VW Could Spice Up Passat Range With Sportier Variant

Volkswagen is tossing up releasing a sporty version of the Passat to help increase demand for the car.

Select members of the press were recently shown a design concept at the company’s North American development center in Chattanooga, Tennessee and confirmed that the model presented goes far beyond the current R-Line styling package offered for the Passat.

From a styling perspective, the concept shown included numerous contrasting black-painted parts, including the roof, a bootlid lip spoiler and badging. Additionally, redesigned taillights were featured as were a number of subtle red elements on the front fascia and across the brake calipers, providing the model with styling cues from the Golf GTI.

Volkswagen also revealed that it lowered the car’s suspension by 20 mm to offer it more dynamic handling but failed to reveal if new shocks or suspension bushings had also been implemented.

As for power, the company said it’s deciding between its 280 hp 3.6-liter V6 or instead a smaller 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder likely tuned to over 250 hp. Whichever is chosen, such a model would push the Passat into a new performance bracket.

The design concept has yet to be approved for production by VW management but could be presented in concept guise in the not too distant future.

Note: 2012 VW Passat R-Line pictured

Via Motor Authority