At the end of August, Volkswagen will unveil the ninth generation of the Passat, which will only be marketed in a Variant version, that is, in a family body from the first quarter of 2024. To warm up the engines, the German firm has shown the first images of the model (camouflaged, yes) and has provided some details of it.
To begin with, the car, built on the MQB evo modular platform, is larger than its predecessor: it grows 14 centimeters in length -it reaches 4.91 meters- and has a larger trunk. The cargo capacity increases to 690 liters -40 more- in a five-seater configuration and up to 1,920 liters -140 liters more- when the backrest of the rear bench is folded down.
Little can be said about the exterior design, since the brand has disguised its shapes with vinyl with a geometric print that deceives the eyes that look at it. As for the cabin, Volkswagen has a driving position with a new large 12.9-inch central screen for the infotainment system. You can mount a 15-inch one that is billed as extra. Beneath this display are backlit tactile sliders that are used to adjust functions such as interior temperature and volume.
As an option, a new head-up display will also be offered, which projects the information on the windshield. In addition, the multifunction steering wheel has buttons again to make it even easier to operate. The customer will also be able to equip ergoActive front seats, with electrical adjustment, climate control and massage function.
The mechanical range will have several alternatives. This estate will be available with turbodiesel (TDI), turbocharged gasoline (TSI), turbocharged gasoline with mild hybridization (eTSI) and plug-in hybrid systems (eHybrid). The electric autonomy of the latter has increased to 100 kilometers. Additionally, AC charging will be faster on all eHybrid versions, and DC charging will also be possible as standard for the first time.
The brand highlights that they have introduced numerous individual measures that improve the running gear, such as a greater camber and greater stability of the four-link rear axle, a new electromechanical steering configuration, stabilizer bars and modified shock absorbers and adaptations based on the different tires. The more direct steering ratio and longer wheelbase of the Passat Estate have a positive effect on driving characteristics.
Volkswagen also offers a further developed generation of the adaptive chassis control system: the optional DCC Pro with two-valve dampers. This system continuously reacts to the road surface and the driving situation, taking into account parameters such as steering, braking and acceleration manoeuvres. Ideal damping is calculated for each wheel and adjusted on the shocks in fractions of a second. The driver has the option of adjusting the DCC to his individual preferences, from very comfortable to very sporty.
The Dynamic Gear Manager is also part of the standard equipment, a system of the MQB platform that debuted in the current Golf GTI. The system controls the electronic differential locks (XDS) and the dampers controlled by the DCC Pro system. Thanks to this technology, which performs specific braking interventions for each wheel and a selective hardness adjustment on each damper, the behavior characteristics they are more neutral, stable, agile and precise.
In its premium equipment packages, the Passat Estate will be offered with a new generation of IQ.Light Led matrix headlights. These powerful headlights are flatter than the previous version and feature a new high-performance high beam with a range of around 500 metres. The new model incorporates a continuous horizontal LED strip for the rear light groups.
