Volkswagen Passat CC, Lotsa pics Options

[clarkma5]

The VW Passat CC (just called the VW CC in North America. CC stands for "Comfort Coupe") is a 4-door "coupe"-style vehicle like the Mercedes-Benz CLS that offers a more sporty and luxurious take on the Passat theme while using most of its mechanicals. The car is lower, longer, wider, and on a longer wheelbase than the normal sedan/wagon and uses all-new sheet metal.

European models get a variety of TFSI and TDI motors along with a top-dog 3.6 liter VR6 with 300 HP and 4motion all-wheel drive connected to a 6-speed DSG box (which is also available on most of the rest of the range). The US model gets the base 2.0 liter turbo from the standard car (200 HP, 207 ft.-lbs. of torque) with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed tiptronic while the VR6 produces 280 HP and 265 ft.-lbs. of torque, again connecting to 4motion and with a 6-speed tiptronic box (DSG in the Gold Coast Edition). The interior pulls heavily from the standard Passat but gets available two-tone leather on the sport seats and the rear goes from a 3-passenger bench to a sportier 2-person affair. Add on some chrome bits, a unique steering wheel, and different iPod connectivity and you've got a CC.

Mainly, though, it's just pretty. Prices should start "under $27k" for the 2.0T, which is $3,000 more than the equivalent sedan. Not bad for the improvement in styling and sportiness you get.





















This is the Gold Coast Edition:




Notice the frameless windows:

[moe]

My nipples get hard every time I see this car, but I still have them where they should be. I think it's very cool for offering a piece of the CLS's glamour, at a much lower cost.

[Phix]

I'm voting uncool.

Volkswagen... just doesn't belong in a luxury sort of market, IMO. I just see them more as 'The People's Car'. Affordable hatchbacks (Golf, Rabbit) and 4-doors (Jetta). I've never liked the Passat. Plus, the occansional crazy car compliments them nicely (R32).

Although, this car IS pretty attractive.

[moe]

^ But that's the thing. While it is pricey for a mid-size, it's more like a cut-price CLS. And it brings the style of a car that would've been otherwise out-of-reach, within the grasp of the people. So I think it fits into the range rather nicely.

[infinity]

I'm voting uncool.

Volkswagen... just doesn't belong in a luxury sort of market, IMO. I just see them more as 'The People's Car'. Affordable hatchbacks (Golf, Rabbit) and 4-doors (Jetta). I've never liked the Passat. Plus, the occansional crazy car compliments them nicely (R32).

Although, this car IS pretty attractive.

WTF? Is this the same Hyundai-humping Phix that's been around recently?

[Mitlov]

Uncool.

Don't get me wrong. I really like this car. If I wanted to spend $27,000 on a FWD midsize sedan, it would be near the top of the list, possibly at the top. But it does NOTHING to my nipples.

It's biggest problem is that it feels to me like a budget imitation of something else (namely, the CLS), and while budget imitations may be really smart purchases, they're not "cool" IMO.

Besides that, nothing really lights my fire about this car. The exterior styling, while nice, is also excessively busy and marred by excessively-large overhangs. The interior is a Passat interior. And while the Passat has an incredibly nice interior, it's not cool IMO to say "here's a family-sedan-based sporty sedan with the exact same interior as the family sedan it's based upon." And no, two-tone leather does not adequately distinguish it from the Passat. And then there's how it's equipped: you can't get the 2.0T with AWD and you can't get the V6 AWD with a manual transmission.

But really, it's the fact that it feels like a CLS knock-off (albeit a very nice car) that makes it uncool to me. It's just too damn derivative to be cool.

WTF? Is this the same Hyundai-humping Phix that's been around recently?

Too true

[clarkma5]

In my mind VW is about value, not being cheap. They offer sport-luxury driving dynamics and interiors at a price that slots them between the sport luxury cars and the white goods cars. And the Passat CC is about that.

I'd be stoned if I called this frozen (I think the Gold Coast is frozen for being so sex) but I'm still calling it cool. It may be a CLS derivative, but IMO it looks better than the CLS and I like the fact that someone made a car with exotic looks that is attainable...it's less snobby that way, just unique. Also did I mention it looks really great?

[Phix]

WTF? Is this the same Hyundai-humping Phix that's been around recently?

It's the cool wall. It doesn't have to make sense.

