Upcoming VW Passat up to 18% more efficient than predecessor

Let's preface this one by stating the obvious; the U.S. won't be getting the 2011 Volkswagen Passat. Us Yanks will bid adieu to the Passat in favor of welcoming VW's upcoming New Midsize Sedan (NMS) to U.S. shores. With that covered, let's delve into the 2011 Passat. For starters, the Passat's softened exterior appearance surprisingly transforms the vehicle, giving it a subtle, upscale look. While the exterior is pleasing, VW is more enthused about the seventh-generation models' exhaustive powertrain lineup.

Scheduled for introduction in European markets in mid-November, the 2011 Passat comes with ten (!) engine choices ranging from an ultra-efficient diesel with about 103 horsepower, on up to the top-of-the-line mill rated at 300 hp. The range of powerplants include diesels like the 1.6-liter TDI which propels the Passat down the road while emitting just 109 grams per kilometer of CO2 and returning 56 miles per gallon (U.S.) and the gasoline-fed 1.4-liter TSI, which is good for 41 mpg (U.S.). Stop-start technology and battery regeneration is standard on most turbodiesel models and optional on some gasoline versions.

The host of technological advancements allows VW to claim that its upcoming lineup of Passat engine are up to 18 percent more efficient than their predecessors. Considering that a Passat BlueMotion just accomplished a record-setting 74-mpg run, efficiency improvements probably weren't necessary, but are welcome nonetheless.

Live photos by Zach Bowman/Copyright ©2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Green Car Congress]