Volkswagen CrossPassat in the wings?

[cawimmer430]

Volkswagen CrossPassat in the wings?

When Volkswagen launched its 2012 Passat, we were a little disappointed to hear that American buyers probably won't be able to dive into a wagon version and that the company's 4Motion  all-wheel drive system wasn't slated for the option sheet either. Volkswagen's engineers said that the platform simply wasn't suited to putting power to all four wheels, despite the fact that the body tray clearly has a center tunnel to accommodate a driveshaft. Now Autobild  is reporting that the German manufacturer may be considering the creation of a Passat-based crossover that would offer all of the storage and go-anywhere goodness of a Passat Wagon 4Motion.

According to a poorly translated report, the vehicle will boast a taller ride height and plenty of plastic body cladding to protect it from the slings and arrows of errant rocks and sticks. All-wheel drive will be an option as well, though there are no solid details on what to expect from the engine or transmission departments.

Do we like the idea of jacking up the Passat to make it fit into the crossover crowd? Some of us do, some of us don't. Either way, we're guessing that the vehicle would be little more than a spring-and-damper swap away from riding as low as its four-door counterpart. Still, all of that plastic body cladding doesn't seem to fit with the typically clean design language, but we'll take a Passat wagon of any sort, even if it's been given the Allroad treatment. It'll take some time to find out whether there's any meat to these rumors, of course, and it'll likely take more time still to figure out if the rumored model might see North American dealers. In the meantime, head over to Autobild to see a full rendering of the vehicle.


Link: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/14/volkswagen-crosspassat-in-the-wings/

[2o6]

STOP POSTING THREADS.

[cawimmer430]

STOP POSTING THREADS.

[WookieOnRitalin]

Wouldn't this just cut into Tiguan sales? I fail to see why VW America would want this on the lot. As a consumer, I love the idea and wish there were more midsize wagon choices.

[Payman]

STOP POSTING THREADS.

... cries Mr Chinese crap car we might find interesting but really really don't give a flying fuck about.

[Payman]

A Passat 4Motion wagon DOES interest me, thank you very much.

[Laconian]

Wouldn't this just cut into Tiguan sales? I fail to see why VW America would want this on the lot. As a consumer, I love the idea and wish there were more midsize wagon choices.

I hope they don't bow to stupid styling conventions and make a Uselesswagen out of it, a la CrossTour.

STOP POSTING THREADS.

What the hell?

[2o6]

... cries Mr Chinese crap car we might find interesting but really really don't give a flying fuck about.

Yeah, I don't do that at all.


Wimmer is approaching nethead levels of annoying.

[68_427]

Yeah, I don't do that at all.


Wimmer is approaching nethead levels of annoying.

Unthusiast.

[Cookie Monster]

Yeah, I don't do that at all.


Wimmer is approaching nethead levels of annoying.

By posting useful threads for once, instead of jizzing over Volares or telling us how overpowered our cars are?

Keep the threads coming, Wimmer. Also, I hate plastic cladding so NOTHX to this car. The only car I could stand the cladding on was the Element because it already looked like a Tupperware container.

[S204STi]

Sounds more like a competitor to the Outback and XC70.  Could be interesting.