The 2012 Volkswagen Passat (internally designated Volkswagen New Midsize Sedan, or NMS while under development) is a mid-sized sedan that debuted in January 2011 at the Detroit Auto Show, is manufactured at the Volkswagen Chattanooga Assembly Plant, replaces the Passat B6 in the North American market, and is marketed also in South Korea.
At its introduction, the Passat NMS was part of Volkswagen Group's strategy to sell over 800,000 vehicles per year in the North American market. The vehicle was developed by Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive and Volkswagen Passenger Cars, and is partially based on the PQ46 platform used by the European Passat.
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Production
North American, Middle Eastern and South Korean models are built at Volkswagen Group of America's new Chattanooga, Tennessee production facility. The new facility is a "Flex Plant" which will allow for the production of vehicles based on the NMS and MQB platforms. VW announced in October 2016 that a seven-seat crossover vehicle to be called Atlas and based on the MQB platform will be built at the plant beginning in late 2016.
The Passat NMS is marketed in the North American (United States, Canada, and Mexico), South Korean, Middle Eastern, and Chinese markets, with no plans for a wagon/estate version. With the differing B7 Passat models sold outside of these markets, Volkswagen is marketing, worldwide and concurrently, two different Passats. The Passat NMS won the 2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year. The 2013 Passat TDI sets new Guinness World Record for fuel economy under the Non-Hybrid car category. It achieved a fuel consumption of only 3.02 liter on 100 Kilometers (77.99 mpg).
In China, the new model is built by Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive and is marketed as a more upscale model with some interior and exterior differences to the North American model, such as wood-trimmed steering wheel, rear air vents, and LED accented headlights. It is sold alongside models such as the long-wheelbase version of the European Passat known as the Magotan and a B5 Passat-based Passat LingYu.
In China, Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive manufactures the Passat NMS in its Nanjing factory Due to LHD, Passat NMS is not sold in Japan, but instead offers European Passat series B7.
Year-to-year changes
United States
- 2013:Changes to the American market NMS Passat for 2013 include such upgrades as plastic covers for both trunk hinges (although they still remain of an intrusive variety). The 2013 Passat is available in S, SE, SEL and SEL Premium trims with either a five-cylinder, inline-four-cylinder diesel or V-6 powertrains. All SE and higher trimmed models also get a new center console design that now sports a pair of rear-passenger air vents, new cupholder designs, and a new cover for the front storage area. On the SE trim levels a back-up camera is optional. A backup camera is standard on all SEL-trimmed models. Volkswagen did, however, remove Dual-Zone climate control from all models except the SEL.
- Another change added to the 2013-current models was mirrors from the MK6(2011-current) Jetta whereas the 2012 Passat had the same mirrors as the Volkswagen CC.
- 2014: Changes to the American market NMS Passat for 2014 include the engine upgrade of the in-line 5 cylinder being replaced by a 1.8 liter turbo charged in-line 4 cylinder. The new engine delivers 170 horsepower and 184 pounds-feet of torque. Compared to the 2.5-liter, horsepower is the same and torque is slightly higher. The 2014 Passat also now uses electro-mechanical steering, instead of the previous hydraulic setup. Also new for 2014 is the VW Car-Net connection service system. Like GM's OnStar safety and communication system, Car-Net offers crash notification, roadside assistance and stolen vehicle location services. Through a smartphone app, users can also remotely start their vehicle, set boundary and speed alerts, and get a vehicle health report. In the 2014 Passat, the system is available on the Wolfsburg Edition trim and higher. The 2014 Passat is available in S, Wolfsburg Edition, SE, SEL, and SEL Premium trims with either a five-cylinder, inline-four-cylinder diesel or V-6 powertrains. VW says the Passat Wolfsburg Edition "offers a number of additional convenience features for a competitive price." The Wolfsburg Edition will sit between the base S ($21,640) and the midlevel SE ($24,740) trims and go on sale starting at $24,290. To the S model -- which comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission, Bluetooth connectivity, a steering wheel with audio and phone controls, automatic headlights, power exterior mirrors, and driver's seat lumbar support -- the Wolfsburg Edition adds 16-inch alloy wheels, perforated V-Tex leatherette seats, a power driver's seat, heated front seats, satellite radio and a Media Device-Interface with iPod cable. Other model-year 2014 changes include more available features for the SE model, such as a backup camera, two-tone seats, and keyless access with push-button start. Wolfsburg Edition cars get a leather-wrapped steering wheel, shift knob, and parking brake for 2014. The 2014 Sport sits in between the mid-level SE and the top-of-the-line SEL Premium trim models. It features 19-inch wheels, rear spoiler, foglights, sport seats, carbon fiber-like accents, aluminum sport pedals, unique floor mats, and stainless steel door sills. Three paint choices are available. Urano Gray paint is exclusive to the Sport model, while Candy White and Tungsten Silver feature a contrasting black roof and mirror caps. The Passat Sport also comes standard with items found in the SE model.
- For 2015, the Passat receives minor changes. New features have been added to some trim levels throughout the Passat lineup and an all new diesel engine with 10 more horsepower than its predecessor is now offered. Diesel models also see a slight uptick in EPA estimated fuel economy with the manual transmission TDI models scoring up to 44MPG highway. For 2015, the SE with Sun and Nav package adds curve-illuminating foglights that had been previously available only on the SEL trim level. Later in 2015, Volkswagen has announced new trim level packages that will be released that bundle more features into the Passat for less money.
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Design
Volkswagen released a sketch of the NMS in February 2009 and a more detailed, second sketch on 28 October 2009. The Passat NMS reflects a design language developed by Walter de Silva, the Italian design chief for the Volkswagen Group, and Klaus Bischoff, the German design leader for the Volkswagen Brand. The Passat NMS interior borrows most of its design elements from the European Passat, notably the traditional clock.
Engines
In Canada and the United States, the Passat NMS was initially released with a 2.5L 5-Cylinder engine, 2.0 TDI engine and 3.6L VR6 engine. The 2.5L 5-Cylinder engine was mated to either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. The 2.0TDI was offered with a 6-speed manual or optional DSG (automated dual clutch transmission). The 3.6L VR6 was only mated with a automatic transmission
The 2.0 TDI engine is not offered in Mexico or China.
In China, the NMS is offered with a base 1.4L TSI available with a 5-speed manual or 7-speed DSG. The 1.8L variant was available with the 6 speed automatic or 7 speed DSG gearbox and the 2.0L TSI and 3.0L VR6 come standard with 6- and 7-speed DSG gearboxes.
For the 2014 model year, a new 1.8L TSI four cylinder engine replaced the 2.5L inline-5 in North America.
For the 2015 model year, a new 2.0L EA288 TDI with increased power replaced the previous EA189 2.0L TDI in North America.
For the 2015 model year the 3.6L VR6 remained the same in North America.
Transmissions
Reception
The Volkswagen Passat NMS won the 2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year.
In a March 2012 comparison test by Car and Driver, the Volkswagen Passat NMS came in first place out of six cars. However, in a November 2012 comparison by the same magazine with three since redesigned competitors the Passat placed last.
In a 2012 comparison test by Motor Trend, the Volkswagen Passat NMS came in first place out of six cars.
Yearly American sales
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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