The new VW Passat, in all its versions, is regarded to be one of the most successful mid-class cars in the world and with over 1.1 million units sold in in 2014, is one of the highest volume series of the Volkswagen Group worldwide.

Now in its eighth generation, this bestselling ‘Car of the Year 2015’ is regarded as one of the most innovative vehicles in its class.

Thanks to advanced engineering methods, it was possible to introduce a significantly more dynamic design on the new Passat (including a lower body, longer wheelbase and larger wheels). And despite the unaltered length in the interior dimensions, it has still expanded considerably.

Simultaneously, the latest technologies have been added including systems such as active info display (a completely digital instrument cluster), extendable head-up display, and also systems such as an app-based rear seat entertainment for tablets, front assist with city emergency braking and pedestrian monitoring. In addition to these, one must also mention three further global firsts, namely emergency assist (vehicle stops in case of emergency), trailer assist (assisted manoeuvring with a trailer) and traffic jam assist.

The new Passat is available with ten direct injection turbo-charged petrol and diesel engines which cover a power range from 88kW/120PS to 206kW/280PS.

The Passat GTE – the first Passat to feature a plug-in hybrid drive – will arrive at dealerships later this year. The 1.4 litre TSI engine develops a power of 115kW/156 PS and the electric motor produces 85kW/115 PS. The maximum torque of the plug-in hybrid drive system is 400 Newton metres. Its power and torque are utilised in an extremely eco friendly and efficient way.

The car’s NEDC fuel consumption (for hybrid vehicles) is less than 2.0l/100km and 13.0kWh/100km. These values equate to CO₂ emissions of less than 45gr/km. In combination with the TSI, this results in a driving range of over 1,000 kilometres with a full 50 litre tank and fully charged battery.