The   release of the 2012 Passat in September 2011,  had Volkswagen enthusiast eager to get in and see the new re-design, or   hte much anticipated car.  

Available with a choice of gasoline or TDI   Clean Diesel engines, the 2012 Passat was built to perform well in all   driving situations.  Trendline, Comfortline and Highline trim levels   will be available, as will a Sport Package with 18" alloy wheels, and a   Technology Package with Volkswagen's RNS-510 touch-screen navigation   system.  Well the 2012 was such a hit, the 2013 are now rolling into   dealerships with appealing interest rates and a variety of finance and   lease options.  

Wolfsburg / Herndon / Detroit ? Designed in Germany and made in America, the Passat was developed as a   larger vehicle with premium features and handling characteristics that   will perfectly match it with the tastes and lifestyles of North   Americans. It will be built in Chattanooga, Tenn., at the world's   newest, most advanced and environmentally responsible auto assembly   plant.

The   new Passat, the largest ever, is the only midsize sedan that offers   German engineering at an accessible price. The Passat TDI ? the only   clean diesel option in the segment ? is expected to deliver 43 miles per   gallon on the highway, with a range of approximately 800 miles.  It   will come with premium standard features that include automatic climate   control and Bluetooth connectivity.

The new Passat offers best-in-class legroom and the safety of Volkswagen's Intelligent Crash Response System.

Volkswagen's   new Chattanooga plant that will produce the Passat is part of a $4   billion (USD) investment by the company in the U.S. market. The   environmentally friendly facility includes a revolutionary paint shop   that significantly reduces emissions. A state-of-the art $40 million   employee training center ensures adherence to Volkswagen's exacting   quality standards.

The Passat will set new benchmarks for safety, driving performance and environmental responsibility in the midsize segment.

Engine and Transmission

The   all-new Passat offers three drivetrain options: a responsive 2.5L   gasoline engine, a remarkably eco-friendly 2.0L TDI Clean Diesel and a   powerful 3.6L VR6.  The   2.5L five cylinder engine (170 hp/177 lb.-ft.), which is being offered   in the Passat for the first time, will be mated to a standard 5 speed   manual transmission. As an alternative, the 2.5 multi-port injection   engine may be paired with a 6-speed automatic.

The   quiet, four cylinder 2.0L TDI Clean Diesel (140 hp/236 lb.-ft.) has the   power of a six cylinder gasoline engine and the fuel economy of a   hybrid. The Passat TDI is expected to deliver 43 miles per gallon on the   highway, with a range of approximately 800 miles. The Passat's TDI   clean diesel engine is equipped with a Selective Catalytic Reduction   System (SCR) and is among the cleanest engines in the world. Optional on   the Passat TDI will be Volkswagen's legendary 6-speed DSG transmission.

The   3.6 liter VR6 (280 hp/258 lb.-ft.) makes the new Passat a top-flight   sport sedan. It offers power and luxury-class driving comfort, with   European-type restraint in its fuel consumption ? estimated at 28 mpg on   the highway.

Gear   shifting on the new Passat VR6 is handled by a standard 6-speed DSG;   the dual-clutch transmission is considered the most efficient automatic   in the world.  This   technologically advanced six-speed transmission incorporates an   automatic dual-clutch system that instantly engages and disengages gears   without the need for a clutch pedal. With a special computer   controlling the process, one clutch is engaged on the next gear while   the clutch from the previous gear is released. The results are crisp,   quick shifts, without the loss of power that is experienced with a   traditional manual gearbox.

Premium Features

The   Passat will be offered in four trim levels, Trendline, Trendline+,   Comfortline and Highline.  All will offer first-in-class safety and   comfort.  The   Passat's safety features include Volkswagen's advanced Intelligent   Crash Response Systems, which initiates automatic safety protections in a   collision ? the fuel supply and high consumption electronic equipment   shuts off; the doors unlock; the battery terminal disconnects from the   alternator cable; the hazard lights switch on.

The   Passat also comes with a tire pressure monitoring system, ESP   electronic stabilization program, ABS with braking assistant, Hill Climb   Assist (with manual transmission), six airbags and an extremely rigid   body structure to protect the driver and passengers.

The   Passat sets new standards for comfort, with a significantly larger rear   seating area, best-in-class rear seat legroom, well-designed controls   and superior touring properties.

