#2012VWPassat

As the North American International Auto Show looms ever larger on the calendar, so does the annual North American Car and Truck of the Year awards, the winners of which will be announced on January 9th, before the show opens.

Volkswagen has just released official pricing on its all new 2012 Passat mid-size sedan, undercutting last year’s model by roughly $7,000. The new sticker price comes in at a hair under the $20K mark ($19,995) although after destination it will be $20,765; helping VW compete in a market alongside models like the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata.

It’s been widely criticized by stateside Volkswagen loyalists for abandoning the concept of a premium small sedan, but the current VW Jetta, despite being bigger, less unique and considerably cheaper than its predecessor, is actually proving to be the right vehicle for VW’s strategy, according to U.S. chief Jonathan Browning.