Hottest 50 Cars, Trucks, and SUVs for 2006
At long last, Volkswagen dealerships will soon be replenished with all-new cars after being starved recently. The reborn Passat is the latest in VW's product offensive. Wearing the face shared with the new Golf and Jetta, the Passat showcases the current Volkswagen design aesthetic, ensuring no one will confuse a 2006 with last year's model. The sixth-generation sedan is longer, wider, and rides on a larger wheelbase than the respected car it replaces. The new car is also 57 percent stiffer, promising to benefit noise and ride quality. The full powertrain range includes four gasoline engines and three diesels. While all variants won't make it Stateside, the Passat will again be available in affordable, thrifty, and premium configurations, to oversimplify. Buyer's will no doubt be satisfied with the 200-horsepower turbo four, but North Americans will crave the 3.6-liter/280-horsepower VR6 headed to our shores. Technical highlights include an electronic parking brake, keyless starting/locking system, adaptive cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, 600-watt audio system, and Bi-Xenon headlight with cornering function. Expect a wagon model to follow within a year.
Check out additional photos of the Volkswagen Passat