VW To Show Not One, But Two New Passats: 2011 Shanghai Auto Show

SHANGHAI, China — Volkswagen and its Chinese partners will unveil two different Passats — one of them rebadged Magotan — at this week's 2011 Shanghai Auto Show.

Shanghai-Volkswagen plans to show its own version of the NMS-based Passat sedan that was introduced earlier this year at the Detroit auto show and is being assembled at VW's new Chattanooga plant in the U.S.

Shanghai-VW will build a similar version in China, with production expected to begin this summer. Prices will start from around $32,000.

VW's other joint venture, FAW-VW, plans to show a completely different car — a version of the European B7-based Passat that debuted last fall at the Paris auto show.

For the Chinese market, FAW-VW will build a long-wheelbase edition of the car and will rebadge it as the Magotan, replacing the older B6-based Magotan. Engine choices in the new Magotan are likely to include 1.4TSI, 1.8TSI and 2.0TSI gasoline four-cylinder units.

Inside Line says: There will be a third Passat in China, too — the old B5-based Lingyu that's still sold by Shanghai-VW. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent