2009 Volkswagen CC

2009 Volkswagen CC – Click above for high-res image gallery Is "four-door coupe" an oxymoron or a clever twist on automotive design rules? That was a popular question among the 50 or so journalists invited to drive Volkswagen's new CC from Atlanta to Nashville last week. The seemingly contradictory term was apparently first used to describe the Rover P5 Mark II in 1962, but was revived more recently when Mercedes introduced its CLS in 2004. In both cases the cars' low rooflines defied conventional saloon styling and needed a unique descriptor for marketing pizazz. When rumors of the VW CC began to leak out, some speculated the CLS would be its main target. But Volkswagen learned from the disappointing U.S. acceptance of the Phaeton: Luxury buyers pay for brand cache as much as they do for supple leather and high-tech gadgets. This time around, says Brett Scott, VW's product planning manager, they expect many of their customers to be Camry and Accord shoppers attracted to the CC's stand-out styling. %Gallery-31593% All photos Copyright ©2008 Chris Tutor / Weblogs, Inc. Those two cars are dead center in Volkswagen's sights. At the bottom of four trim levels, the CC Sport comes in at $26,790 with a 200-hp, turbocharged four-cylinder and a 6-speed manual. That's more than $6,000 above a base 2009 Accord sedan, and more than $7,600 than a base Camry. The two Japanese models can also seat one more passenger, and while the Camry is routinely knocked for being boring, the Accord's looks are at least memorable. Looking at pure numbers, it's hard to see how VW expects to woo 28,000 buyers away from Camry and Accord eacy year. But then, emotion usually trumps numbers in the car-buying decision making process. And if you're wondering, CC stands for "comfort coupe." The general consensus among journalists attending the ride and drive from Atlanta to Nashville was that the CC is an attractive car and a welcome divergence for VW design. The aggressive front fascia incorporates an updated take on the familiar VW grille, badge and headlights that curve into the fenders. Rectangular turn signals sit below the headlights and above subtle fog lamps recessed into the lower grille extensions. The cut line for the hood becomes the top of the doors, which are accented by a prominent and design-defining character line. Chrome surrounds the frameless side glass and is also used as a lower door guard. Four different wheel styles are available, though they're all rather similar in design. Complaints about the CC's exterior styling were rare during the event, but most focused on the car's rear. Thumbnail images of the car's back side could easily be mistaken for the Buick Lucerne or even the competing Camry. Sharp-eyed car fans can tell the 4-cylinder CCs from the upper level VR6 models by the exhaust pipe location. The smaller engined car has two outlets on the driver's side, while the VR6 wears a single pipe on each side of the car. But …
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