Some six years into its lifecycle, the Volkswagen Passat wagon line-up is to be expanded with the launch of a new crossover derivative, the Alltrack. The car will be revealed to the media at the Tokyo motor show on 30 November.
Depending on the market, VW will offer the Passat Alltrack with turbocharged petrol and/or diesel four-cylinder engines. Buyers can also order the car with either front-wheel drive or 4MOTION all-wheel drive.
Aside from the 30mm higher ride height, the Alltrack can be distinguished from the Passat wagon by its grey exterior door handles and the matching mouldings on the wheelarches. There are also silver bash-plates under the bumpers.
In response to a question from just-auto, the UK importer says the model will be manufactured at the Emden plant in Germany. Cars will go on sale in the home market from early 2012 and in Britain, where the Alltrack will be diesel-only, in July.
This new model should have a short life, with the next Passat expected to enter production in Germany in 2013. It should use Volkswagen Group’s MQB architecture, as should the next Golf, CC, Audi A3 and SEAT León, as well as a Chevrolet Cruze rival for Škoda.
Author: Glenn Brooks
