Spy Shots: VW NMS caught in Germany?
WRCB Chattanooga is fast becoming the go-to source for info on Volkswagen's upcoming New Midsize Sedan, a.k.a. the NMS. They were the ones who brought us a rather unrevealing video from Berlin containing a few morsels of information about this car that will slot in between the Jetta and Passat. The local Tennessee station does have a vested interested in NMS news, as the new sedan will be produced exclusively in North America at Volkswagen's new plant being built in Chattanooga. Now they're apparently in the spy photo business, having procured this shot of what is said to be an NMS mule being unloaded from a transporter in Germany. Man, that looks an awful lot like a next-gen Jetta both in shape and size, but the station claims a piece of paper on the windshield reads "VW 411 NMS". When shown to a source inside VW, however, WRCB was told that this was not the NMS. So who knows what we're looking at, but it was spied and spy shots are cool. Thanks for the tip, everyone!
[Source: WRCB]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Red 4:47PM (11/24/2008)
I second the Jetta comment. That's way to small to be an Accord competitor. On a side note, I just checked and I can't seem to find that front end on anything current in the VW lineup here or elsewhere. I thought usually the first mules were under existing body panels, but this appears to be wearing plain clothes next Jetta. If that's the case, I kinda like it. It has a youthful appearance to it.
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TyWright 5:40PM (11/24/2008)
I hope it's not a rebadged Sebring or something. VW has been a bit sketchy lately....
geo.stewart 6:23PM (11/24/2008)
'slot between Jetta and Passat'
HOW? they are almost the same size now. 2" between em in rear legroom, an inch or less everywhere else.
zamafir 5:02PM (11/24/2008)
Improved Interior? LMAO. It's going to compete with Camry by improving an interrior which is already leaps and bounds better in terms of build, feel, and ergonomics... ugh, right podunk news station, right.
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lasersailor 5:04PM (11/24/2008)
Ummm...I used to drive a VW 411 and that ain't no 411...for which we should all be thankful.
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Doug 6:14PM (11/24/2008)
haha I was wondering if someone would comment on the "411" part. Maybe its code, since the 411 was essentially a precursor to the Passat in the first place?
noz 5:04PM (11/24/2008)
What are you laughing about? Yeah it DOES need to compete with the Camry interior because after about 2 years, the Camry is still functioning and well put together and the VW's is falling apart.
Do you like dealership lattes? I hope so...VW's dealers make good latte I here.
Let's also hope their new cars don't weigh as much as a large sedan with half the size.
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Mobius_1 5:33PM (11/24/2008)
Well, if their lattes are that good, then might as well hope the car falls apart more often XD
OOMPH! 6:06PM (11/24/2008)
lol..certainly not because of a "fragile" ego,mein freund...it would be because of SUPERIORITY... Das Auto
ive never had a "pos" in the 10 ive owned..pos,typical vocab
noz 6:10PM (11/24/2008)
Superiority? LOL...OK...you're fragile ego isn't coming through or anything....
No of course non of your VW's have had failing coilpacks, failed window regulators, flaking interior surfaces, creaks and squeaks galore on new cars...no of course you haven't...your VW's are special.
Hmmmm..well...keep telling yourself about Das Auto....if only you knew how stupid it sounds to go around saying Das Auto....lol.
zamafir 8:02PM (11/24/2008)
Failed coil packs occurred in the previous generation of cars. I'll make it easy for you. When considering the cars I own and drive (Hybrid Camry, current generation; 2007 GTI, current generation) the VW easily excels in terms of fit and finish inside and ergonomics. The only unscheduled stop my Camry has made to the dealer was a result of loose parts in the steering column which produced a sound not too unlike Styrofoam crunching. It was fixed under warranty, which was nice. The only reason i purchased the Camry was VW's lack of a TDI at the time (they were preparing for the new 50 state legal engine) and a desire to sit four adults comfortably while averaging something closer to the TDI's mileage. The interior is bland, and there is clearly no where near the priority of design and ergonomics quite simply because those niceties cost money and time - Toyota didn't become the most efficient producers of cars for no reason.
Admiring Vw's products for something they do well shouldn't elicit some sort of trite response from trolls, but I am looking forward to hearing your current ownership experience of a current generation VW and current generation Toyota in your reply. Please be kind enough to address the actual point and explain where you feel Toyota is excelling at interior design. It'll help to also explain why Toyota is not consistently praised by domestic and international press for their excellent interior work. Thanks in advance.
noz 8:22PM (11/24/2008)
I'll let the surveys and studies do the talking.
Deal with it. You purchased a POS and now have to somehow justify it in your mind that it's superior.
You bought the Camry because you know it's a reliable car you can count on. Otherwise there are plenty of cars that carry 4 passengers comfortably and get reasonable mileage...so the excuses are BS.
VW has never ranked will in reliability or customer service...never. And the new models are no different. VW's dealer network is terrible...their service departments are lacking at best.
You don't have to own one to understand those issues and certainly don't need to own one to sit in it and realize there's more than meets the eye than "nice" ergonomics.
As I said, it's made for egotists who are suckers. Get yourself a nice wallet or pair of shoes if you're so into making a fashion statement...otherwise keep the bull low regarding VW "reliability."
Oh and by the way...please enlighten us how VW's fit and finish is better? I'd like to know how you think.
Thanks in advance.
OOMPH! 5:19PM (11/24/2008)
...typical imbiciles and their tedious VW bashing...there is a reason why the Volkswagen group is in a top position that they are in...Keep ur mondane Japo generic yawn "appliances"..No Civic,Elantra,Corolla ever gets the "thumbs up" from passersbye or enthusiast...not like a Golf GTI...Im on my 10 VW...there is a reason it is Das Auto...sub asian crap annoy me...
Das Auto
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noz 5:59PM (11/24/2008)
A thumbs up from passerbys??? So that's why you get a VW....because your ego is so fragile you need to be given a thumbs up from strangers to make you feel better about your purchase. Well....OK.
I also owned a VW....and it's a POS. Never again. It's no wonder they are also low on the ranking of JD for quality and reliability. That's why they need stupid phrases like "Das Auto" and that stupid plastic figure they sell with their cars to appease the self-absorbed crowd to buy their cars.
Hope you enjoy those lattes...they are good.
homunculus 5:27PM (11/24/2008)
put an end to fake air intakes
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TyWright 5:41PM (11/24/2008)
YES!!!
Holy crap what a brutal design flaw.
Brenda Priddy 5:36PM (11/24/2008)
Simply a test mule, folks... (But yes, it's a NMS test mule!)
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Torrent 5:48PM (11/24/2008)
So it's a Jetta with smaller headlights?
Or a Jetta with a Rabbit Front clip?
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fixitfixitstop 11:56PM (11/24/2008)
The Jetta and Rabbits have different front clips?
Torrent 12:50AM (11/25/2008)
that's my point. it can go either way. lol