Volkswagen will launch the latest iteration of the Passat in India tomorrow. The car will be the flagship sedan offering by the German carmaker for the Indian market.
Volkswagen had earlier showcased the plug-in hybrid version of the new-gen Passat at the 2016 Auto Expo in India. It is based on the MQB platform and gets a revolutionary design change as against its previous iteration model. The 2017 Passat is 2mm shorter and has an extended wheelbase of 79mm making for more space in the cabin and also the boot. The automaker has also managed to shave off 80kg from the Passat's overall weight.
The new-gen Passat will be powered by a 175bhp 2.0-litre TDI diesel mill mated to their six-speed DSG automatic gearbox. VW hasn't confirmed yet if this is to be a petrol engine option or if the transmission is manual. Globally, the GTE plug-in hybrid gets a 113bhp electric motor and a 154bhp 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol unit. The combination produces a power output of 215bhp and 400Nm of torque, while VW has confirmed that this version qualifies the EU 6 emission norms as well.
Volkswagen India has tested the sedan in our country for quite a long time. They recently started the production of this new-gen Passat at the company's Aurangabad facility. Upon launch, the Passat will compete against the Skoda Superb, Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry in the premium sedan segment in our country.
