New Volkswagen Passat Wagon Isn't Coming To America

Volkswagen has unveiled the newPassat, now soldexclusively in station wagon form. Now in its ninth generation, the iconic nameplate soldiers on as a large family hauler with efficient engine options, a sleek exterior, and new onboard technology.

Several newly developed engines are on offer. Two new plug-in hybrid powertrains can be specified. Equipped with a 19.7 kWh battery, the Passat Variant can travel up to 62 miles on electric power alone. The eHybrid model can be charged at speeds of up to 50 kW at DC fast-charging stations. The lesser model produces 201 horsepower, while the more powerful variant offers 268 hp.

With the electric assistance, the turbocharged 1.5-liter gasoline engine has a range of over 620 miles. Aside from the PHEVs, there are also 48-volt mild-hybrid motors. The base eTSI model produces 147 hp, while a turbocharged 2.0-liter in two states of tune (201 hp and 261 hp) is also available. There's also a turbodiesel derivative offered with three output levels.

VW's 4Motion all-wheel drive is standard on the most potent gas- and diesel-powered models. The rest make do with front-wheel drive. All Passat Variant models have a DSG transmission regardless of the engine or trim level.

The interior is more upmarket than previous Passat models. A 12.9-inch landscape display is angled towards the driver and houses the main vehicle controls. A larger 15-inch screen is available as an option. Sadly, the Passat seems to retain thecontroversial touch controlsfor the HVAC. Volkswagen says the latest modular infotainment matrix generation is intuitive and tailored to VW customers' needs.

Volkswagen has moved the gear lever to the steering column, freeing up space in the center console. The Passat has grown in size, with the wheelbase growing by two inches. Rear legroom has increased by nearly the same amount, too. Cargo space also benefits from the larger bodyshell; there's now an SUV-rivalling 67.8 ft³of packing space up for grabs.