US-spec 2020 Volkswagen Passat teased ahead of its debut

KUALA LUMPUR: The 2020 Volkswagen Passat was teased in front of some selected press officials, before its unveiling at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show. In the press meet, photography was strictly prohibited, though some sketches were provided. This midsize sedan is specially made for the US market and Malaysia is unlikely to have the same model.

As per the sketches, the 2020 Passat will get a new design. The chrome grille is large and gets a grid-like pattern that resembles the US version of the Jetta. The headlights have been given a bit more upright stance and are moulded in a rectangular shape. The side profiles and bonnet are pretty much massive and get the aggressive stance.

The Volkswagen Passat is equipped with a 2.0-litre TSI turbocharged engine, which is the same as the currently offered mill. It is capable of making a maximum of 174 hp power along with a peak torque of 250 Nm. The drive is sent to the wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.

The brand-new VW Passat’s production phase is slated to take place at Chattanooga, Tennessee. The sedan will adorn the PQ46 platform, which is similar to the outgoing model. Hence, it will not be getting the new modular MQB architecture.

This means, the 2020 Passat might not be getting the latest technologies of Volkswagen and features like digital Active Driving Display instrument cluster might be missed out. However, the dashboard will get a minimalistic design. There will be an 8-inch infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It will also be equipped with features such as front parking assist, blind spot monitoring, LED lighting, and adaptive cruise control.

The main reason behind the retention of the powertrain and the platform is likely the cost-saving purpose, as the US sees a fall off for the midsize sedan market.

SEO Meta: Volkswagen releases teaser sketch of the US-spec 2020 Passat ahead of its debut; likely to be unveiled at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show.