- Volkswagen releases three sketches of its future New Midsize Sedan.
- The NMS will replace the Passat in the U.S. as a 2012 model.
- The yet unnamed NMS will debut officially at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show.
HERNDON, Virginia — In an effort to avoid confusion, Volkswagen on Thursday released three new renderings of its 2012 New Midsize Sedan, or NMS, and said it wanted to underscore that this model is separate from the European Passat shown at the 2010 Paris Auto Show.
"The purpose is to make it obvious the NMS is a model seperate [sic] from the European Passat shown in Paris with no common design," said the e-mailed message to media that accompanied the renderings.
The as-yet-unnamed New Midsize Sedan is bound for a January unveiling at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. The car will go on sale in the spring as a 2012 model.
In the latest missive about the NMS, Volkswagen pointed out the sedan's "strong hood lines and integration of the New Volkswagen design language across the face of the vehicle." It described the NMS as having a "modern, sporty look."
The NMS has the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry in the crosshairs.
The NMS replaces the Passat in VW's North American lineup. It will be the first model produced at the automaker's new Chattanooga plant.
Inside Line says: Even though they are just renderings and not photographs, from them we see that the NMS appears to have a bit of an edgy personality. But we'll withhold judgment until January. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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cincycubfan23 says:
07:17 PM, 10/06/2010
Some questions:
Will there be a diesel option? (If so, will its high-pressure fuel pump be able to handle US-spec diesel???)
Will the interior finishes and design resemble the nice stuff we've had the last ten or so years, or will NMS "feature" the Fisher Price-sourced plastics I keep reading about in the 2011 Jetta? (I reserve final judgment on that topic until I get over to the dealer in a week)
Does VW intend to build a van / minivan based on the NMS' underpinnings....or will we continue to get rebadged Dodges (an insult to those of us driving VW's the last decade)?
For what it's worth, I like the drawings and am eager to see the real thing.
jscion says:
03:52 PM, 10/02/2010
Can't they just call this thing the Passat??? VW is going to lose it's edge in the U.S. unless it keeps it's Euro look and feel
lions208487 says:
11:51 AM, 10/01/2010
maksimanya makes a valid point, and since I experienced VW or in this case Audi's wire problems first hand, it's time they make a dependable car.
Their fun to drive but unless it's a lease, or I'm driving someone elses, there is now way I would ever own a VW product again.
maksimanya says:
08:23 AM, 10/01/2010
What always appealed to me about VWs was the fact that they were one of the only lower end car makers that sold at least part of their European line in the United States. Now they will lose that euro-chic aura and just become Toyotas with electrical problems.
qdp says:
10:37 PM, 09/30/2010
As more than two third of American population are either obese or over-weight, mid-size-car's owners(family men and women) may even have a higher proportion of those. This is why SUV are so popular, and ordinary European mid-size sedan may not be quite suitable for US market
etanretla says:
07:37 PM, 09/30/2010
shades of the current audi sedans...maybe thats the direction theyre going...
just like a lexus es350 is to a toyota camry...
atenza94546 says:
06:26 PM, 09/30/2010
What Ford Fusion, I don't see it in Europe and Asia ??? !!!!
superm says:
06:13 PM, 09/30/2010
Looks more like a Focus to me...just like the "new" Jetta.
With the push to remove content and features I wonder if the target was the Sonata. The *last* Sonata.
stephen987 says:
05:11 PM, 09/30/2010
So VW is about to build a Ford Fusion?!? That's what the drawing looks like.