While one does not expect an executive sedan priced at `25 lakhs to set the sales charts on fire, the Volkswagen Passat has sold in reasonable numbers. Bringing unmatched quality and refinement to the fore, it did slightly disappoint when it came to the exterior design. The car looked bland to say the least, but this will change when the new Passat is launched on March 29.
To say that the Passat has gone through a makeover is putting it lightly, the car now looks entirely transformed. In a good way. The car now features more edgy lines, in tune with Volkswagen’s new design language. Expect the Jetta to receive similar treatment soon as well.
The front of the car looks remarkably different now, with a horizontal front grille with parallel chrome slats and the VW logo taking centrestage in the middle. A new airdam houses modern fog lamps and a chrome slat running between. The headlamps have been redesigned too, and are now larger and look more upmarket than the outgoing versions. While the rear of the new Passat looks similar to the old one, the tail lamps have morphed into wraparounds. The body panels on the side of the car are also changed. All very classy, as we’ve now come to expect of Volkswagen.
News is that the interiors and engines haven’t changed too much. Volkswagen has improved on the quality and materials inside.
The car is rumoured to retain a super-opulent interior with all the creature comforts demanded of a car in this segment. And while the new Passat will retain the same engines initially at least, with the 1.8 TSI petrol engine and the 2.0 TDI oil-burner, the diesel is expected to now produce more power — a welcome improvement.
It’s good to see that the tapering fused grille and airdam design theme is finally gone, originally begun by Audi and adopted by several car manufacturers and that the new car finally sports some originality in its design. The new Passat will be priced slightly higher than the outgoing model.
The writer is automobile enthusiast based in Kodaikanal.