comfort, with a significantly larger rear seating area,
best-in-class rear seat legroom, well-designed controls and
superior touring properties.
The Passat will also offer the new
Fender premium audio system, designed exclusively for
Volkswagen. In a partnership that combined quality automotive
engineering and quality sound engineering, Volkswagen and Fender
teamed up to bring the raw emotion of live music to the driving
experience.
Photos: VW
(10 Jan 2011) |
