Volkswagen has announced the start of production of its new Passat sedan at its Aurangabad facility with a launch date confirmed for October 10, 2017. The current model is in its eighth generation and will mark a relaunch of the Passat brand in India after the previous-gen model was discontinued in 2014.
The India-bound Passat will feature Volkswagen's 177hp, 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine paired with a six-speed DSG automatic gearbox. VW had also showcased the Passat GTE at the 2016 Auto Expo though there is confirmation on when it will come to India.
The upcoming Passat will be based on the Volkswagen Group's versatile MQB platform that also underpins the Tiguan, the Skoda Octavia and Superb. It will also underpin the upcoming Skoda Kodiaq SUV.
Compared to the older model, the new MQB-based Passat boasts a wheelbase that is 80mm longer at 2,791mm, indicating more space on the inside. The new model is also 13mm less in length (4,767mm), 12mm wider (1,832mm) and 13mm shorter (1,456mm) than the previous gen model.
Key rivals to the Passat include the Skoda Superb, Toyota Camry, and the Honda Accord.
We drove the eigth-gen Passat way back in 2014, here's our review