Volkswagen PassatAlready on sale in Germany, the new Passat is gathering awards left and right. It arrives in America as a '98 model. Volkswagen claims its quality exceeds that of German prestige makes-but at a price below what a buyer might expect. Larger than the old Passat, the new car's wheelbase is 3 inches longer, and interior space has increased. Safety features include side airbags for the front-seat passengers. The initial engine offering will be a 1.8-liter/150-horse turbocharged inline four; later in '98, a 2.8-liter/190-horse V-6 and a 1.9-liter/90-horsepower turbodiesel will join the line. A manual five-speed transmission will be standard, with a five-speed Tiptronic automatic optional.
| Body type: | Sedan, wagon |
| Drivetrain: | Front engine, front drive |
| Airbag: | Driver/passenger/side |
| Base curb weight, lb: | 3200 (est.) |
| Base engine: | 1.8-liter turbocharged I-4,SOHC, 150 hp |
| Opt. engines: | 1.9-liter turbodiesel I-4,
SOHC, 90 hp; 2.8-liter V-6, DOHC, 190 hp |
| Brakes, f/r: | Discs/discs, ABS opt. |
| Price range: | $20,500-$24,500 |
| Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: | 21/30 |
Volvo C70As the latest, greatest advance in Volvo's ongoing image transformation, the new C70 has the performance and the looks to uplift the image of the Swedish maker's entire product line. Built on the 70-series platform (formerly known as the 850), the dynamic new coupe and convertible (due on sale in the spring of 1998) are denoted by a "C" prefix. From the driver's seat, the C70 is also denoted by an exhilarating driving experience. Initially, the standard engine is an overachieving 2.3-liter/236-horsepower turbo inline five. Paired with an optional five-speed manual, you'll hit 60 mph in only 6.2 seconds. By mid-'98, a milder 190-horsepower version will be available.
| Body type: | Coupe, convertible |
| Drivetrain: | Front engine, front drive |
| Airbag: | Driver/passenger/side |
| Base curb weight, lb: | 3325 |
| Base engine: | 2.3-liter turbo I-5, DOHC, 236 hp; |
| Opt. engine: | 2.4-liter turbo I-5, DOHC, 190 hp |
| Brakes, f/r: | Discs/discs, ABS std. |
| Price range: | $40,000 |
| Fuel economy, city/hwy, mpg: | 19/26 |
Volvo S70/V70You can't tell the players without a program, and that's nowhere more true than at Volvo for '98. The 850 name has been replaced by the 70s, which carry a prefix to indicate body type. Sedans are called S70, and wagons get a "V" prefix, as in versatility. Volvo points out that the new 70s incorporate over 1800 changes for the new year. A reworked body encloses a new simpler and more functional interior that offers enhanced crash protection over its already legendary predecessor. A 2.4-liter/168-horsepower I-5 is standard, with turbo versions with 190 and 236 horsepower available. You can even get AWD on the V70 wagon and go toe to toe with sport/utes.
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