2016 Volkswagen Passat to Look Less Boring
Volkswagen wants to rejuvenate its sales in North America, but is a mid-size sedan its saving grace?
The Volkswagen Passat was designed specifically for the U.S. market, and while it had strong sales in 2012, it has struggled since the second half of last year. In a way, the sedan is another ambitious model from the German automaker that hasn’t quite succeeded as well as it would have liked, so the company is looking to make big changes when it gets refreshed for the 2016 model year.
SEE ALSO: VW Passat BlueMotion Concept Hits 42 MPG Highway
Acknowledging that the Passat’s styling could be considered bland by American consumers, Volkswagen is focusing on cosmetic changes to make the model more attractive in the marketplace. The mid-size sedan market is one of the more competitive segments in the U.S., and if the Passat wants to contend with the likes of the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry, it’ll also need plenty of new features and state-of-the-art technologies – both of which Volkswagen is planning to incorporate.
So when the 2016 Volkswagen Passat finally makes it debut, don’t be surprised to see more than just a minor refresh on its exterior.
GALLERY: Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion Concept Live
GALLERY: Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion Concept
[Source: Car and Driver]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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This is the B7 PASSAT. Everyone look up the B8 PASSAT the rest of the world is driving. Thats the one we want..
Reduce costs. Exactly. So settle for our adding some amber lights to the front, and calling it NEW... I'll settle for the new C Class...