Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Sedan, Volkswagen
As part of the Volkswagen quest to carve out an ever-larger slice of the American auto market, the German manufacturer has unveiled the newest addition to its lineup – the 2012 Passat. Penned specifically to cater to big-boned tastes of American buyers, the next-generation sedan wears a 110.4-inch wheelbase to make it larger than any of its predecessors. Even so, VW says that when the Passat goes on sale later this year, it will arrive with a price tag of less than $20,000. Buyers will be able to choose one of three different power train options, including two gasoline engines and one diesel powerplant.
Things get started with a 2.5-liter five-cylinder gasoline engine with 170 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, followed by a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel four-cylinder with 140 ponies and 236 pound-feet of twist. Those who opt for the top-of-the-line mill will be rewarded with a 3.5-liter V6 with 280 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.
The 2012 Passat will be built at the new VW manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee later this year. Check out our high-res image gallery below, then hit the jump for a video and full press release.
Gallery: 2012 Volkswagen Passat
[Source: Volkswagen]
Continue reading 2012 Volkswagen Passat is German bred, Chattanooga born [w/video]
2012 Volkswagen Passat is German bred, Chattanooga born [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 09 Jan 2011 22:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Continue reading “2012 Volkswagen Passat is German bred, Chattanooga born [w/video]”
We’ve got good news for you if you want the skinny on exactly how the 2012 Nissan GT-R will be available when it arrives. The crew over at 2009GTR.com have sourced up the ordering guide for the next Nissan supercar from the North American GT-R Owners Club, and it looks like buyers will be able to pick from a total of six colors. Of those, it’s unclear exactly how man that the company will only charge extra for at the moment. Right now 2009GTR.com seems to think that Super Silver will be the only cost-adding hue, though the forums are rife with speculation otherwise. The 2012 GT-R will be available in just two packages, including Premium, which will fetch $89,950 excluding destination and Black, which is expected to land around $95,100. 
At 181-inches long, the Verano may be just over nine inches shorter than the Regal, but it’s only about two inches narrower and less than half an inch shorter in height. Buick’s design language is nicely carried over to the new small sedan, with the front fascia also looking a bit more like the larger LaCrosse sedan. The upward sloping lower character line on the sides are very similar to what we’re used to on the Regal, but perhaps the most interesting design cue are the taillamps. We like the angry-looking downward slope to the taillamp design, but even after seeing this car in person at a GM backgrounder, we remain unsure if the chrome eyebrows are a tasteful addition. Stare at an image of the Verano’s rump for a few moments, imagine it without the silvery garnishes, and things still look mighty fine to us. The car rides on a set of 17-inch alloy wheels, though larger 18-inch alloys are available on higher-level trims.
With fuel prices in a temporarily lofty spot thanks to the holidays, it’s hard to think of the price of a gallon of gas as a bargain, but according to the former president of Shell Oil, that’s exactly what it is compared to what we’ll see just one short year from now. While speaking with Platt’s Energy Week Television, John Hofmeister said that he fully expects gas prices to be above $5.00 per gallon by the end of 2012. That stance puts Hofmeister firmly in the worst-case scenario club, though other analysts are barely any jollier in their predictions.