Volkswagen Passat NMS

Volkswagen Passat NMS
Overview
Manufacturer	Volkswagen
Also called	B7
Production	2011 - present
Model years	2012 - present
Assembly	Chattanooga, United States (VW America) Shanghai, China (SVW)
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	Transverse front-engine design
Powertrain
Engine	2.5L I5 3.6L VR6 2.0L I4 TDI 1.4L I4 TSI 1.8L I4 TSI 2.0L I4 TSI 3.0L V6
Transmission	5-speed manual 6-speed manual 6-speed DSG 7-Speed DSG
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,803 mm (110.4 in)
Length	4,870 mm (191.7 in)
Width	1,834 mm (72.2 in)
Height	1,472 mm (58.0 in)
Chronology
Predecessor	Volkswagen Passat (B6) Volkswagen Passat Lingyu(China)

The 2012 Volkswagen Passat (formerly known as the Volkswagen New Midsize Sedan, or NMS^[1] while under development) is a mid-sized sedan which replaces the previous-generation Passat B6 in the North American market. The model is also shipped overseas to South Korea. The Passat NMS was officially announced in January 2011 at the Detroit Auto Show. Built at the Volkswagen Chattanooga Assembly Plant, the new Passat allows building and shipping costs to be reduced significantly over its predecessor making it more competitive to offerings from competitors at the $20K mark.

The Passat NMS is part of Volkswagen Group's strategy to sell upwards of 800,000 vehicles per year in the North American market. The vehicle was developed by Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive and Volkswagen Passenger Cars, and is partially based on the PQ46 platform used by the European Passat. From nose to tail, it measures 191.6 inches, growing 4 inches from the European model and features a stretched 110.4-inch wheelbase and 72.2-inch width, which allows for class-leading rear legroom in the Mid-Sized class.

Production

North American and South Korean models are built at Volkswagen Group of America's new Chattanooga, Tennessee production facility.^[1] The new facility is a "Flex Plant" which will allow for the production of more than one vehicle that is based on the NMS platform. Reports say that a seven-seat crossover vehicle based on the NMS will be built at the plant.

The NMS is sold in the North American, South Korean, Middle Eastern^[2] and Chinese Markets, with no plans for a wagon/estate version. With the differing B7 Passat models sold outside of these markets, Volkswagen are marketing two different Passats concurrently across the globe. The Volkswagen Passat NMS won the 2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year. The 2013 Passat TDI sets new Guinness World Record for fuel economy under the Non-Hybrid car category. It achieved a fuel consumption of only 3.02 liter on 100 Kilometers (77.99 mpg). ^[3]

Changes to the American market NMS Passat for 2013 include such upgrades as plastic covers for both trunk hinges (although they still remain of the intrusive variety), rear air vents on higher end models, and an available rear view camera. Volkswagen did, however, remove Dual-Zone climate control from all models except the SEL.

The VW Passat NMS from SVW.

In China, the new model is built by 上海大众汽车 Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive and is marketed as a more upscale model with some interior and exterior differences to the North American model, such as wood-trimmed steering wheel, rear air vents, and LED accented headlights. It is sold alongside models such as the long-wheelbase version of the European Passat known as the Magotan and a B5 Passat-based Passat LingYu.

In China, Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive manufactures the Passat NMS in its Nanjing factory^[4][5] Due to LHD, Passat NMS is not sold in Japan, but instead offers European Passat B7.

Design

Volkswagen released a sketch of the NMS in February 2009^[6] and a more detailed, second sketch on 28 October 2009.^[7] The Passat NMS differs from its European counterpart with an overall more chiseled appearance, however it reflects the new Volkswagen Design DNA developed by Walter de Silva, the Italian design chief for the Volkswagen Group, and Klaus Bischoff, the German design leader for the Volkswagen Brand. The design features a predominance of horizontal body elements and three-blade grille and headlights forming a single unit, while its foglights float above L-shaped chrome brackets. The Passat NMS interior borrows most of its design elements from the European Passat, most notably the tradition clock and splashes of contrasting trim. However, it lacks the swooping design of its European counterpart.

Engines

In Canada and the United States, the NMS was initially released with a 2.5L 5 Cylinder, 2.0 TDI and 3.6L VR6 matched to 5-speed manuals, automatics as well as 6-speed manuals and DSGs. Despite being a new model, the 2.5L will eventually be phased out by a more economical 1.8L TSI 158 bhp engine. Company officials have announced that by the summer of 2012, the New Midsize Sedan will also be available as a hybrid. The 2.0TDI engine is not offered on Mexican models.

In China, the NMS is offered with a base 1.4L TSI available with a 5-speed manual or 7-speed DSG, while the 2.0L TSI and 3.0L V6 come standard with 6- and 7-speed DSG gearboxes.

Transmissions

Reception

The Volkswagen Passat NMS won the 2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year.

In a March 2012 comparison test by Car and Driver, the Volkswagen Passat NMS came in first place out of six cars.^[8] However in a November 2012 comparison by the same magazine with three since redesigned competitors the Passat placed last.^[9]

In a 2012 comparison test by Motor Trend, the Volkswagen Passat NMS came in first place out of six cars.^[10]

Yearly American sales

See also

• Volkswagen New Compact Sedan

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Volkswagen Passat NMS.

• Volkswagen of America Passat page
• Volkswagen Canada Passat Page
• Volkswagen Mexico Passat Page
• Volkswagen China New Passat Page
• Volkswagen China Passat Interactive Page
• Shanghai Volkswagen Passat Site
• South Korean Volkswagen Passat Site

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