VW Passat Estate
The new VW Passat Estate is currently in pre-production, and its launch in Europe is imminent, with the first cars set to debut on August 19th at Volkswagen dealerships in Germany. Advance sales will begin on June 3rd, with prices starting from 22,900 euros, which includes standard features such as air conditioning system (Climatic), roof rails, electronic parking brake, and ESP.
The Passat Estate is among the most successful cars in the world, with over 4.3 million units produced to date. The latest generation has been designed with even more refined professional functionality and presented in an attractive package. Its VW design aims to create anticipation for the new Passat Estate and other exciting things to come in the current VW model lineup.
Passat Estate design in detail
The Passat saloon's design, launched earlier this year, has a distinctive, trendy, and progressive look. The chrome shield-shaped radiator grille is the brand's new face, which highlights its uniqueness. While the front of the saloon and the estate appear similar, their dissimilarities are visible from the B-pillar. The side lines and rear part of the five-door vehicle reveal Volkswagen's excellent design. The Passat Estate's appearance is traditional yet unusual. Its design is a clear indication of a Passat, but it has a stronger and more emotional feel than its predecessor's timeless elegance.
The car's silhouette is robust, with the lower edge of the side windows slanting upwards towards the rear section and the top edge downwards. The "window line" gradually tapers from the B to the D-pillar, producing a "lighter," "elongated," and "sportier" impression. While the roofline has a subtle curve towards the back, it makes the roof side members more prominent below the roof rail and towards the D-pillar. A trim strip incorporated into the sill panels and the rear bumper element emphasize these "tapered" lines. The LED rear lights, with their distinct day and night design, and the pronounced haunches above the rear wheels, provide the design with a sense of presence.
The new Passat Estate boasts a bigger and more athletic appearance due to its unique silhouette design and powerful haunches, which add to its elegance. However, this modern appearance does not compromise the car's luggage compartment capacity or suitability for daily use. Despite appearing lower and more dynamic than its predecessor, the new Passat Estate is actually 1.9 centimetres taller, measuring a total of 1.52 metres.
An overview of the dimensions of the new VW Passat Estate
The new Passat Estate boasts a spacious interior and exterior design. It is 4.77 meters long and 1.82 meters wide, which is 9.2 centimeters longer and 7.4 centimeters wider than its predecessor, providing more room for passengers. The luggage compartment can hold up to 603 liters when loaded to the cover and 1,731 liters when fully used, including the 90-liter spare wheel well. The fuel tank capacity has also been increased to 70 liters, and it can carry a maximum load of 638 kilograms.
A selection of the standard equipment available in the new VW Passat Estate
The new VW Passat Estate will be available in four equipment lines, namely Trendline, Comfortline, Sportline and Highline, similar to the saloon version. The base model, Trendline, comes equipped with standard features such as ESP, air conditioning system, six airbags, 16-inch wheels, central locking with remote control, electronic parking brake, electro-mechanical power steering, folding luggage compartment floor, asymmetric split folding rear seat bench, and black roof rails.
In addition to the features of Trendline, the Comfortline, Sportline and Highline models offer more chrome details, extended centre console with armrest, storage compartment, and rear plug socket, electric rear windows, and a 6-way electrically-adjustable driver seat. These three equipment lines also come with unique features such as folding passenger seat backrest in the Passat Estate Comfortline, sports suspension in the Sportline version, and chrome roof rail in the Highline version.
The new optional equipment for the Passat Estate
In addition to these features, the new VW Passat Estate also has a clever rear section with a low loading sill and an optional easy open function for the tailgate, which opens automatically when the driver "kicks" their foot under the rear bumper. The luggage compartment can also be equipped with an optional electrically deployable tow bar which swivels out from underneath the vehicle. This feature makes it easy to attach a trailer without having to bend down or dirty your hands.
The new VW Passat Estate engines
The Passat Estate will offer eight engine options, with only the entry-level engine (75kW/102 PS petrol engine) being carried over from the previous range. Four new petrol engines are available, all featuring homogeneous direct injection, with power outputs ranging from 85 kW/115 PS to 147 kW/200 PS. Additionally, a 3.2 litre V6 FSI engine with 184 kW/250 PS will be added to the range in the last quarter of 2005, and will come standard with 4MOTION four-wheel drive. The 150 and 200 PS versions of the Passat Estate can be recognized by twin tailpipes at the rear left, while the 250 PS version features a large tailpipe on both left and right sides.
For the first time, each of the three TDIs will be used in the Passat Estate series. The diesel engines will come in three different units, offering 77 kW/105 PS, 103 kW/140 PS, and 125 kW/170 PS. The most powerful TDI features a highly innovative piezo-operated high-pressure fuel injection system and comes standard with a diesel particulate filter. The filter will be an optional addition for the TDI engines with 105 and 140 PS.
Source: Volkswagen
