Volkswagen Passat (Germany, 2011-2014)

In 2010 Volkswagen rejuvenated the Passat, one of its most successful and long-standing models. It has been sold over 15 million times, since first launched in 1973 and is available in over 100 countries across the globe.

At the 2010 Mondial de l’Automobile in Paris, Volkswagen presented an entirely new Passat – as a saloon and an estate car simultaneously.

A new styling configuration was created for the seventh generation of the Passat, available in Trendline, Comfortline and Highline equipment levels.

The 2010 Passat offers a standard equipment on all turbodiesel models of the base Trendline version, which includes the energy-saving Stop/Start system and battery regeneration. All other petrol and natural gas engines have a battery regeneration system as well. For the smallest petrol engine, battery regeneration and the Stop/Start system are available as options.

All ten engines (77 kW / 105 PS through to 220 kW / 300 PS) are more efficient – up to 18 percent than the previous generation. The "smallest" turbodiesel (1.6 TDI with 105 PS and 250 Nm) consumes 4.2 l/100 km, equivalent to 109 g/km CO2. The 1.4 TSI (90 kW / 122 PS) in the BlueMotion Technology version, consumes 5.8 l/100 km. The equivalent CO2 value is 138 g/km.

Novelties for this series are an automatic City emergency braking function and, on Comfortline models and above, a standard fatigue detection function. The fatigue detection system, which Volkswagen introduced for the first time in this class, is continually active; it detects reduced driver concentration and warns the driver with an acoustic signal. Further, the Dynamic Light Assist enables continual use of the main beam headlights while driving.

The XDS electronic transverse differential lock improves traction in bends. There is also be a Side Assist function, which uses flashing LEDs in the door mirrors to call the driver’s attention to vehicles located laterally to the rear or next to the Passat or a vehicle approaching quickly from the rear. A measuring tyre pressure monitoring system also signals potential loss of tyre pressure - individually for each wheel. Other assistance innovations are the Easy Open, which allows to open the boot lid with a specific foot motion.

Other new features encompass the rear seat system that can be unlatched from the bootspace, a towbar that can be made to swivel out at the press of a button and side windows in noise-dampening compound safety glass. Park Assist II is also offered on the Passat and the RNS 510 navigation system detects speed limit signs by camera and sends them to the touchscreen in the centre console.

At the 2012 Geneva Auto Salon, Volkswagen debuted the Passar R-Line.

The Passat R-Line will be available as either a sedan or an estate. The cars get new bumpers front and rear, side sills, rear spoiler, 17in wheels and a 15mm lower ride height. Inside the seats are trimmed in Kyalami fabric and San Remo microfiber. It also comes with decorated side sills, stainless steel pedals, new, leather steering wheel and different trim on the center stack.