Unveiled at the 2008 Detroit Motor Show, the Passat CC marks VW's entering in the new four-door coupé market segment.

The car has generous dimensions combined with sleek proportions and an aerodynamic body (drag coefficient of cw 0,29).

The range of engines includes two common rail turbodiesels with 140 hp and 170 hp and three direct injection gasoline engines with 160 hp, 200 hp and 300 hp.

Targeted mainly to the North American, Western European and Japanese markets, the Passat will initially be launched in the second quarter of 2008 in Europe and from the fourth quarter in the USA, Canada and Japan.

Design

The four-door coupé measures 4,796 millimeters in length, 31 millimeters more than the classic Passat, and 1,856 millimeters in width (an extra 36 millimeters), positioning in the upper mid-class segment.

Compared to the standard sedan model, the Passat CC has increased tracks (+11 mm at the front and + 16 mm at the rear) and a lowered height (1,420, reduced by 50 mm), offering more dynamic and sleek proportions, with a drag coefficient is 0,29.

Side profile

The side view is defined by flowing lines, with the roof that sweeps a very flat curve from the A pillars to far beyond the C pillars toward the rear.

The lines of the trunk region even extend into the rear window, as if drawn with a single line.

The side windows trace a narrow arc bordered in chrome and the side windows are guided into frameless doors. Beneath the window line, a muscular, developed shoulder line is used as a style-defining design element, called by designers "tornado line".

It forms a visual connection from the front wheel wells to the taillights; its three-dimensional expression delivers a plus in tension – and that may be taken literally with regard to the stability of the external metal skin.

Additional design elements are the strong modulation of the door above the chrome parking guard strips, the emphasis of the side skirts and the sporty, outboard wheel wells over the standard 17-inch alloy wheels. (optional 18-inch rims).

Front end

The front end of the Passat CC shows another facet of the Volkswagen brand’s face. Radiator grille, headlamps and engine
hood also bring together the worlds of the sedan and coupé here.

More dominant than on any other Volkswagen, the radiator grille with its two cross-struts and centrally placed VW logo extends between the trapezoidal headlamps.

The grille is framed in by a surface in car color whose V-like shape represents a visual interface to the engine hood with its distinctive power dome.

In the lower area, three large air inlets and integrated turn signal and fog light, left and right, dominate the visual image.

The lower borders of the air inlets are formed by a sports car spoiler that optimizes the downforce of the Passat CC at higher speeds.

Rear end

The rear end of the coupé is characterized by large-surface dual taillights that produce an unmistakable visual image, day and night. A rear spoiler – that has been very stylishly worked into the modulation of the trunk lid – tames air turbulence and, like its counterpart at the front end, supplies greater downforce.

The large rear window visually extends far into the short but high-opening trunk lid. It is a continuation of the coupé’s roof line.

A styling trick makes the window appear even larger and the trunk lid even smaller: the trunk lid section that directly borders the glass has a black painted design element in glass look, that visually extends the glass look and thereby underscores the dynamic character of the Passat CC.

In the lower section of the bumper the attention is drawn to the chrome trim strips, the continuation of the lateral sill panel seam, and the visible tail pipes of the exhaust system on the left and right.

The electrically actuated Panorama power vent sunroof is 750 millimeters long and 1,120 millimeters wide, covers the entire frontal area up to the B pillars and can be raised by 30 millimeters.

Interior

The Passat CC is a pure four-seater. The coupé philosophy is reflected in the interior in this seat layout that offers ergonomically designed sport seats with optinal climatization.

Compared to the classic Passat, new features include the entire rear seating area, the instruments, the steering wheels and various trims.

Available options here include accents in wood and brushed aluminum.

Upon request the contours of the decor strips in the doors become part of an ambiance lighting system, called “ambiance package”, that gives the interior an especially pleasant lighting ambiance at night.

Technical Features

The Passat CC at the 2008 Detroit Motor Show

Among the technical highlights is the Lane Assist lane keeping system, that provides corrective steer control when the vehicle appears to be leaving the lane.

The Automatic Distance Control (AAC) automatically brakes and accelerates within a speed range input by the car driver beforehand, while the “Front Assist” system avoids frontal collisions by using a radar sensor to monitor the distance to the vehicle ahead and reducing the speed accordingly.

The Dynamic Drive Control (DDC) chassis control system that adjusts damping and steering according to three driving modes.

The Park Assist automatically guides the Passat CC into a parking space at the push of a button with the driver controlling only acceleration and brakes.

(Source: Volkswagen)