Skip to main content

More Torque, New Sheet Metal, and Value to Boot: The 2020 Passat

The 2020 Volkswagen Passat is set to make its public debut at the Detroit Auto Show next month, but the carmaker just released some important details about this midsize sedan ahead of its official unveiling.

This may come as a disappointment to some, but the latest Passat is a refresh of the model that’s been on sale since 2011. Unlike many of the latest VWs, which are built on the firm’s nearly ubiquitous MQB architecture, this car rides on the same foundation as before, and for good reason. Steve Warrick, manager of the Passat model line said, “There was nothing wrong with the platform,” adding that customers haven’t been complaining about shortcomings or clamoring for new features.

Now, that’s not to say things haven’t changed on this car. “We touched every piece of sheet metal except the roof,” noted Warrick, meaning the Passat has a fresh new look that’s more aggressive than before. Engineers also tweaked certain underbody mechanicals, altered the powertrain and simplified its trim structure, slashing the number of orderable model combinations from 17 down to just five.

The only engine that will be offered is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, just like in model-year 2019, though it has been tweaked. Running on the fuel-saving Budack-cycle (that’s B-cycle for short), the reworked powerplant should deliver more torque than before, a full 207 pound-feet, compared to 184 for the outgoing version. A horsepower rating has not been released just yet, but it will likely be similar to the 2019’s rating of 174. A six-speed automatic transmission is the sole gearbox available.

Keeping pace with a rapidly changing industry, the latest Passat will offer plenty of advanced driver-assistance technology. Items like blind-spot monitoring, LED headlamps, voice control and more are all standard. There’s also a redesigned infotainment system and adaptive cruise control system, both of which should be much more user-friendly.

The reason for this conservative approach is simple; it’s a value play. The current Passat is fundamentally sound, offering loads of backseat room and trunk space with more-than-respectable driving dynamics and refinement. For a relatively small outlay of cash, Volkswagen should remain competitive in the cutthroat midsize-sedan segment, which is rife with solid choices like Honda’s all-around-excellent Accord, the brand-new Nissan Altima and of course, sporty Mazda6. Totally redesigning a car can easily cost billions of dollars, for much less than that the Passat should still give rivals a run for their money.

It’s almost surprising to see an automaker redesign its family four-door these days given that several large companies are planning to vacate the segment. “It’s a hallmark product for us in the U.S.,” explained Pietro Zollino, executive vice president of group communications at Volkswagen. They have no plans to stop offering the Passat, a nameplate that’s been available in America for around 40 years with some 1.7 million sold.

The 2020 Passat should be available at Volkswagen’s 650 U.S. dealerships this summer. Pricing, fuel-economy information and other details about this vehicle will be released closer to its on-sale date.

The post More Torque, New Sheet Metal, and Value to Boot: The 2020 Passat appeared first on VWVortex.



from VWVortex https://ift.tt/2Gn55ke
via IFTTT
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Project SportWagen: Going Stage 2 with APR

    When we last left you, the humble little SportWagen was fresh from the development process with our friends at AWE Tuning, sporting a new downpipe, exhaust and intake, allowing things to breathe a bit easier.  The car sounded great, but there was no getting around the fact that our wagon was still quite, well, slow.   While we realize that nothing we do to the Golf SportWagen at this point will make it a race car, we still felt compelled to do something .  To put it bluntly, we had a fever, and the only cure was more power. Flash forward a few hours, and we found ourselves at Waterfest, staring down APR’s palatial spread and the numerous tuned vehicles surrounding it.  Earlier in the year, APR had hinted to us that their 1.8 TSI files would be quite impressive, and based on what they were able to do with the 2.0 TSI found in the new GTI and our time in their Golf R, we knew it’d be worth the wait.  So with this in mind, we lined our G...
Post a Comment
Read more

Volkswagen’s Gone to California with Grand California Camper

Volkswagen is bringing the California XXL concept to production. It will debut at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon as the Grand California. It’s set to be based on the medium wheelbase Crafter van. That’s the company’s full-size commercial van, larger than the T6 Transporter based California. The high roof means room for adults to stand up, though it won’t get the concept’s extended length. The Grand California offers a full wet bathroom. It’s not exactly spacious, though, measuring in at around 31.5 x 33-inches. A toilet, shower, and sink are all crammed into that space, but at least there are motion sensor lights to stop you from reaching for a switch. Standard, the Grand California it comes with berths for two adults. Space for two children is optional, but they’ll be stuck in a berth amove the driver’s area. The kitchen offers a sink, stove, and two fridges. The front seats swivel to add seating space when the RV is parked. It’s also got solar panels, an integrated satellite dish,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Audi Teases A7 Details with New Video

Audi’s gearing up to unveil the latest iteration of the A7, and to get you excited they’ve released this teaser video focusing on the details. The lights, the lines, the interior are all teased here, and though on its own the video doesn’t give us a strong sense of what the whole car will look like, with all of the other details we’ve seen so far we now have a pretty good sense of what’s coming. As you might expect, the updated A7 will look broadly similar to the outgoing A7, but will differ in the details. Based on what we’ve seen, the changes look good. As was reported yesterday, we’re expecting a 3.0-liter turbocharged engine, a 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbo, a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6, and an RS7 that could reportedly make up to 700 hp thanks to the Porsche Panamera’s hybrid drivetrain. We’ll know for sure, though, on Thursday, October 19, when the car is revealed. You can watch the livestream on our site or at audi.com at 2:00 pm. The post Audi Teases A7 Details with New Video app...
Post a Comment
Read more