New Passat 'more than just a middle-class saloon'

"Completely new and different, but still familiar" is how Continental Cars managing director Maurice F. Mizzi described the new Volkswagen Passat, launched last Thursday at his residence in Bidnija.

"The Passat is now more than just a middle-class saloon. It has matured into a car with character, advanced enough to rival BMW's 3 Series. The VW development team has breathed new passion and pulsating liveliness into this car through an uncompromising combination of shape, functionality, design and ergonomics."

Mr Mizzi went into a lot of detail on the new car, before it was unveiled on his lawn during a lavish champagne reception. With styling influences for the flagship Phaeton, the Passat is more contemporary, he said.

It is larger than the previous mode (+62 mm longer at 4,700 mm; +74 mm wider at 1,820 mm and +10 mm higher at 1,470 mm). More significantly was the decision to opt for a transverse engine layout, which makes the Passat cheaper to build and gives increased interior space.

With a shorter bonnet, the A-pillars and bulkhead were moved forward and the boot space increased by 90 litres to 565 litres.

Six engines are available: 113 bhp 1.6 litre, 148 bhp 2.0 litre and 197 bhp 2.0-litre turbo FSI petrols and 104 bhp 1.9-litre, 138 bhp 2.0-litre and 168 bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesels.

The Passat's class-leading interior includes soft touch plastics on the upper section of the dashboard, damped switchgear and classy chrome highlights. Among the technical innovations are electro-hydraulic, speed sensitive power steering, electric handbrake, auto-hold function to keep the car still in traffic lights, keyless entry, Bluetooth capability and optional ADR - automatic distance recognition using a radar sender linked to the cruise control.

Mr Mizzi emphasised the safety in the new Passat, including a four-star rating for child protection in the EuroNCAP test, joining the Touran, Golf and Touareg to receive the highest vehicle safety ranking.

Prices start at Lm14,200 for the 1.6-litre petrol and Lm16,200 for the 1.9 TDI diesel. Standard features include cruise control, electric windows all round, electronic stability programme (ESP), remote central locking, climate control air-conditioning, tinted glass, driver passenger and side airbags, 215/55 R16 tyres on steel rims, cut pile seat covering, front centre armrest, lumbar support for the driver's seat, radio CD and anti-theft alarm.