Volkswagen and Chinese joint venture partner FAW have just introduced the new Volkswagen Passat Lingyu. The car was shown off at Auto Shanghai 2009 and introduced alongside the new VW Golf. Aiming to become the new B-segment king in one of the world's largest markets, the manufacturers introduced several revisions to the extended-wheelbase Passat.
The Passat Lingyu has a wheelbase that is actually 9.1 centimeters longer than the normal Passat, offering more rear legroom, but without making the car feel as though it is enormous. Thus, the company says, the car is a good choice when being chauffeured, or when taking it out for a ride. Making it more enjoyable are the reworked engines now being used. The base 1.8-liter four-cylinder turbo gets a bump in horsepower to 163, up from 150. At the same time, engineers were able to reduce fuel consumption by nearly 10%, using 6.5 liters of fuel per 100 km.
No changes were introduced to the 2.0-liter and 2.8-liter V6 engines. New consumers can also choose between a refined five-speed manual or automatic. If you prefer a Skoda, an all-new Skoda Superb will also launch in China later in the year. The Superb will be based on the same platform as the longer-wheelbase Passat. If you happen to be in Shanghai, you can view the new Volkswagen Passat Lingyu at the FAW-VW stand until April 28.
