Introducing the Passat Alltrack - VW's Outback Competitor

[phaeton]

Passat Alltrack has higher ground clearance and new off-road design

Wolfsburg, 23 November 2011 – Over the past four decades, well over 15 million Passat cars have been built. Along with its favourable all-round qualities, the success of the bestseller – which is sold on all of the world’s continents – can be attributed to the Passat’s wide and diverse range of versions. Now, Volkswagen is extending the model series with another specialist: the Passat Alltrack.

This new version is offered in an estate car configuration, and it closes the gap between the conventional Passat Estate and SUVs such as the Tiguan. The rationale here: many car drivers who use their car as a towing vehicle, or in light off-road situations, want a versatile, sporty and very roomy passenger car that has rugged qualities. Volkswagen developed the Passat Alltrack for this clientele. In comparison with the familiar Passat Estate, the new model is defined by new bumpers in SUV style – with wheel well and side sill flares. Its greater off-road ramp angle, approach angle, departure angle and higher ground clearance all make the Passat Alltrack an excellent SUV alternative for driving on unpaved track.

Two turbocharged direct injection petrol engines (TSI) with 118 kW / 160 PS and 155 kW / 210 PS and two turbodiesels (TDI) – also with direct injection – with 103 kW / 140 PS and 125 kW / 170 PS are available in the Passat Alltrack. The two most powerful Alltrack versions, the 170 PS TDI and the 210 PS TSI, have standard 4MOTION all-wheel drive and a dual clutch transmission (DSG). For the Passat Alltrack with a 140 PS TDI, Volkswagen will offer all-wheel drive as an option. Just how efficiently the engines of the Passat Alltrack operate together with the intelligently controlled 4MOTION all-wheel drive system is illustrated by the two TDI engines: the 140 PS version has a low combined fuel consumption of 5.7 l/100 km (equivalent to 150 g/km CO2), while fuel consumption for the 170 PS version is 5.8 l/100 km (152 g/km CO2). The Alltrack will debut in a world premiere at the Tokyo Motor Show (03 to 11 December); market launch for the new versatile Alltrack begins in early 2012.

[team_v]

So a rebadged Skoda Scout?

Will be interesting to see what the clearance figures are.

[aware]

So a rebadged Skoda Scout?

Will be interesting to see what the clearance figures are.

Isn't the Scout based off the Golf Platform?

No matter what the platform, I have to say i like it. Having a Forester currently I like the idea of a slightly higher wagon that isn't a full blown 4x4 - it has enough ground clearance for what I need but fairly similar to driving a car and an AWD system. Price it right and I reckon it'd do well here. After test driving a Superb 125 TDI a few months back (to replace an '08 Accord V6L) and looking at the Scout the crossover combination is a great idea - I just wish that the soccer mums would look more at cars like this instead of a Landcruiser with a bullbar for the 'wilds' of the suburbs.

[phaeton]

Isn't the Scout based off the Golf Platform?

No matter what the platform, I have to say i like it. Having a Forester currently I like the idea of a slightly higher wagon that isn't a full blown 4x4 - it has enough ground clearance for what I need but fairly similar to driving a car and an AWD system. Price it right and I reckon it'd do well here. After test driving a Superb 125 TDI a few months back (to replace an '08 Accord V6L) and looking at the Scout the crossover combination is a great idea - I just wish that the soccer mums would look more at cars like this instead of a Landcruiser with a bullbar for the 'wilds' of the suburbs.

Hold off the Scout purchase, while there has been no comments from VGA I expect this to arrive within a couple of months here (at the absolute latest of March.)

[Jake02]

So a rebadged Skoda Scout?

Will be interesting to see what the clearance figures are.

Not quite. The Octavia Scout is only $40k where this Passat will end up being quite a lot more $$$. When Skoda do a Superb Scout it'll be the same car.

On the name, what was wrong with calling it CrossPassat?

[aware]

Hold off the Scout purchase, while there has been no comments from VGA I expect this to arrive within a couple of months here (at the absolute latest of March.)

Yeah, I'm not replacing my Forester anytime soon (it is 7 years old next year, but has only done 59,000kms - and as a uni student, any new car is a while off). Dad's car is getting replaced (lease ends in March) which is why I mentioned the Scout after test driving the Superb.

March is a lot earlier than I would have expected it to arrive in Australia though.

[DionM]

Looks interesting.

Be keen to see the price and also towing specifications.

[adrock]

I reckon this looks great. I've always like the Audi Allroader but it's just that bit exy. My wife has a Forester XT and I have to say i love the functionality. I use it all the time when going mountain biking, etc..but i guess compared to the R36 anything's going to seem like it has more clearance. I would definitely consider this as a replacement to the Forester or possible the 36 in a years time.

[Riker]

Put me down as another that thinks it looks quite good.... Being that it may arrive with Diesel power only the price may still come in under the V6 4motion wagon...

[phaeton]

Volkswagen has today released the first images of the new Passat Alltrack, which is making its world debut at the Tokyo Motor Show next week, ahead of its introduction to the market in early 2012.

Based on the popular and versatile Passat Estate, the Passat Alltrack adds 4MOTION four-wheel drive and a raised ride height that give it greater agility off-road, along with stylish body enhancements that also provide some protection from scrapes when covering rough terrain. These include stainless steel-look front and rear underbody protection panels and flared side sills. Other features include matt chrome roof rails, window surrounds, grille and exterior mirror casings.

At 4,771 mm, the Passat Alltrack is exactly the same length as the Passat Estate, and despite flared wheel arch protection the vehicle’s width also remains the same at 1,820 mm. The suspension is raised to increase ground clearance from 135 to 165 mm, which also improves the ramp breakaway angle (significant when crossing the crest of a hill) from 9.5 to 12.8 degrees. Ruggedly styled front and rear bumpers increase the approach angle from 13.5 to 16 degrees, and the departure angle from 11.9 to 13.6 degrees.

As with other Volkswagen vehicles featuring 4MOTION, on the Passat Alltrack the front axle is usually driven, with only 10 per cent of propulsive power going to the rear axle. This saves on fuel. If necessary, almost 100 per cent of power can be sent to the rear axle, through use of an electrohydraulic Haldex clutch.

The Passat Alltrack also features an off-road mode, similar to that on the Tiguan Escape. When switched on (via a dashboard-mounted button), this activates hill descent assist, which automatically brakes the vehicle when the descent angle is greater than 10 degrees. The ABS function is also altered, with higher thresholds for operation on loose surfaces, along with faster-reacting electronic differential locks (EDS) to prevent wheelspin. For vehicles fitted with DSG dual-clutch transmission, the shift pattern is also altered when off-road mode is engaged, with higher shift points to give more power, a flatter and easier to manage accelerator pedal movement and no automatic upshifting in manual mode.

In the UK, the Passat Alltrack will be available as a 2.0-litre TDI 140 PS with six-speed manual gearbox or a 2.0-litre TDI 170 PS with six-speed DSG transmission. Standard equipment will include Alcantara upholstery, 2Zone electronic climate control, cruise control, tyre pressure monitoring system, MDI iPod connectivity, Bluetooth telephone preparation and 18-inch alloys.

Retailers in the UK are expected to start taking orders for the new car in April, with first deliveries scheduled for July. More details including pricing will be available nearer the launch date. For more information on the Volkswagen range visit www.volkswagen.co.uk.