Volkswagen AG unveiled its 2016 Passat sedan Monday.
The process, which VW is rolling out at plants worldwide, enables it to design models ranging from a three-door hatchback to an SUV virtually sharing the same front axle, pedal box and engine positioning, despite varying wheelbase and external dimensions.
The US Passat was never a vehicle you’d choose for its design, and the facelift, which includes a slightly flashier front end with new a hood, bumper, fenders, grille and slimmer headlamps, together with a revised rear bumper and trunk lid, plus available LED head- and tail-lights, won’t change that perception.
Up front, the hood has a pronounced bulge, the headlights are narrower, and the grille’s four bars are thicker.
Two top VW officials who were scheduled to appear at the model unveiling in New York – VW brand management board chiarman Herbert Diess and VW Board Member Heinz-Jakob Neusser – cancelled their appearance tonight after Volkswagen suspended sales of its diesel brands and the company’s stock slumped by more than 17 percent today. The Passat R-Line will have unique rocker panels, a sportier front bumper and rear diffuser design and unique 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels with low-profile tires.
Inside, the cabin gets nicer materials, including chrome and piano-black trim, a new steering wheel, and available heated rear seats. A touchscreen utilizing VW’s MIB II infotainment is also standard, and it will allow for swiping and pinch-zooming, as is found on mobile phones.
There doesn’t happen to be anything too exciting about the 2016 Volkswagen Passat and it certainly isn’t all that fresh looking.
Depending on trim level, Passat models come equipped with the following advanced driver assistance systems: adaptive cruise control; forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking; blind spot monitor with rear traffic alert; lane departure warning, which actively steers the auto back into its lane; and parking assist.
The Passat’s design updates also signal the look of the upcoming redesigned Tiguan and new midsize crossover arriving in the US market in 2017.
Bluetooth, USB connections and rear-view cameras are standard across the Passat range.
MSRP for the 2016 Passat with the base engine starts out at $22,440 with full pricing readily available as the launch comes closer.
The 2016 Passat is available in the United States with three powertrains: the 1.8-liter turbocharged and direct-injection TSI® four cylinder; 2.0-liter TDI®; and the 3.6-liter VR6® engine, which makes 280 horsepower-one of the highest outputs in the midsize sedan class. The 2016 Passat 1.8T has an EPA estimated highway fuel economy rating of 38 mpg with the automatic transmission.