2012 Volkswagen Passat Alltrack 2.0 TDI

(continued from above)

This new version is offered in an estate car configuration, and it closes the gap between the conventional Passat Estate and SUVs such as the Tiguan. The rationale here: many car drivers who use their car as a towing vehicle, or in light off-road situations, want a versatile, sporty and very roomy passenger car that has rugged qualities. Volkswagen developed the Passat Alltrack for this clientele. In comparison with the familiar Passat Estate, the new model is defined by new bumpers in SUV style - with wheel well and side sill flares. Its greater off-road ramp angle, approach angle, departure angle and higher ground clearance all make the Passat Alltrack an excellent SUV alternative for driving on unpaved track.

Two turbocharged direct injection petrol engines (TSI) with 160 hp (118 kW) and 210 hp (155 kW) and two turbodiesels (TDI) - also with direct injection - with 140 hp (103 kW) and 170 hp (125 kW) are available in the Passat Alltrack. The two most powerful Alltrack versions, the 170 hp TDI and the 210 hp TSI, have standard 4MOTION all-wheel drive and a dual clutch transmission (DSG). For the Passat Alltrack with a 140 hp TDI, Volkswagen will offer all-wheel drive as an option.

Just how efficiently the engines of the Passat Alltrack operate together with the intelligently controlled 4MOTION all-wheel drive system is illustrated by the two TDI engines: the 140 hp version has a low combined fuel consumption of 5.7 l/100 km (equivalent to 150 g/km CO2), while fuel consumption for the 170 hp version is 5.8 l/100 km (152 g/km CO2).

The Alltrack will debut in a world premiere at the Tokyo Motor Show (03 to 11 December); market launch for the new versatile Alltrack begins in early 2012.

2012 Volkswagen Passat Alltrack 2.0 TDI (rear)