[dukenukem]

This car is about as cool as getting a face full of man boobs.

[Synesthesia]

Haha it's called the "Comfort Coupe"...nice options for the ratings

[Zenix13]

great looking car but not really cool. its okay.

[Bjorn]

Ya, this doesn't do much for my nipples.

I think the idea of a coupeish sedan is a pretty OK one, since I like sport sedans quite a bit, but the execution looks fussy, and I have a very set and very unfair image in my head of the typical Passat driver, which isn't very flattering.

If I wanted a sporty Passat it would be R36 all the way.

[nismo]

That car is fucking sexy.

[clarkma5]

If I wanted a sporty Passat it would be R36 all the way.

The Passat CC is a superior sports platform to the sedan/wagon due to its dimensions (lower, wider) and the 3.6 liter CC is identical in mechanical spec to the North American R36.

[b0mb3r]

considering that it is priced around the accord coupe and altima coupe... Hands down its much cooler then the cars in the segment. Another thing that makes this car cool is the aftermarket . APR is already testing the stage 1 for the new 2.0T motor .

[Tifun]

considering that it is priced around the accord coupe and altima coupe... Hands down its much cooler then the cars in the segment. Another thing that makes this car cool is the aftermarket . APR is already testing the stage 3 for the new 2.0T motor .

fixed that for ya

They've already got the stg 3 on the car from my understandings. I believe it was at SEMA this year as well. I think it's a great car. I compare it to itslef, meaning the regular Passat. side-by-side...it really shows off the lines. My favorite spot is the rear. I love how the trunk has the flare which looks like a spoiler.

[maxima302]

I recently rode in a new Passat and really loved it...except for the 2.0T engine, which completely ruined the car for me. It was jerky, slow, noisy, and an overall unpleasing engine. For the Passat, its really a horrible engine, especially when you consider the buttery smooth Japanese 4-cyl power plants in Camrys and Accords.

I'd take the same money and buy a used über sexy CLS500 or 55...

[Razor]

I'd take the same money and buy a used über sexy CLS500 or 55...

Because they cost the same.

[clarkma5]

I recently rode in a new Passat and really loved it...except for the 2.0T engine, which completely ruined the car for me. It was jerky, slow, noisy, and an overall unpleasing engine. For the Passat, its really a horrible engine, especially when you consider the buttery smooth Japanese 4-cyl power plants in Camrys and Accords.

The list of awards that the 2.0T has earned disagrees with you.

International 1.8 to 2.0 liter engine of the year 2008: http://www.ukipme.com/engineoftheyear/winners_08/18_2.html
International 1.8 to 2.0 liter engine of the year 2007: http://www.ukipme.com/engineoftheyear/previous04.html
International 1.8 to 2.0 liter engine of the year 2006: http://www.ukipme.com/engineoftheyear/previous04.html
International 1.8 to 2.0 liter engine of the year 2005: http://www.ukipme.com/engineoftheyear/previous04.html
Ward's 10 best engines list from 2006 to 2008: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ward's_10_Best_Engines (also note that the predecessor 1.8T is on the list in 1998, 2002, and 2003).

Not to mention the awards for cars that use the 2.0T:
Car & Driver 10 best list: 2008 VW GTI: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_li...gti_10best_cars
Car & Driver 10 best list: 2007 VW GTI: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_li...gti_10best_cars
Car & Driver 10 best list: 2006 Audi A3 2.0T: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_li..._0t_10best_cars

Edmunds 2008 Consumer most wanted for the Audi TT Coupe and Roadster and VW Passat Wagon: http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/consumersto...2008/index.html

Edmunds 2007 Consumer most wanted for the Audi A3 and Audi A4 Avant: http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/consumersmo...2007/index.html

Edmunds 2006 Consumer most wanted for the Audi A3: http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/consumersmo...2006/index.html

Edmunds 2007 Editors most wanted for the Audi A4 Avant: http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/mostwanted/2007/index.html

Edmunds 2006 Editors most wanted for the Audi A4 Avant: http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/mostwanted/2006/index.html

Motortrend's 2006 Car Of The Year Finalist - Audi A3: http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/car/11...i_a3/index.html

And that's after searching for about fifteen minutes...I know there are tons of awards lurking out there for this engine, its predecessor (the 1.8T) and all the cars that both of these engines get implemented in.

[moe]

Uh overkill?