The next-generation Volkswagen Passat is expected to debut in the very near future, and ahead of that imminent unveiling, our spy photographers were able to spot the car in silver for the first time, as well as in a lower, less sporty trim.
This all-new Passat will ditch the sedan body style, going wagon-only from here on out. But before you get upset that this is yet another wagon that the U.S. won’t get, it’s worth mentioning that the Passat won’t be coming to America at all after its discontinuation last July. Regardless, VW’s approach with this new Passat was to create a more practical vehicle that doesn’t sacrifice on style.
The car is still heavily camouflaged — wearing Jetta graphics to throw onlookers off its trail — but peeking through that camo we can see a few hints of its true design. Up front, the lower fascia appears very Lamando-esque, with a large, grinning grille flanked by two air curtains. Higher up, the partially covered headlights appear to be taking some inspiration from VW’s electric ID models in their design. Rather than the automaker’s current trend of a main grille connecting the two headlights with a secondary intake below, we’re likely to see a grille-less top area with the main focus on a larger lower intake.
Related: Everything We Know About The Electrified, Europe-Only VW Passat
Out back, the thinly veiled rear end reveals longer, slimmer taillights, which look to taper upwards and connect to form a full-width light bar (as is the trend these days). Lower down, there will be a sculpted, geometric rear end with hexagonal lower fascia similar to the current Jetta. The side profile of the car is the only part that’s left undisguised, but that’s because there really isn’t much to see. It’s your typical wagon silhouette, albeit a bit sleeker than the average family hauler. Overall, the design is evolutionary compared to the outgoing model, and likely comes as the result of Volkswagen trying to blend the design language of their ICE and electric vehicles to have one cohesive look.
Thanks to previous spy shots, we know that the Passat’s interior will also adopt a very ID-like philosophy — screen-centric with a focus on sleek yet familiar minimalism. One of the most notable changes is that it now adopts a column-mounted shifter instead of the typical console-mounted one, which leads us to this car’s powertrain. The new Passat won’t be going fully electric, but it will likely be the last one to feature internal combustion. We don’t have many exact details, but expect most of, if not the entire range to feature either mild or plug-in hybrid setups.
