- Volkswagen is presenting the ninth generation of the Passat, which has been sold more than 34 million times worldwide
- Focus on powerful, aerodynamic design, high quality and a host of technical features
- New plug-in hybrid drives permit all-electric ranges of around 100 km and also DC fast charging with a charging capacity of up to 50 kW for the first time
- New cockpit generation with large displays and self-explanatory menu structure has been developed in response to feedback from Volkswagen customers
- High travel comfortthanks to generous space, effective noise insulation, new seats and optional adaptive chassis control DCC Pro
- First Volkswagen based on the MQB evo+
50 years, 34 million Passat vehicles
Exactly 50 years ago, one of the most successful Volkswagen vehicles was launched: the Passat. With more than 34 million units sold worldwide, it is the top-selling Volkswagen of all time after the Golf and ahead of the Beetle. At the world premiere at the IAA Mobility in Munich (5 to 9 September 2023), Volkswagen will present all the details of a completely newly developed Passat to the public for the first time. The new Passat will be launched as a versatile Variant in the first quarter of 2024. Clean and powerful – the new design is clearly Passat, clearly Volkswagen and yet clearly new from every perspective. The innovative range of three new plug-in and mild hybrid drives and five turbo petrol and turbo diesel engine variants is characterised by efficiency. The quiet and spacious Passat Variant offers a high level of travel comfort and will be optionally available with new adaptive running gear (DCC Pro) and new ergoActive seats (with pneumatic pressure point massage). Volkswagen has completely newly developed the intuitive operation and progressive features of the fourth-generation modular infotainment matrix (MIB4). The new Passat can also optionally park independently and cover long distances in assisted driving mode.
Progressive MQB evo
The latest evolutionary stage of the modular transverse matrix platform (MQB evo) forms the high-tech basis of the ninth Passat generation. Future customers will benefit from the significant economies of scale offered by this high-tech matrix platform. That is because a host of new systems are used on board this bestselling model and their development costs are shared across all MQB product lines. In this way, Volkswagen is democratising innovations and making them available to hundreds of thousands of vehicle drivers worldwide.
New plug-in and mild hybrid drive
The technical highlights include two completely new plug-in hybrid drives (eHybrid) with a system output of 150 kW (204 PS) and 200 kW (272 PS). In combination with a new 19.7 kWh battery (net energy content), they make all-electric ranges of around 100 km possible. This distance turns the new Passat Variant into an electric vehicle for everyday life. Taking Germany as an example: according to a study published by the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport, 95 per cent of all car journeys are shorter than 50 kilometres and 99 per cent shorter than 100 km. These journeys can now be driven purely electrically with a Passat Variant eHybrid. In addition, the efficient combination of an electric drive motor and new turbocharged petrol engine (1.5 TSI evo2) ensures overall ranges of around 1,000 km. The Passat will also be available for the first time with a 48 V mild hybrid drive (eTSI with 110 kW / 150 PS). Two turbo petrol (2.0 TSI) engines with 150 kW (204 PS) and 195 kW (265 PS) as well as three turbo diesel (2.0 TDI) engines with 90 kW (122 PS), 110 kW (150 PS) and 142 kW (193 PS) complete the powertrain range. An automatic and efficient direct shift gearbox (DSG) is always standard. The Passat models with an output of 195 kW and 142 kW always have the intelligently controlled 4MOTION all-wheel drive system on board as standard; all other Passat Variant vehicles have front-wheel drive.
High-tech cockpit and running gear
Volkswagen has completely redesigned the interior. Particularly striking is the clearly arranged, large display landscape – stylish, functional and progressive. The technical basis is the MIB4: the latest generation of the modular infotainment matrix enables intuitive operation systematically designed to meet the wishes of Volkswagen drivers. The adaptive chassis control DCC Pro represents a new level of running gear technology; its spread between maximum dynamics and the highest level of comfort sets benchmarks in the mid-sized class. The newly developed ergoActive Plus seats with pneumatic 10-chamber pressure point massage function offer high travel comfort. Thanks to a 50 mm longer wheelbase with also 50 mm more legroom in the rear, a luggage compartment capacity of up to 1,920 litres and convenience systems derived from the Touareg such as the new massage seats, the Passat Variant is also ideally suited as an all-rounder for business and leisure.
Feel at home on board
The Passat Variant is the ideal touring and business vehicle thanks to the interplay of spaciousness, carefully coordinated high-quality materials, pleasant haptics and operability of all elements, high seating comfort and low level of noise while driving. With the new generation of its bestseller, Volkswagen once again has another vehicle in its range where the higher class boundary no longer applies.
