As this is written the next Passat is still a few months away from going on sale in North America. But VW has already leaked photos and some specifications.
No longer the largest car in VW's lineup, maybe it's no surprise that the next Passat looks like a scaled-down version of VW's new flagship, the Phaeton. And it's no surprise that, as usual, the Passat grows a bit with this new generation — it's about 2 inches longer overall than the outgoing Passat, slightly more than 2 inches wider, and rides on a wheelbase about a quarter-inch longer.
The suspension's general design of multilinks up front and trailing arms in back doesn't change much for this generation. But the engines are once again transversely mounted in the nose, indicating that this car isn't directly based on an Audi platform.
VW claims more of the car's length can now be dedicated to passenger and luggage accommodations. In the Passat's engine bay, innovation starts with the use of new direct-injection gasoline engines for all but the base four. A new direct-injection 3.2-liter V6 making 247 hp will sit at the top of the range. If VW maintains its normal vehicle development schedule, expect the newest Passat here before the end of 2005 with both four- and six-cylinder gasoline engines sending power to the front wheels.
Then expect the range to expand through the years…who knows what 2010 or 2011 could bring?
http://www.edmunds.com/volkswagen/passat/history.html
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