Originally unveiled earlier this year, at its launch in Europe the 4.8-metre long VW will be offered with two direct-injection petrol engines (TSI and V6) as well as a turbo-diesel (TDI). The petrol engines output 118kW and 220kW; the turbo-diesel develops 103kW. At this power level, the Passat CC TDI consumes a claimed 5.8 litres of diesel and hits a 213km/h top speed. With average fuel consumption of 7.6 litres per 100km, the TSI redlines at 222km/h.

The V6 is electronically limited to 250km/h with an average fuel consumption of 10.1 litres. Standard equipment on the top V6 model: the new generation of 4Motion full-time all-wheel drive, as well as the new adaptive chassis control system and DSG dual-clutch transmission.

New technologies

Introduced for the first time on a Volkswagen are the "Lane Assist" lane-keeping system and that "DCC adaptive chassis control". Other high-end technologies include the "Park Assist" parking assistant and "ACC automatic distance control" with "Front Assist" for braking distance reduction.

The "Lane Assist" active lane keeping system automatically counter-steers as soon as it detects that the Passat CC could leave its lane unintentionally. So if the driver sets the turn signal to intentionally change lanes, "Lane Assist" doesn't intervene.

The chassis control system, in turn, is intended to combine "the sportiness of a coupé with the comfort of a top luxury sedan in one car". In parallel to tuning of the suspension's damping characteristic, the power steering system is controlled too. "Adaptive chassis control" offers the three programs "Normal", "Sport" and "Comfort". Decisive here is the fact that the suspension system is constantly adapting to the roadway and driving situation.

"Park Assist" automatically guides the Passat CC into a parking space at the push of a button. The driver no longer needs to steer in this case, but instead just accelerates and brakes.

And when "ACC" is activated, the CC automatically brakes and accelerates within a speed range (0 to 210 km/h) decided by the car driver beforehand. Thanks to "Front Assist", the system can also prevent some cases of frontal collisions. Ahead of certain situations the system preventively puts the brakes in a preconditioned state, helping to reduce stopping distance. "Front Assist" also warns the driver of hazardous situations by visual and acoustic signals. And if a minimum driving distance isn't maintained, in extreme cases the system brakes the car to a stop ("follow-to-stop").

Rock your body

Equally new is the electrically powered Panorama vent sunroof. The transparent roof is 750mm long and 1120mm wide. This means that it covers the entire front section up to the B pillars. In this case, the cross-beam above the windshield is also in black. The sunroof can be pivoted upward by 40 millimeters. There's a unique guide system for the side windows in the frameless coupé doors, which don't offer any surfaces for the wind to catch hold.

In addition to the climate control feature for the car's seats (active climate seat) there's a new climate control system ("Cli­matronic"), with the visualisation now integrated in the display of the radio and navigation systems.

There's also a new layout and design of the instruments with chrome bezels. Instrument markings and numbers aren't backlit in blue, rather they glow in a white light. And to create the impression of a sports car, when the ignition is started the instrument pointers all briefly peg to their maximum positions.

Newly developed is the "Media-In" multimedia socket. This USB interface can be used to integrate iPods and many other current MP3 and DVD players in the particular audio system installed. The USB port is located in the glove box. Control is via the CC's radio or radio-navigation system, with title information also shown in the display.

The Passat CC is intentionally offered in just one equipment variant. Its standard features include chrome accents (interior and exterior), four sport seats (thanks to the individual seating system in the rear), a new three-spoke leather steering wheel design, climate control, ESP electronic stabilisation program, automatic headlamp switching, and 17-inch alloy wheels ("Phoenix" type) with size 235 "mobility tyres" from Continental.

The core markets for the Passat CC are North America, Western Europe and Japan. This Volkswagen can already be ordered in most countries in Europe. Starting in the fourth quarter Volkswagen will also be introducing the Passat CC in the USA, Canada and Japan.