Spy Shots: 2009 Volkswagen Passat "Coupe"
The VW Passat is a good-looking sedan that hasn't exactly set the world on fire since its redesign for the 2006 model year. In fact, July sales of VW's biggest car were down a staggering 34% from July 2006. It doesn't help that the Passat carries a hefty premium vs. other midsize sedans, costing over $30,000 for the base V6, which is $7,000 more than a V6 Accord.
To further spur Passat sales, VW is in the final stages of testing a four-door coupe variant. Shy photographer Hans G Lehmann caught the sleek, Mercedes Benz CLK-like coupe in testing, and from the looks of the nearly undisguised pics, VW has a good looking vehicle on its hands. Our problem with said coupe is the premium position VW is planning, with prices starting somewhere in the neighborhood of $40,000. For those of you scoring at home, that's base 5-Series money. For $40k, VW had better be planning on adding AWD and a turbo 3.6, or sales will be less than stellar. We'd be interested to hear whether you feel America is ready for a $40,000 Passat, or is the luxurious four-door coupe destined to be the next Phaeton?
[Source: Inside Line]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Gregg 2:00PM (8/21/2007)
America already had a $40,000+ Passat in the previous generation W8. It sold poorly.
This one might do better, because it looks completely different from the current Passat and more upscale. With the Passat, VW is up against that strong Euro/weak dollar. That explains most of the price difference right there. Plus VW equips even the Rabbit with touches lifted right from Audi.
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Don 7:41PM (8/21/2007)
Not to mention the Phaeton...it sold even MORE poorly.
Still though, I like V-dub's design sense...I'll reserve judgement till I see a camo free unit.
tracey baker 5:11AM (6/18/2009)
your commmercal for the Passat 2009 is so annoying it sounds like fingernails on a chalk board ,we change the channel right away. Please stop running this ad. My animals start barking in pain when its on
Gregg 8:58AM (6/18/2009)
Are you alright, Tracey? Did the commercial put you so under the weather that it took you nearly 2 years to recover? Or did you send you reply by pony express?
paul 2:06PM (8/21/2007)
Why is every car manufacturer moving towards the 4-door coupe body style. I personally think that they should be kept separate. The CLS is one of the ugliest cars I've laid eyes on in a long time.
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Aaron 3:14PM (8/21/2007)
Apparently there are a ton of people who disagree with you. The CLS is selling very well. I think people want alternatives to the standard cars we've seen for years. The added doors give it some degree of utility.
My personal opinion is this car would do very well if VW would work on their reputation for quality and poor dealer service.
Tim 2:08PM (8/21/2007)
VW's days are numbered if they don't bring more small cars like the polo over. They need to get back to their roots. No more large cars/suv's. VW we already have unreliable overpriced midsize FWD cars from germany, they are called Audis. We don't need anymore.
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B Montgomery 5:54PM (8/21/2007)
Audis are unreliable? That sounds like a 1980's remark from over 20 years ago. Jumping back to 2007, Consumer Reports thinks they are reliable. VW admittedly at the bottom of the list, but Audi leads the rest of the European cars. Audi's are excellent vehicles that deserve the increasing market share that they have attained. You won't find a BMW or Mercedes that matches the interior in an equivalent priced Audi. BTW Mercedes rides the reliability wave with VW, except Mercedes is #36 out of a possible 36 makes.
iQuack 2:07PM (8/21/2007)
Slick looking sedan. Seems that it's fashionable to copy the Mercedes CLS with its low roof line and narrow windows. Back seat might be a penalty box.
Before you buy the Passat, you have to buy euros which accounts for much of the car's high price in the U.S. Take your next vacation to a euro country and see what it costs you:-(
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RickCA 2:08PM (8/21/2007)
I think the're on the verge of a good thing because there is no "entry" level 4 door coupe (if you can call a 4 door car a coupe?). Audi, Porsche, MB, BMW even all will have theirs to market in the 60+ range so if VW can bring something to market around the 35k range they may have something. HOWEVER... the pics I just saw look like a Chrysler Sebring, I sure hope they have something better designed up their sleeves because what I just saw was booring and life-less looking.
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Nick 2:10PM (8/21/2007)
We're not ready for more overpriced unreliable VW crap!
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Craig 2:25PM (8/21/2007)
4-door coupe is a contradiction in terms. Coupe, by definition, is a vehicle with TWO DOORS.
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Gregg 5:03PM (8/21/2007)
That may be true, but the world and wording changes whether you like it or not, or whether it makes any sense, "four door coupe" is out there now, and is not going away any more than some of the things that grate on me are going to disappear just because I don't like them (e.g., impact used as a verb, or people pronouncing "often" as OFF-TEN, thinking perhaps it sounds more "educated," even though we DON'T say such things as LISS-TEN or SOFF-TEN).
BLS 2:46PM (8/21/2007)
Is a sedan defined as a car with 4 doors. I think if you look at classic cars you will find plenty of 2 door sedans.
Do you have an explaination for that?
SOhp101 5:34PM (8/21/2007)
BLS: According to SAE definitions, sedan and coupe is distinguished by the interior volume available for the rear passengers.
Craig 7:50PM (8/21/2007)
Gregg: Impact is defined in the dictionary as a noun or a verb. Both pronunciations of "often" are correct. Both are recognized in the the dictionary as such. Instead of calling these cars sport sedans (which they are), these automobile companies are making up these contradictions in terms to create a new segment in the market. Definitions of words don't change. New definitions of words may be added to an existing word, but they're usually a logical addition to the word.
BLS: A sedan, by definition, is "an enclosed automobile body having two or four doors."
BLS 11:31AM (8/22/2007)
Thank you SOhp101 and Craig.
My point exactly.
joe23521 2:25PM (8/21/2007)
What a good way to kill the Passat. If I had $40K+ to spend on a car, why the hell would I buy a VW sedan? Pretty soon they're gonna have to change their tag line to "Idiots wanted."
And all this from someone who drives a VW.
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joekawasaki2000 9:32PM (8/21/2007)
The 4door coupe is a rediculous oxymoron! I don't understand why V.A.G. would go the route of competing with thier own cars. A4 anyone? We as the american consumers seem to need diffrent labels to sell to the high end & low end of the same mark see: Lexus Toyota Scion (instead of them all being Toyota like everywhere else in the world) But they aren't selling the same level of car under the same mark! The passat needs to die so something that fits the bill can use the resources to build something that actually doesn't have competition in it's own ranks! They don't give us the A2 Audi's for that reason:( Who's in charge here? obviously not anyone with common sense! Hey if anyone's listening over there I need a Job;)
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Derek Kreindler 3:50PM (8/21/2007)
The Passat 3.6 V6 sells for mid 40 thousands here in Canada. A 335xi is $49,000 if I'm not mistaken. VW is comitting suicide.
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