[diffsoft]

BS Motoring has a review on the new Passat (LHD in Spain):

New Volkswagen Passat review - Passat forward

Interesting read.

Cheers,

[incinerator]

Well, its 29th March and no launch! Their thinkblue.co.in site has nothing except an option to enter your email id. The Passat page has been deleted from the official Volkswagen India site!

[neeld]

Here are two more pics of the new Passat I found on CarWale website.





Source:SCOOP: Volkswagen Passat 2011 spotted in Mumbai - CarWale News

[Hashmi]

As per CnB "Volkswagen launches the new Passat at Rs 20.80 lakh ex-showroom Delhi..SVP"

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by Hashmi

As per CnB "Volkswagen launches the new Passat at Rs 20.80 lakh ex-showroom Delhi..SVP"

Autocar India also have the update in their website!
Here is the related link: VW unveils all new Passat | Autocar India

VW indeed got it in on the 29th of March

Some points from the report:
1) Only the 170 bhp 2.0 TDI is launched, 1.8 TSI petrol to follow later
2) Pricing looks pretty attractive for this motor (all ex-showroom Delhi):
INR 20.80 lakh for the base Trendline,
INR 23.80 lakh for the Comfortline variant, and
INR 26.65 lakh for the top Highline variant

[neeld]

Here are the specs and features from the brochure (also attached).







Brochure:
new_passat_ebrochure.pdf

[vb-saan]

Originally Posted by neeld

Here are the specs and features from the brochure (also attached).

Thanks for sharing this. The Highline is really loaded with all the bells and whistles!
And good to see that they have retained almost all features provided in the global market. For e.g.; Attention Assist, and the Self-Parking Assist system (on the HL variant). The fancy foot tapping option to open the boot seems to be missing though

[.anshuman]

VW has finally managed to price the Passat really well to take on the segment leader the Skoda Superb. The equipment list is pretty generous including the Automatic parking system. Even the base comfortline variant comes loaded. Another good thing is they have finally got the 170hp version of the 2.0 CR TDi engine here.

Though not much is different under the skin the new Passat manages to look a lot better than the boring outgoing version(Atleast in the pics).

Expect the Skoda Superb with the 170hp engine soon. And maybe a Laura VRs with the 170hp engine too.

[Abhi_Automobile]

OK, so , it official.

VW IS serious about the Indian market. I think the last version was launched @22.35 lacs. After 3 years, the next generation is launched@20.80 lacs.

Does that mean that we shall soon see:

1. Passat 1.8 TSI@18 lacs ex-showroom?
2. Jetta launched @ 12.xx lacs for TSI and 13.xx for TDI Trendline? Please, give this to us

Also, to put things in perspective:

Accord base version is @19.7 lacs ex Delhi. http://www.hondacarindia.com/ownahonda/pricelist.aspx. Does that mean that the VW TSI will be priced lower than Accord? Even in the current scenario, the Passat is within a lakh of Accord, which is petrol.

VW wants to be successful in India, no matter what. At least, so is what seems. It also knows very well that it will have to take care of the Jap duo (Honda and Toyota) to do so. First, the Vento is launched cheaper than City and then Passat launched within striking distance of Accord. I am having fun.

[S350L-E240]

Amazing price considering the features, also glad to see the 170bhp engine make it into the cars, one question though about the self park assist, is it the system where the car parks on its own once you set it onto the parameters?

Regards

[Stratos]

In 2007, Volkswagen first entered the Indian market with the launch of the Passat. Over the years, it has started to show its age and a new Passat was definitely what Volkswagen needed to strengthen their participation against today's segment kings like the Accord and Superb.



Mr. Lutz Kothe (Head of Marketing & PR, VW) and Mr. Neeraj Garg (Member of Board and Director, VW Passenger Cars, India) unveiled the all new Passat today in Mumbai.



Design:
The all new Passat shares an uncanny resemblance with VW's flagship, the Phaeton, making the Passat look like its baby. The front gets a long chrome grille which runs throughout the face ending with angular, good looking Bi-Xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights. Overall, a great looking front end. Seeing it from the back, you might just skip a second look thinking its a Phaeton. Scale apart, both cars have almost identical back ends.



Engine:
For the time being the all new Passat will only come with a diesel engine with Blue Motion Technology. Its a 2.0L, 4-Cylinder, Common Rail Diesel Engine which produces 167.67 bhp @ 4200 RPM and 350 Nm of torque between 1750-2500 RPM. Power reaches the wheels using a 6-Speed DSG Gearbox.



VW is using the term 'BlueMotion' to symbolise the conservative behavior of the Passat. In other terms, the BlueMotion Technology comes with some added features to enhance fuel efficiency by using:
- DSG Dual Clutch Gearbox
- Engine Auto Start-Stop (Everybody today is trying to be a Micro-Hybrid)
- Brake Energy Regeneration (Energy produced in braking is used to charge the car battery)
- Tyres with less rolling resistance
- Better aerodynamics (sleeker OVRMs, etc)
- Gear Shift Indicator

Features:
The Passat does come with some class leading features which include:
- Park Assist (The car steers itself in a tight spot with the driver controlling only the accelerator and the brake)
- Attention Assist (Detects driver fatigue and emits a warning signal with a visual message on the instrument cluster)
- Climate Seats (Active ventilation and Massage function)
- Acoustic Sound Lamination (For a quieter cabin experience)

Prices: ex-showroom Delhi

Although the brochure states availability of a manual transmission, the Passat currently comes only as an automatic.

Bi-Xenon Headlamp with LED daytime running lights.


LED Taillamps looks very similar to the ones on Saabs in-terms of cluster design.


Dash looks dull. Nothing attractive about it.


6-Speed DSG Gearbox surrounded by safety control switches and the engine ON/Off switch.


The analog clock is a nice touch.


Leg-space at the back is good for a passenger who is almost 6 feet tall. (Front seat was at a medium range)


215 / 55 R16. Good looking 5-spoke alloys.


Mr. Lutz Kothe and Mr. Neeraj Garg addressing the media at the launch.

[FlyingSpur]

Originally Posted by .anshuman

Expect the Skoda Superb with the 170hp engine soon. And maybe a Laura VRs with the 170hp engine too.

Anshuman, parallal to this launch Audi have also announced the Q5 2.0 TDI Quattro in this higher state of tune. So the first thing I think they should do is to IMMEDIATELY plonk the 170 bhp engine into the long ailing and feeble A4 !! Even after one or two uprated versions of competitor engines being offered to customers, the A4 is still stuck with the 140 bhp version that makes it a super bore to drive.

[AltoHoncho]

In terms of the 'new looks' with this new design language, VW will be able to uplift the Phaeton (just in case the same lingo goes into it), and would become less of a 'looker' with all their remaining portfolio. They're steadily making all their cars 'boring'.

[SkyWalker]

Passat 2.0L TDI at just 1L difference to petrol Acoord in this diesel crazy nation. Man - Accord's going to be in a world of hurt!

Good job by VW to bring the 170bhp version, and to price it aggressively!

[EP.]

Looks like we have a winner here. The new Passat is definitely gonna make big number sales. I thought, its going to cost more with the new rules on CKDs, or is this just an introductory price?

And how effective is the automatic parking going to be with our "bumper to bumper kiss parking janata" ?