VOLKSWAGEN wheeled out its seventh-generation Passat at last year’s Paris motor show, and now here it is Down Under with a fresh look inside and out, new technologies and much the same commendable attributes as the previous model.
In fact, the new range of sedans and wagons is based squarely on the previous model, with three carryover engines – a four-cylinder petrol, four-cylinder diesel and thumping 3.6-litre direct injection V6.
With dual-clutch DSG transmissions all round and 4Motion all-wheel drive system on the V6 flagship, the Passat is well equipped by most standards, despite its lack of mechanical ‘newness’.
New features include a driver drowsiness detection system that works its black magic from the steering system, Bluetooth audio streaming and a bunch of high-tech options for auto parking, lane departure correction, emergency braking and so on.
The better news is that prices have been held at previous levels, making the Passat even better value than before.
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Passat B6
Released: April 2006
Ended: April 2011
Family Tree: PassatVOLKSWAGEN abandoned the Audi A4 platform for its sixth generation Passat in 2006, instead electing to build it on a stretched version of the Golf V underpinnings with an east-west engine arrangement., , At launch, the sedan and wagon range kicked off with four Golf-derived petrol engines and two diesels, topped by the 3.2-litre V6 4Motion using a Haldex AWD multi-plate clutch system. , , In July 2007, the 2.0-litre diesel engine was upgraded with a new TDI direct-injection turbo-diesel that lifted performance to 125kW of power and 360Nm of torque (up 23kW and 40Nm respectively)., , Two years after the B6 debut, the party came alive in August 2008 with the arrival of the new flagship Passat R36 bearing a direct-injection 220kW 3.6-litre FSI V6 with a dual-clutch DSG transmission and 4Motion all-wheel drive.
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