Other   standard features include automatic climate control, power windows all   around, air conditioning, insulating glass, a distinctive analog clock   at the center of the instrument panel, cruise control, outside   temperature display with frost warning, radio-CD system (MP3-capable,   plus external audio input) and Bluetooth connectivity.

Premium   options include 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels, power seat adjustment,   leather, leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel, a touchscreen   satellite radio, Volkswagen's RNS 510 system, front fog lights with   static cornering lights, wood decor, new ambiance lighting, memory   driver's seat, power passenger seat, and keyless access with push button   start.

The   Passat will also offer the new Fender premium audio system, designed   exclusively for Volkswagen. In a partnership that combined quality   automotive engineering and quality sound engineering, Volkswagen and   Fender teamed up to bring the raw emotion of live music to the driving   experience.

Exterior

The   Passat's balanced proportions give it a unique, timeless and dominant   styling reflecting the "design DNA" developed by Walter de Silva, the   Italian design chief for the Volkswagen Group and Klaus Bischoff, the   German design leader for the Volkswagen Brand. The signature clean   design, with a predominance of horizontal body elements, reinforces the   Passat's position as the sophisticated choice in the midsize segment.   The bottom line: this car looks much more expensive than it actually is.

The   key identifying feature of a strong brand is the styling of its front   end. Here the Passat displays the new horizontal brand face, with the   grille and headlights forming a single unit. Unlike models in the   compact class, the Passat's grille is sculpted in a three-dimensional   shape. Moreover, the grille stands more upright and makes a more   distinctive and elegant impression in its stricter geometry.

From   the side profile, the muscular ridge in the sill area creates a lively   interplay of light reflections. Powerfully sculpted wheel arches   emphasize the dynamic properties of the Passat. In the balance of the   side profile, the roof lines flow toward the back with a nearly   coupe-like cut of the rear window. Three side windows create luxury   class style with a long, extended glass surface.

The   rear section is also dominated by horizontal lines. The lines of the   large taillights rise toward the sides, underscoring the dynamics of the   elegant rear styling. Another unique feature here is the design of the   two-part taillights (integrated in the rear fender and trunk lid.

Interior

The   Passat shows the look of considerably more expensive cars. The new,   larger Passat is 191.7 inches long and has a 110.4 inch wheelbase, which   translates into a noticeable increase in rear seating space.

Like   the exterior, the interior is also marked by a clean and geometric   formal structure. Interior styling consistently follows the maxims of   functionality. Controls are attractive and easy to operate.

The   instrument panel is similar to that of Volkswagen's flagship vehicle,   the all-new Touareg. Chrome trimmed gauges surround a digital   multifunction display. A high-end chrome look is also applied to the air   vents in the cockpit, and to the surrounds of the radio, navigation   system and the climate control panels. The rotary light switch and   parking brake handle button are also treated in chrome. Except for the   base version, all other Passat trims have chrome interior accents on the   window, mirror adjustment and trunk opening switches.

The   upper and lower instrument areas are visually distinguished by various   decorative accents, depending on the equipment version. Decorative   elements in "Titan" design are used in the Trendline and Trendline+   models; the elegant "Titan" Comfort or Sport seat is used in the   Comfortline, wood décor "Autumn Nut Burl" is featured in the exclusive   Highline model. The accents not only upgrade the instruments, but also   the center console as well as the door trim panels.
  The   seats are exceptionally comfortable. Even in the base version, the   driver's seat is adjustable eight ways, including lumbar support.

The   new Passat and the all-new Jetta are expected to be the sales leaders   in Volkswagen's plan to significantly increase market share in the   United States. The company's strategy is built on a broad portfolio of   products that offers cars accessible to the majority as well as vehicles   for car enthusiasts.

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2013 Volkswagen Passat

From Edmunds' InsideLine.com

"But   after spending several hours behind the wheel on the roads between   Nashville and Chattanooga, we think there's another reason Americans   might like this sedan ? simplicity.

That's   because this Passat is like an old-school American sedan. There are no   needless displays, funny shifters or hard-to-read buttons. You want   lights? Turn a knob. Need to change the station? Turn a knob. More heat?   Turn a knob.

Nothing is complicated and there's room to stretch out. The materials look good and every piece is solidly assembled."

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