Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Mazda, Volkswagen
Hot Passat: VW's answer to the Mazdaspeed 6
Mazda owners can't have all the fun can they? Volkswagen's answer is a resounding "Hell no!" And with that, the possibility of an extra-spicy version of their mid-sized, grocery getter is on the table.
AutoExpress reports that an uprated Passat may come to market, equipped with the 3.6-liter V6 found in the R36 and, it's safe to assume, a six-speed manual or DSG feeding power through all four wheels.
When, where and how much is all up in the air, but we'd expect more information before year's end.
[Source: AutoExpress]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Dr. Woo 9:15AM (8/28/2006)
They'll actually build the Passat R GT?
Not a big fan of the Honda riceboy styling...very non-VW.
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Renton 9:19AM (8/28/2006)
It almost has as much plastic cladding as a Pontiac.
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Joe 9:21AM (8/28/2006)
There is no such thing as an R36. Check your facts!
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AMcA 9:34AM (8/28/2006)
Weird little teeth around the grill.
Shark-like, but not in a good way. Ewwww.
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APK 9:43AM (8/28/2006)
I could care less how it looks, 4-doors, AWD with DSG..I will at least be test-driving it.
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epilonious 9:43AM (8/28/2006)
Guessing VW... it will cost, weigh, and eat gas a lot more than the mazdaspeed6 citing "trim, tech, and luxuriousness"...
I anticipate it getting a little too close to the A6 and eliciting a "why bother" from their target market... just like the W8 passat back-in-the-day.
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NLN 9:58AM (8/28/2006)
If they can match mazdaspeed6 price which I doubt they can - then they have a winner!
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Tim UF 10:00AM (8/28/2006)
if they are going to compete with the mazdaspeed6, is there any chance theyll actually price it similarly? i doubt it, knowing VW's track record of pricing above its 'competition'.
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Bert 10:01AM (8/28/2006)
The grille teeth have got to go! Otherwise it makes sense upgrading the V6 4Motion platform.
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VW_MTL 10:41AM (8/28/2006)
I am guessing that this will be targetted to the Eurpoeam market, since NA already gets the 3.6l V6 280hp with 4motion. The R36 package or R-GT as it is sometime called is already available as an appearance package.
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CanuckGreg 10:50AM (8/28/2006)
I can't imagine the pricing being anywhere near comparable to the Mazda. In Canada, a Passat 3.6 4Motion with leather and Xenon lights is $51K + taxes. A similarly equipped MSP6 is just under $40K + taxes.
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Steve 10:50AM (8/28/2006)
What is it with styling "experts" today? They're designing some very weird front grills.
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Raj 11:13AM (8/28/2006)
MazdaSpeed 6 is very tastefully designed performance car. They have overdone nothing. The looks/style is just right. This passat is simply weired looking and without any grace. I love Mazdas, so yes I am biased.
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MikeUF 11:32AM (8/28/2006)
I just bought a MS6 this saturday. 24,300 out the door. Good luck finding a Golf R32 for this price let alone a Passat R GT.
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Steve 11:45AM (8/28/2006)
I like Mazdas too... have owned three Miatas so far, with a few mods on each one. But I've owned a bunch of VWs over the years, too, included an 84 Rabbit GTi that I lowered, etc. It was a blast. They started a great thing, with affordable pocket rockets. They just forgot about the middleclass who are trying to raise a family but still want a fun ride to work...
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Steve 11:54AM (8/28/2006)
Oops... I've had four Mazdas, counting the Protege. (Terribly underpowered, but fun.)
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zinger 11:57AM (8/28/2006)
would be better if it was a 3.2 or even a 3.0 WITH twin turbo !
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ruggels 12:11PM (8/28/2006)
R-GT treatment for the passat but NOT the jetta... BOOO.
#17 VW doesn't make a 3 liter v6. VW won't release a bi turbo 3.2l or 3.6l as that would make the passat more powerful then the RS4 and S6... which would make about zero sense in terms of brand strategy and I'm not sure if you've been to a VW sales room but I can assure the typical VW cliental are not going to pay $70,000 for a passat (about what was hinted at the production cost for the R-GT Passat); if you doubt me just google the world "Phaeton".
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Art 12:33PM (8/28/2006)
it won't touch the MS6 in price. Then again, it is a German car. We rented a Maza6 for 2 weeks, and my dad has a 2006 Passat 3.6 4motion w/ sport 2. 15k apart, but two.different.worlds. Obviously the MS6 is ludicrously faster, but it's still small, and lacks luxurious materials.
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kevin 12:41PM (8/28/2006)
Give us a 3.6L 4motion manual transmission wagon!!!
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