2017 Volkswagen Passat India Launch in January

Volkswagen will launch the new generation B8 Passat in India in January 2017. The new Passat is based on Volkswagen’s MQB platform that also underpins the popular Audi A3 sedan. It sheds up to 85 kg compared to its predecessor, with high-strength vacuum-formed steels used in the body accounting for 33 kg of that.

Initially, the new Passat will be available with the 1.8-litre TSI engine shared with the Skoda Octavia and the Superb. It produces 178 HP and 250 Nm of torque and will be most likely paired to a 7-speed DSG transmission driving the front wheels. A 2.0-litre diesel variant could be added to the portfolio later on.

Furthermore, Volkswagen is also expected to bring the plug-in hybrid Passat GTE. It was shown at the Auto Expo earlier this year and pairs a 1.4-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to generate 218 HP and 400 Nm of torque. The power is again sent to the front wheels, but via a bespoke 6-speed DSG transmission with three clutches.

If Volkswagen is expecting Passat to sell in high numbers in India, then the petrol and diesel variants will likely be assembled at its facility in Pune (the fact that the 2.0-litre diesel engine is supposed to be produced there as well will only help). That said, the Passat GTE will be imported as a CBU.

The Volkswagen Passat will directly rival the Skoda Superb, Toyota Camry and the upcoming Honda Accord. Globally, Volkswagen also touts the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the BMW 3-Series as competitors, but it is highly unlikely that the Indian customers would buy a Passat over the duo.

The previous-gen Passat was removed from the Volkswagen India portfolio owing to fall in sales around the same time when the new model arrived globally two years back.