The all-new eight generation Volkswagen Passat as we now know, is new from the ground up and sits on the brand’s modular MQB platform. Also sitting on the platform are the Passat Alltrack and Variant, the Mk7 Golf, new Audi A3, Audi TT and the new VW Touran.
During our visit to Volkswagen’s Production Plant in Pekan, we were told that the facility can be upgraded to roll out MQB-based cars, and that it’s likelier for us to get the locally assembled Passat B8 instead of the Golf range.
Volkswagen is offering a total of ten transversely mounted engines to go with the new Passat, all of which features fuel saving tech like engine start-stop system and regenerative braking. There’s also the 1.4L TSI plug-in hybrid variant that sips 1.5 litres of fuel per 100 km.
When VW had a private viewing of the Passat B8 late last year, the model donned a diesel engine which the carmaker claims to be their most powerful four-cylinder diesel engine to date. It makes 236 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque, delivering its brute to all four wheels via the 4MOTION AWD system. A seven-speed DSG gearbox is standard here, and the Passat consumes a healthy 5.3 litres of fuel per 100 km.
In moving on, Volkswagen Group Malaysia’s Managing Director, Mr Armin Keller also pointed out that they are looking into locally assembling the Tiguan model, which is currently on sale for RM178,888 for the 1.4L TSI and RM239,888 for the 2.0L.
Thoughts, guys?
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Seeing that they had just released the Ckd last year, the earliest would be 2017 for b8