Detroit Motor-Show 2008: World premiere of the first four-door coupé from Volkswagen, the Passat CC

Detroit Motor-Show 2008: World premiere of the first four-door coupé from Volkswagen, the Passat CC
Only 1.8 TSI, 2.0 TSI and 3.6 FSI engines – but unfortunately no 1.4 TSI or even 1.6l engines yet
Dubai-Cairo-Berlin, 20 January 2007
Although traditionally the NAIAS North American International Automobile Show (NAIAS) is used by American car manufacturers to show-case their latest models and grab the attention of the show visitors and the international media, it was this year a German manufacturer who snatched most of the attention, namely Volkswagen with its first 4-door coupe – the Passat CC.
The Passat CC is now the technological platform for the first four-door coupé from Volkswagen. This guarantees that the Passat CC will employ a range of technology that reflects the top level in this segment worldwide. Tailored to these technologies is a body that was completely restructured and redesigned. Its identifying characteristics include a coupé design, impressive comfort and sporty interior.

Design and Dimensions
The four-door coupé measures 4,796 millimetres in length, which is 31 millimetres more than the classic Passat. With a width of 1,856 millimetres (an extra 36 millimetres), the Passat CC already ranges in the competitive field of the upper mid-class. Similar to its width, its track width dimensions were also modified. In front it is 1,553 millimetres (an extra 11 millimetres), and in the rear 1,557 millimetres (an extra 16 millimetres). The new Volkswagen measures just 1,420 millimetres in height (lowered by 50 millimetres) – very sports car like.

Interior
The Passat CC is a pure four-seater. The coupé philosophy is reflected in the interior in this seat layout too. Both in front and in the rear, ergonomically designed sport seats of the highest calibre are used.
The cockpit design of the classic Passat is already considered exceptionally sporty, elegant and high-end. Newly conceptualised were the entire rear seating area, the instruments, control of the standard climate control system, the steering wheels that are offered and door trim including accent strips. Available options here include accents in genuine wood and newly developed applications of brushed aluminum. Upon request a newly designed ambiance lighting system on the doors, called “ambiance package,” gives the interior an especially pleasant lighting ambiance at night.
A total of three leather sport steering wheels are available for the Passat CC. Depending on the version, the multifunction keys in the steering wheel can be used to control the trip computer, various assistance systems, the audio systems and telephone.
The Passat CC is being offered with a new generation radio and navigation system. Features of the top version – the RNS 510 – include intuitive touchscreen control and a hard-disk supported navigation system. In conjunction with the “Rear Assist” parking assistance system, when driving in reverse, images of the surroundings behind the Passat CC are transmitted to the screen from a rearview camera.
Newly developed is a climate control feature which provides active ventilation of the seat and seatback surfaces, improving comfort considerably. 500 to 600 litres of air per square metre are exchanged per minute here using ventilation fan motors that are particularly silent. Also newly developed for the Passat CC is an electrically activated Panorama vent sunroof. The transparent roof is 750 millimetres long and 1,120 millimetres wide.

Driving Dynamics
The Passat CC is a progressive technological platform with innovative assistance and driving dynamics systems. These include world firsts in the “Lane Assist” lane keeping system and the “Dynamic Drive Control” electronic chassis control system. No less innovative is the “Park Assist” parking assistant and “ACC Automatic Distance Control” with stopping distance reducing “Front Assist”.
“Lane Assist”: This active lane keeping system on the Passat CC is unique worldwide in this vehicle class. “Lane Assist” detects lane markings via a camera in the vicinity of the inside mirror or rain sensor. It automatically counter-steers as soon as the Passat CC leaves its lane unintentionally; a genuine gain in convenience and safety. The system is activated via the multifunctional display on the Passat CC. The driver can “override” the “Lane Assist” steering with little force. The lane keeping assistant does not react when the driver activates the turn signal before crossing over a lane marker either.
“Dynamic Drive Control”: The car’s new “Dynamic Drive Control” (DDC) chassis control system combines the sportiness of a coupé and the comfort of a top sedan in one car. In parallel to tuning off the suspension’s damping characteristic, the power steering system is controlled too. “DDC” offers three programs “Normal”, “Sport” and “Comfort”. Decisive here is the fact that “DDC” improves comfort and dynamic properties in the “Normal” mode too – and therefore full-time. The suspension constantly adapts to the roadway and driving situation. “DCC” also reacts to acceleration, braking and steering inputs. This resolves the conflict in objectives between a stiff sporty suspension and a comfortable suspension.
“Park Assist”: Another high-end technology is the “Park Assist” parking assistance system. It automatically guides the Passat CC into a parking space at the push of a button. The driver no longer needs to steer in this case, but instead just accelerates and brakes.
“ACC Automatic Distance Control”: When “ACC” is activated, the Passat CC automatically brakes and accelerates within a speed range input by the car driver beforehand. Thanks to “Front Assist”, the system also avoids frontal collisions. It uses a radar sensor to monitor the distance to the vehicle ahead of the Passat CC. In advance of certain situations, “Front Assist” preventively places the brakes in a preconditioned state, thereby performing a stopping distance reduction function.
Other technological systems featured in the Passat CC include the Mobility Tire System. From a statistical viewpoint car drivers experience a flat tire every 100,000 kilometers. On the Passat CC with “Mobility Tires”, it is estimated that this value could be increased to 500,000 kilometers, since a highly flexible rubber mixture encapsulates the penetrating object and keeps the tire sealed - also after its removal. In addition to this there are up to eight airbags, ESP electronic stabilisation program and an extremely high-strength body.

Engines and Transmissions
Volkswagen will be offering the Passat CC exclusively with highly advanced direct injection engines worldwide.
1.8 TSI with 160 PS
A TSI engine with power output of 118 kW / 160 PS (at 5,000 rpm) offers entry into the world of the Passat CC. The turbocharged four-cylinder is exceptionally fuel efficient (average fuel consumption: 7.6 litres/100 km) and torque strong (maximal 250 Newton-metre at just 1,500 rpm). With this new engine, the Passat CC reaches a speed of 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds; its top speed is 222 km/h. This TSI is shifted via a manual six-speed transmission as standard equipment; as an option it can be combined with a completely newly developed 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DSG).
2.0 TSI with 200 PS
At the next power level a 147 kW / 200 PS (at 5,100 rpm) strong TSI is used. It too has a turbocharger, and it too shines with very good torque and fuel economy values. Over 100 kilometres this 280 Newton-metre (starting at 1,800 rpm) strong four-cylinder consumes just 7.9 litres of fuel. Despite this, it offers a top speed of 237 km/h. The Passat CC with this engine handles the sprint to 100 km/h in 7.6 seconds. As an alternative to the standard manual six-speed transmission, a six-speed automatic is available here.
3.6 FSI with 280 PS and 300 PS
The strongest gasoline engine used in the Passat CC is a 3.6 litre displacement six cylinder delivering 220 kW / 300 PS (at 6,600 rpm). The 300 PS version develops a maximum torque of 350 Newton-metre (from 2,400 rpm) and accelerates the coupé to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds. Its average fuel consumption is 10.1 litres. The car’s top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h. The Passat CC 3.6 V6 FSI is offered with full-time 4MOTION all-wheel drive as standard equipment.
No chances in the Egyptian market with current engines
Unfortunately the Passat will not be offered at the current stage with any engines smaller than 1.6 or even with the new 1.4 TSI engine, which will make it almost impossible to be sold in markets like the Egyptian car market which currently has extremely high custom taxes for engines larger with than 1.6 litres.