- VW Passat will be dropped in the U.S. after the 2010 model year.
- The yet-unamed New Midsize Sedan will replace the Passat.
- NMS will debut at the Detroit show in January, and go on sale next spring.
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee — Volkswagen has confirmed that the Passat will be dropped in the U.S. after the 2010 model year. In its place, VW will unveil its as-yet-unnamed New Midsize Sedan in January at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. The car will go on sale in the spring as a 2012 model.
VW last year released several sketches of the NMS, which will be the first model to be produced at the automaker's new Chattanooga plant.
The NMS is aimed at the midsize segment leaders, including the Toyota Camry, the Honda Accord and the Hyundai Sonata.
VW has taken considerable cost out of the vehicle in order to price it below its mainstream competitors and well below the current Passat.
Inside Line says: Hopefully, the NMS will have a bit more character and personality than the recently unveiled New Jetta. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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apoth3cary says:
08:05 AM, 01/16/2011
The problem with VW is America is half of them are assembled in Mexico anyway, why would I pay more for a car made in a 3rd world country.....These VW's just dont get the same reliability ratings either, too bad they dont live up to the reputation of the old VW's, those were well made...
etanretla says:
01:17 PM, 09/22/2010
the passat is not an ugly car...in fact given the choice, id probably choose it over a camry or accord...the problem is the price.../
mklrivowner says:
06:02 AM, 09/22/2010
Okay, VW is growing up. This is a great move for the company considering those who bought the original beetles are now retired or looking to retire and those who bought Jettas and Passats are moving out of their mothers' basements (or at least should be).
Maybe they should have introduced the new model before phasing out the Passat. But even still, If VW is simply going to sell the same aging body styles to teens and tewnties, they will die. And it won't be pretty. That market changes tastes faster than they change their facebook statusI, for one am suprised the old Jetta, the Passat, and even the New Jetta have lasted as long as they have.
With the market where it is, change is good. Even if the NMS is in the same economic market as the Passat, the new body will refresh Americans and boost perception and outlook in the VW.
jscion says:
11:30 PM, 09/21/2010
I noticed the Passat price increased dramatically for no reason also. It seems like it was a far more popular VW model until that price hike. Now we're getting a cost cutter, Americanized sedan to blend in with the already faceless mid-sized market. People like VW because they build cars like VW. All this Americanization is going to wash away the iconic feel of these great German cars.
isend2c says:
10:39 PM, 09/21/2010
This is off topic, but does anybody know why the Passat's price increased by $5K 2 years ago? As far as I can tell, none of the features changed, it just suddenly cost the same as the CC...
sheetsmetal says:
06:14 PM, 09/21/2010
maxman, i used to be a saab 900 guy but after warranty ran out was running a $2500 repair bill a year. The VW passat has no major issues knock on wood, but I know the dillema. The SH looks intriguing but for that price may as well splurge for a bimmer, SH is unsightly too boot. Even Edmunds reports it's amazing what the folks at honda did with a stretched accord platform, not the first thing i want to hear.
sheetsmetal says:
06:11 PM, 09/21/2010
vw should compete on price it's a classic get'em in the showroom mentality then let the upgraders (cars or salespersons) do the talking in the showroom --half will upgrade, the whole point is to get them into the show room. Even if they buy a stripper they will feel the difference in vw solidity and quality vs tininess of honda and toyota (note i am leaving hyundai out as they are on a streak). Mazda 3 is solid and run the same range, stripper to fully loaded and very comparable, just a little different style on the ergos but effectively same.
sugarlandtx says:
04:46 PM, 09/21/2010
VW cars have always been more expensive than the competition. And with Detroit finally getting their act together and the Koreans getting into the car game as well, being the most expensive car maker for the masses days are over. VW has to get its costs in line with everyone else or it will never grow past the loyal buyers it has now.
Let's face it VW is not the tops in quality compared to the Japanese or even Ford. This means that either VW has fallen in quality or the competition has gotten better. Either way, you have to compete in quality and price. VW is starting with price.
maxman says:
02:59 PM, 09/21/2010
@ sheetsmetal YES it is too much to ask. I am in the same situation as yourself and its very sad that manufactures have givin up on 6-CYL cars with the option to shift your own gears. I've mostly driven Nissan's as they were the only ones offering sticks with 6-CYL engines + good interior room all while being able to keep the price somewhere near $30k. In total I had 3 Maximas ( J90, A32, A33) and a 2006 Altima SE-R as a result I ended up at Acura in 2008 with a TL Type-S busting my price cap from $30k to $40. I sure hope this Acura holds up because the only desent looking car (Acura TL SH-AWD is hidious) that I can buy with the power and size is a BMW 535i and now we are talking $50k and I am still sitting on "leatherette." It's really depressing.
sheetsmetal says:
01:58 PM, 09/21/2010
As a Passat owner I am upset that the current model lost the 6 speed manual / stick and that we don't have a GLI equivalent or the poor man's A4(6 speed manual) with A6's size. Don't even mention the CC no head room or comfort in the rear. In Europe they have an Passat R model I believe which fills the niche precisely. I have the 6 speed manual 2006 latest body style Passat right now. While it's no GLI it get's the job done when it matters (accelerating and highway punchiness when needed with the best of them) with fuel economy to boot. I put up with the inaccurate electric steering at highway speed with no on center finesse as the $10k discount. $10k more would have bought me an A4 and w. some bigger anti roll bars, better steering i'm sure (the leather I can do w/o). Bottom line no other stick I could get at that price for the size. What happend to idea of 4DSC for the poor guy, Maxima (CVT), Altima (CVT)? C'mon. I'm up for buying a fully loaded model under $30k with the 6 speed manual. Too much to ask ?