Test Drive Volkswagen Passat US From 2011 Sedan

Passat mixes cards

The creators of the new VW Passat went to risk. They abandoned the style under the conditional name traditional German Quality and tried to combine the powerful classics with a provocative modern. This is not just about a new look. The car has become different and from a technical point of view.
 
Debutoving in 1973, Volkswagen Passat immediately became popular. For 32 years, the model acquired 13 million people. This means that three decades of dealers of the whole world were sold at 1149 cars per day. Among the products of the native concern Passat occupies an honorable third place after Beetle and Golf.
 
Under the new grille, the hood and pharam can be judged about the style of other models of the concern, which will appear in the near future. Related design solutions have already been used on Volkswagen R and C concept boxes. V-shaped hood is covered with chrome and differs in enlarged size.
 
Round headlamps of Middle and Far Light are located in a trapezoidal case. Special attention deserves a xenon option installed on expensive modifications. The adaptive system allows the light stream to follow the bend of the track. At the same time, the angle of rotation can reach fifteen degrees. The effectiveness of such lighting is best estimated at rotations at the intersections. This option is especially useful in conditions of large cities. The rotation pointers are built into bumpers in the form of narrow bands. Their signal is duplicated by repeaters in the rearview mirrors.
 
The characteristic detail of the rear is large LED lights in the style of High Tech, similar to those that are installed on Phaeton, Golf and Sharan. Compared to conventional incandescent lamps, the LEDs are much faster, longer serve and consume less energy.
 
The dimensions of the new model are superior to the predecessor parameters. The novelty length is 4.77 m (+62 mm), width - 1.82 m (+74 mm), height - 1.47 meters (+10 mm). Significantly increased the volume of the trunk - up to 565 liters (+90 l). It turns out that Passat seems to erase the differences between the middle and business class. Everything was mixed in Volkswagen house.
 
Buyers are offered a rich selection of engines - as they say, for every taste. First of all, we are talking about FSI gasoline engines with direct injection and layered mixture formation, developing 115, 150 and 200 hp. From the fourth quarter of 2005, the most powerful V-shaped 6-cylinder FSI in 250 hp will be installed on the car. And the most economical motor will be the 1.6-liter 4-cylinder, capable of issuing 102 hp He accelerates a sedan to 100 km / h in 12.4 s. The maximum speed is 190 km / h. At the same time, the average fuel consumption does not exceed 7.7 liters per 100 km. This engine should also be 1,6-liter FSI (115 hp), thanks to which the car can go at a speed of 200 km / h and accelerate to hundreds for 11.4 s. Interestingly, the average fuel consumption, compared with the previous power unit, decreases to 7.5 liters.
 
It is expected that the greatest popularity in Russia will use a two-liter T-FSI (150 hp). In this engine, the technology of direct laying fuel injection, combined with turbocharging, was applied. The result was the excellent characteristics of the torque, excellent pickup and the absence of the failure of traction. The maximum speed is 213 km / h (from the ACP - 208 km / h). Acceleration up to 100 kilometers per hour - 9.4 s.
 
It is rich in the choice of not only motors, but also transmissions. In the basic configuration, a KP with five transmissions applies. For diesel engines, the six-speed DSG CP with direct switching is particularly interested. It is characterized by ultrafast switching and is considered as an ideal transmission for installation in combination with turbo diesel engines with direct fuel injection.
 
As in the former version, the car listens to the driver impeccably. Of course, the amateur will hardly feel the difference between the old and new versions, but the specialist will become clear. It can be argued that the current Passat has become more comfortable and safer in combination with improved maneuverability. This is achieved thanks to a four-dimensional rear suspension, which is separated from the body with a subframe. The front suspension is equipped with McPherson amortizing racks and alloy components.
 
There are so many different ingenious devices in the new machine that dozens of pages would go to their description. We will tell about the main.
 
It is worth touching the door handle, and the car wakes up. A special antenna emits a directional inductance field, with which the electronics is looking for a sensor-key in the car owner's pocket. When it is discovered, the central locking is automatically unlocked. If no door is open for 30 seconds, the machine will close again. A system called Kessy can be reconfigured. For example, program opening only a driver's door, two doors on one side or all four.
 
There is no traditional ignition key. It was replaced by the transmitter used until the start for unlocking and locking the central locking. It is inserted into the electronic lock, which is located to the right of the steering wheel. If the car is equipped with a mechanical CP, then the clutch pedal should be squeezed. In an option with automatic transmission, click on the brake. Then you need to press the transmitter to the stop, and the motor will begin. To turn off the engine, the sensor is pressed again.
 
For the steering wheel, Passat must be sitting, after studying the instructions. Let's say, the driver will want to take advantage of the manual brake, starts to shake the right hand between the seats and will not find anything. Passat became the first car in its class, which is serially equipped with an electromechanical parking brake. The device turns on and off using the button to the left of the steering wheel. You can turn off the handbrake by clicking on the gas pedal. If the driver is not fastened, the system will not submit to the team. Safety above all.
 
By the way, about security. Bearing components of the body are made of high-strength steels subjected to thermal processing and capable of withstanding extreme loads. With a front collision, the passenger capsule provides the necessary space for survival. When a collision with overlapping (at the end of the obstacle or when a collision with another machine), the capsule is almost not deformed. In particular, legs are practically complete. In addition, at front clashes, an important role will play a trauma-safe pedal assembly: it develops, reducing the risk of damage to the driver.
 
Tires of the new Passat continue to work after a puncture, which is achieved due to the air pressure control system and MONZA tires. Each wheel is installed a sensor that guides information on a special control unit. Computer program analyzes the data obtained. If a significant pressure deviation is detected, the system reports to the driver. And the 16-inch tires with reinforced side of the sides make it even with complete loss of pressure to confidently continue the trip.
 
Some words deserves a distance control system, which is also called adaptive cruise control (ACC). The same technology is used in the representative model of Phaeton. Moving at a speed pre-installed with cruise control, Passat can start self-braking. Don't worry. This will happen if your car's radar will point the car, going ahead at a lower speed. As soon as the object turns to the side or accelerates, Passat will return the specified cruise control speed. The ACS works in the range from 0 to 210 km / h in the modes of the usual and sports. In this case, the locator with an angle of coverage of 12 degrees registers all cars moving at least two hundred meters from Passat.
 
As for the complete sets, their four. The most modest version is TrendLine. Compared to the previous Passat, air conditioning, ESP and 6 airbags are added to it. For Trendline follow ComfortLine, Sportline and Highline. In Russia, the new Passat will appear at the end of June. In the minimum configuration with the engine 1.6 (102 hp) the machine will cost $ 24,900.
 
+ A huge selection of options, excellent handling, the presence of the most modern means of driver safety, passengers and pedestrians.
- A large number of ingenious electronic devices, for the use of which requires pre-training.
 
Specifications VW Passat 2.0
 
Body - Sedan.
Number of places - 5
Curb weight, kg - 1343
Full weight, kg - 1950
Dimensions, mm:
- Length - 4762
- Width - 1820
- Height - 1472
Base, mm - 2709
The volume of the trunk, l - 565
Maximum speed, km / h - 213
Overclocking time up to 100 km / h, C - 9,4
Fuel control flow (urban cycle), l / 100 km - 11.5
Engine:
- Type - benz., 4 cylinder. FSI
- Working volume, SM3 - 1984
- Power, hp - 150.
- torque, nm at min-1 - 200/3500
Tire size - 205/55R16 (R17, R18)
Brakes (front / rear) - disk / drum
Steering - with a hydraulic
 
Text: Stanislav Pavlov
 

Source: Magazine 5 Wheel [06/2005]