Exactly a week ago, our photographers in Germany captured testing the next generation Volkswagen Passat on public roads with less camouflage than before. The test prototype sported Czech license plates and decals hiding some of the exterior components, but in general, it provides a lot of information about the new Passat design.
For starters, the traditional Volkswagen grille we know from today’s Euro-spec Passat was replaced by a much smaller grille in the same style as the brand’s ID family. The headlights are slimmer and appear to be inspired by the Golf 8. At the bottom of the front fascia, there’s a large “smile” grille and what appear to be vertical air ducts in the corners of the bumper.
The prototype from earlier this month had a bit of camouflage covering the back and this rendering of Kolesa.ru proposed an LED strip connecting the taillights as a feature not yet seen on the test vehicle. The area is usually covered with tape that matches the color of the body, although with current automotive industry trends, such a design element seems unlikely at the moment.
If you’re wondering why the new Passat was made in wagon form, it’s because one of Europe’s most popular D-segment vehicles will be sold exclusively in the form of a long roof and only on the Old continent. Skoda, the more affordable and practical Volkswagen brand from the Czech Republic, is in charge of development of the new Passat, which will be produced alongside the next generation Skoda Superb on the same assembly line. For the record, the Superb will be sold as a liftback and station wagon.
The new Passat will effectively be the last generation model to be sold with a combustion engine when it is introduced late next year. It will ride on the evolution of the MQB platform and will feature a family of electrified gasoline and diesel engines that meet Euro 7 emission standards. With those regulations now expected to be streamlined, we wouldn’t be surprised if some TDI factories were carried away with only minor modifications of the current Passat in Europe. .
