2012 Volkswagen Passat Alltrack

Crossing over between passenger car and SUV: New Passat Alltrack for onroad and offroad worlds

• Sporty version has rugged qualities and offroad driving programme

• 170 PS TDI and 210 PS TSI with standard 4MOTION all-wheel drive

Wolfsburg / Ellmau, 20 February 2012 - Many car drivers – from skiers to sailors to globetrotters – are looking for a versatile, offroad vehicle that is also a very spacious passenger car with rugged qualities. A car like the new Passat Alltrack. Fast, fuel-efficient, versatile and with offroad capability. This Volkswagen closes the gap between passenger car and SÚV. In contrast to the familiar Passat Estate, the design concept of this new model includes independent bumper styling and flared side sills. Properties for driving offroad were also perfected: bigger offroad ramp and approach angles, significantly increased ground clearance and underbody guards front and rear, make the Passat Alltrack an ideal SÚV alternative off the beaten track. In addition to these modifications, the styling of the Alltrack also reflects its offroad character.

High torque values. The new Passat Alltrack, which can now be ordered in some European countries, comes in front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive (4MOTION) versions. In both drive versions, it is designed for larger towing capacities (up to 2,200 kg depending on the engine selection) and for handling offroad situations. That is why Volkswagen is exclusively using torque-strong turbocharged engines – two petrol (TSI) and two diesel (TDI) engines. Maximum torque: 250 to 350 Newton metres! None of the four engines requires more than 1,750 rpm to achieve its maximum torque output.

Fuel-efficient four-cylinder. The Volkswagen's petrol engines produce 118 kW / 160 PS and 155 kW / 210 PS, and the two turbodiesels 103 kW / 140 PS and 125 kW / 170 PS. Both TDIs always come as BlueMotion Technology versions (BMT) – i.e. with Stop/Start system and a mode for recovering braking energy. The most powerful Alltrack versions, the 170 PS TDI and the 210 PS TSI, have standard permanent all-wheel drive (4MOTION), an electronic transverse differential lock (XDS) and dual-clutch transmission (DSG). For the Passat Alltrack with a 140 PS TDI, Volkswagen offers all-wheel drive as an option. Just how efficiently the Passat Alltrack engines work together with the intelligently controlled 4MOTION all-wheel drive is illustrated by the two TDIs: the 140 PS version's combined fuel consumption is a low 5.7 l/100 km (equivalent to 150 g/km CO2), while the 170 PS version attains a value of 5.9 l/100 km (155 g/km CO2).

Protected engine. When driven over unpredictable terrain, the engine is protected by a solid engine underbody guard (TWÚ) made of steel plate. The TWÚ protects the engine, gearbox, oil sump, exhaust system (front section) and various hoses from damage.

Only Volkswagen passenger car with offroad driving programme. The standard offroad driving programme underscores the fact that the Passat Alltrack crosses over between the passenger car and SÚV worlds. Essentially, it tunes key vehicle dynamic and assistance systems for offroad driving at the press of a button. These systems include ABS (with the control interval threshold increased so that a wedge of stone or gravel builds up in front of the tyre for improved braking), Hill Descent Assist, reduction of the differential locks (EDS), accelerator pedal characteristic (flatter for finer control gradation) and DSG (with elevated shift points and no automatic upshifting in manual mode). Úntil now, Volkswagen has only offered the offroad driving programmes in SÚVs like the Tiguan and Touareg. Now, the system is making its debut for the first time in a classic passenger car – in the Passat Alltrack.

Parameters of offroad capability. The Passat Alltrack is exactly the same length as the Passat Estate at 4,771 mm, and its width is an identical 1,820 mm despite the wheel well flares. The vehicle's key offroad parameters are interesting: compared to the Passat Estate, its ground clearance has been increased from 135 to 165 mm. The front approach angle was increased from 13.5 to 16 degrees, and at the rear, the departure angle was increased from 11.9 to 13.6 degrees. Another parameter that is no less important in offroad situations is the ramp angle for crossing over a hill; this value was improved from 9.5 to 12.8 degrees.

Alltrack packs a lot. The car has a maximum payload of 656 kg (Alltrack with 103 kW / 140 PS). Other key parameters of the Alltrack's cargo space: 0.72 m pass-through height and 0.83 m interior height; 1.0 m width between the wheel wells. Largest width in the cargo area: 1.3 m. When the rear bench seat is folded down, the length of the Passat Alltrack's cargo loading surface is increased to an impressive 1.94 m. Cargo capacity when loaded to the lower border of the windows is 603 litres. When the entire space behind the backrests of the front seats is filled to the roofliner in the Passat Alltrack, including the 90 litre spare wheel recess, the spacious vehicle can handle 1,731 litres of cargo. A net partition can be mounted behind either the first or second row of seats.

Equipment specifications. The Passat Alltrack exhibits a whole series of specific features in addition to its offroad driving programme, Hill Climb Assist and Hill Descent Assist, running gear designed specifically for the Alltrack and the offroad look of its body. They include the new ‘Valley' type 17-inch alloy wheels and a tyre pressure monitor. Styled in ‘Matt chrome' in the Passat Alltrack are the window surrounds, door mirror housings and trim strips of the radiator grille. The standard roof rails are anodised silver in colour. Standard exterior features also include front and rear underbody guards in stainless-steel look and front fog lights. The chrome tailpipes are visible on the exterior (dual tailpipes on the left for cars with up to 160 PS, one tailpipe on the left and one on the right from 170 PS).

Alltrack interior. The interior styling is characterised by such features as stainless steel sill plates with the ‘ALLTRACK' signature, comfort seats with inner lateral support panels in Alcantara, interior accents in ‘Titan silver', pedals in aluminium look and automatic climate control. In addition, the Passat Alltrack offers an uncompromising set of safety features, including the new fatigue detection system.

Source - Volkswagen