Volkswagen will launch no fewer than three new Passat variants in Europe before the middle of next year (2015) — three months before Australia receives the standard sedan and wagon.
The German manufacturer would not be drawn on timing of its next Passat-based CC four-door coupe, but the high-riding and all-wheel drive Passat Alltrack will be first on the list, followed shortly after by the petrol-electric hybrid Passat GTE and sportier Passat R-Line range, all of which are slated for sale in Europe by mid-2015. The arrival of the Passat Alltrack will also see the introduction of head-up display across Passat variants, the system projecting vehicle speed and other information on a fold-up panel a la Mazda and Peugeot, and not onto the windscreen like Holden, BMW, MINI and Audi.
A sportier engine offering, based on the 2.0-litre EA888 engine from the Golf R and developing 206kW, will also join the Passat range in 2015, replacing the soon-to-be defunct 3.6-litre V6 FSI — which is being discontinued owing to the fact it will no longer meet emission standards.
The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine is one of four TSI (turbo-petrol) units Volkswagen plans to introduce to the Passat in the next 12 months, taking the number of engine offerings to 10, depending on market. Volkswagen says its engine line-up will eventually offer outputs of between 120 and 280hp (90 and 206kW).
Locally, the new Passat will arrive with both turbocharged diesel and petrol power — a 135kW 2.0-litre TDI (diesel) unit and 132kW 1.8-litre TSI (petrol) engine. Both will be mated exclusively to dual-clutch transmissions, with no manual gearbox to be offered Down Under.
Data suggests Aussie buyers favour wagon versions of the Passat to the tune of a 60:40 split, with diesel-powered variants enjoying similar favour. Local spokesman for the brand, Karl Gehling, says we should expect the same of the new model.
The current (B7) Volkswagen Passat, which has been on sale locally since 2010, sold just 268 examples last month (September) and 2234 units year-to-date (2014). The figures place the Passat fourth in its segment behind the Ford Mondeo (2434 units YTD), Mazda 6 (4648) and segment-leading Toyota Camry (15,781).
The new B8-series Passat will go on sale locally in October 2015.