Volkswagen Passat concept channels its inner GTI

Perhaps presaging a sporty trim level for the Passat, Volkswagen created the Passat GT concept with styling cues that evoke the company's GTI hot hatch. The Passat GT gets a red outline for the honeycomb grille, LED headlights, smoked taillights, and bumper treatments. The window surrounds, spoiler, and roof are all blacked-out, and VW tuned the muffler to sound sportier through the quad exhaust outlets.

Inside, the Passat GT has a carbon-fiber pattern for the door and dashboard panels, black and gray sport seats, and a piano black center console. All told, there's more than 20 changes over the regular Passat sedan. Meanwhile, the Passat's VR six-cylinder, rated at 280 horsepower paired with a six-speed DSG gearbox, continues unchanged.

The GT concept, which will be shown this week at the Los Angeles auto show, was created by VW's North American engineering team in response to feedback from the company's dealers and US customers. Volkswagen says the concept highlights its new focus on the American market, a move underscored by the Atlas SUV.

"We have the freedom and the responsibility to shape future North American vehicles here in the US, combining engineering resources from around the world with our unique perspective and talented local team," Matthias Erb, VW chief engineering officer, North American region, said in a statement.

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