Volkswagen Passat in new design functions as sedan and wagon
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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DAWSONVILLE, Ga. -- Officials at Volkswagen -- the German automaker responsible for the worldly Beetle that through five decades of production became one of the best-selling automobiles in history -- point not to this iconic car or its modern New Beetle namesake as the most important Volkswagen product, but to a mid-size sedan called Passat.
It was the Passat, after all, in a fresh iteration for 1998 that paved the path for progressive designs like the New Beetle, or Golf and Jetta. This revamped collection of sleek and efficient hatchbacks, sedans and wagons virtually transformed Volkswagen's image and subsequently led to the automaker's resurgence as a dominating player on the global automotive stage.
That 1998 design for Passat, derived from Audi's dazzling A4 sedan, demonstrated that elegant exterior styling can be blended into a comfortable but functional machine possessing the Teutonic hallmark of precision engineering yet without attaching the high-dollar figures usually associated with German touring cars.
Now, designers at Volkswagen return to Passat and find ways to improve on the 1998 editions.
The new treatment, tagged briefly as a 2001.5 model before merging into the 2002 designation, looks similar to the previous Passat with clean exterior lines extending in a graceful arch from the raked front grille to the tail's spoiler lip.
Closer scrutiny, however, reveals subtle modifications to the sleek exterior package, more functional and comfortable interior quarters with features tipped toward luxury, more forceful powertrains and more safety systems added on top of Passat's impressive five-star safety rating.
Passat in the new design divides into four-door sedan and five-door wagon conformations, each outfitted with either a four-cylinder or V6 engine, manual or automatic transmission and the standard front-wheel-drive format or VW's optional 4Motion all-wheel-drive system.
We spent time in Georgia recently driving all versions, from a deluxe GLX V6 4Motion wagon rigged with the automatic five-speed Tiptronic transaxle to a base GLS 1.8T sedan fixed with a sporty five-speed manual shifter.
As a surprise, the most excitement occurred when we steered the GLS 1.8T sedan on twisty circuits in the Blue Ridge wrinkles of northern Georgia.
It exhibited sporty road manners thanks to a stiff unibody structure and independent suspension elements that kindle a firm yet responsive ride quality.
This base version of Passat feels like it's racked with power, despite only four cylinders in the engine.
The feisty dual-cam 1.8-liter plant, fitted with a turbocharger and intercooler, gets an injection of more power with this new edition. It now delivers 170 hp at 5900 rpm, with 166 lb-ft of torque spread across a broad band that extends from 1950 to 5000 rpm.
Coupled to the four-pack is a manual five-speed transmission that's a mechanical treat for those who like to do the shifting. It features a stubby short-throw stick.
Passat also offers an optional five-speed automatic that generates quiet shift sequences in a sporty mode, and Porsche's Tiptronic feature applies, operating like a clutch-less manual.
A V6 drops into any version of Passat.
Displacing 2.8 liters, the longitudinally-mounted plant features a double overhead camshaft and variable intake valve timing. It pumps out 190 hp at 6000 rpm, and torque of 206 lb-ft at 3200 rpm.
The V6 performs particularly well at lesser speeds, where it packs a definite kick when accelerating.
Either the manual or automatic shifter works on the V6.
Then there are the choices for traction mode. The standard version operates with a front-wheel-drive mechanism, but Volkswagen adds the option of all-wheel-drive through the 4Motion system.
It enhances wheel traction by continuously distributing the engine's power to all wheels.
Operation of 4Motion is automatic.
Normally, the system splits the torque, sending half to the front wheels and half to the rear. When wheels begin to spin on slippery pavement, though, the 4Motion device can instantly determine which wheels maintain traction and thus merit more of the engine's power. As much as 67 percent of the torque can be shifted to the front wheels.
The 4Motion device scores as an ultimate safety system for controlling traction, but Passat also adds to all versions anti-lock controls for the four-wheel-disc brakes. Passat with front-wheel-drive also has a traction controller aboard, called Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR).
Other concessions for safety range from the strong unibody structure to six air bags, including frontal and side-mounted air bags for both front seats and new curtain-style air bags concealed in headliners above side windows.
Inside Passat, securely belted into a body-hugging bucket, a driver sits surrounded by ergonomic practicality. Every item you touch -- from the four-spoke sport steering wheel to a console-mounted gear shift knob, climate control switches in the center dash or power window buttons on the left door armrest -- seems like it was strategically placed to become an extension of the self.
Round analog gauges -- large ones for speedometer and tachometer and smaller ones for coolant temperature and oil pressure -- have been arranged in a simple display that optimizes legibility by using bold graphics. At night, the gauges light up in dazzling blue numbers and red needles on black faces in designs inspired from international air traffic controls for superior viewing in the dark.
Two trim levels apply to either the sedan or wagon.
The GLS Passat stocks a long list of comfort gear ranging from air conditioning to power mirrors, cruise control, automatic door locking and power windows, plus a sound system with eight speakers and a CD deck.
Passat GLX loads up the luxury gear. It carries leather upholstery and wood trimmings, electronic climate controls, a power sunroof and Monsoon audio system with the option for a multi-disc CD changer.
Despite many improvements for the 2001.5 Passat, price points do not vary significantly over previous issues.
Figures begin at $21,450 for the GLS 1.8T sedan and run up to $31,575 for a GLX V6 sedan with 4Motion. Wagons range from $22,550 to $32,375.
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| 2001 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS |
| Description: |
Mid-size sedan, wagon
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| Model Options: |
Mid-size sedan, wagon
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| Wheelbase: |
Sedan: 106.4 inches
Wagon: 106.4 inches
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| Overall Length: |
Sedan: 185.2 inches
Wagon: 184.3 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 1.8-L I4 Turbo
DOHC 2.8-L V6
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| Transmission: |
I4 FWD: Manual/5
Auto/5 Tiptronic
V6 FWD: Manual/5
Auto/5 Tiptronic
V6 AWD: Auto/5 Tiptronic
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| Drive: |
I4: FWD
V6: FWD
AWD 4Motion
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| Braking: |
Power 4-disc/ABS/ASR
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| Airbags: |
2 (front) + 2 (side)
+ 2 (side curtain)
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| Gas Mileage: |
I4 M/5 FWD: 24/31 mpg
I4 A/5 FWD: 20/29 mpg
V6 M/5 FWD: 20/29 mpg
V6 A/5 FWD: 18/26 mpg
V6 A/5 AWD: 17/24 mpg
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| MSRP Price: |
Sedan: $ 21,750 to $ 31,575
Wagon: $ 22,550 to $ 32,375 |
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