Lanes and byways leading to success
The models CrossPolo, CrossTouran and CrossGolf became almost overnight successes for the concern based in Wolfsburg. And the hope is that from spring 2012 the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack will follow in their off-road ruts. As well as having countrified styling the Alltrack has increased ground clearance and in the top versions all-wheel-drive as standard. The basis for the new auto is the estate version Passat Variant and it will be mainly offered with both two-litre power plants installed in that model… the 170 horsepower diesel and the 210 horsepower petrol fuelled engine. While both of these employ 4x4 traction in combination with the dual-clutch DSG transmission there will be a smaller engine to be had… a two-litre TDI with 140 horsepower… and in this instance all-wheel-drive will not be obligatory. Both diesels will call for only about six litres of fuel per hundred kilometres driven. There will also be an entry level petrol fuelled 1.8 TDSI engine with 160 horsepower for the VW Passat Alltrack.
Three centimetres more clearance
The 4.77 metres long Alltrack distinguishes itself from its less robust sibling with hefty plastic planking on its flanks and around the wheel-housings. The side-skirts and voluminous skirts add breadth. The off-road character is emphasised by underbody protection both fore and aft and by the increase of ground clearance from 13.5 to 16.5 centimetres, similar to that of Audi’s off-road models. As with the bigger VW Touareg and Tiguan models the Alltrack is equipped with an off-road driving program suitable for moderately challenging terrain. In normal running the ‘4 Motion’ Alltrack will gets its traction mainly via the front wheels with only ten percent of the power going to the rear wheels. Then depending on the driving conditions the electro-hydraulic AWD system will kick in to distribute the power variably to both axles. The Alltrack will have the same comfort and safety features as the standard Passat, including parking assist, fatigue detection, tyre pressure monitoring, sound system, air conditioning and the whole panoply of equipment extras.
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- The 4.77 metres long Alltrack distinguished itself from its less robust sibling with hefty plastic planking on its flanks and around the wheel-housings. The side-skirts and voluminous skits add breadth. The off-road character is emphasised by underbody protection both fore and aft and by the increase of ground clearance from 13.5 to 16.5 centimetres.
Première at the Tokyo Motor Show
The load carrying capability of the VW Passat Allltrack is from 603 to 1,731 litres with the maximum payload stated to be 656 kilos. And if that is not enough the estate built in Wolfsburg can tow up to 2.2 tons. The new VW Passat Alltrack will have its world première at the Tokyo motor show in in the coming week. The pricing has not yet been revealed but when it goes on sale next spring it will probably be from 1,500 to 2,500 Euros more costly than the normal Passat version, at around 32 thousand Euros.
