The new Volkswagen Passat – Car of the Year 2015 – click for hi-res image
The new Volkswagen Passat has won the “European Car of the Year” for 2015. The winner was announced to coincide with the Geneva International Motor Show.
“We are extremely proud of this accolade,” said Prof. Martin Winterkorn, CEO of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, at the prize-giving ceremony in Geneva. “In the new Passat, we have again succeeded in developing a car that sets the standards for its class in terms of technology and quality. This honour is a tremendous confirmation for the work of our engineers, designers and the entire team. The new Passat shows that the Volkswagen brand has the right answers to the challenges of our time.”
Further award for the Passat
The new VW Passat Estate, which went on sale in the UK in January, was named Estate Car of the Year in the UK Car of the Year Awards 2015.
The Geneva Motor Show also saw the launch of the Passat Alltrack, based on the new Passat Estate, which features permanent all-wheel drive.
New Volkswagen Passat Alltrack has permanent 4WD – click for hi-res image
The Alltrack is designed to handle both rough terrain but also deliver cruising comfort – thanks to a driving profile selector and ‘DCC’ adaptive chassis control.
With modified bumpers (and underbody guard in stainless-steel look), rugged wheel arch and side sill moulding covers and sill extensions, and a 27.5 mm higher ground clearance, the Alltrack is a rugged and practical for off-road use. Added distinguishing trim comes with anodised silver roof rails, “Alltrack” badges, and custom alloy wheels.
Choice of technology options
There are of course many optional driver assistance and infotainment systems. These include Active Info Display which features fully digital instruments, a head-up display, Media Control rear seat entertainment system for tablets, Front Assist (lane-changing assistant), Emergency Assist (emergency stop), and Traffic Jam Assist. Other practical options include Rear Traffic Alert, designed to detect vehicles in cross-traffic when reversing from parking spaces, and Trailer Assist, which unsurprisingly, helps when towing and moving in reverse with a trailer.
There are no less than five radio and radio-navigation options, which all include connecting to smartphones via App Connect, with applications such as Mirror LinkTM, Car Play (Apple) and Android Auto (Google), which integrate nearly all smartphones.