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Volkswagen's new Passat Alltrack ready to scale the Alps

Volvo may be stepping up its off-roading game with a greater variety of Cross Country models tumbling out the factory in Gothenburg, but the other (larger) European automaker whose name starts with the letters V-O-L is also broadening and updating its range of road-going automobiles equipped to handle a little soft-road duty. Aside from Audi's Allroad line, Skoda's Scout models and the new Seat Leon X-Perience, the Volkswagen brand itself has recently showcased Alltrack versions of the Golf, Multivan and of course the Passat. And now it's announced a new version of the latter for the European market. Based on the Euro-spec Passat Variant, the new VW Passat Alltrack follows a familiar formula: take a station wagon, equip it with all-wheel drive, jack up the suspension, add some lower body cladding and some new trim and – voila! – you've got a pseudo rough-roader on your hands. Set to debut in just a couple of weeks from now at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, the new Passat Alltrack is visually distinguished by its new bumpers, underbody protection, beefed-up wheel arch moldings and a ride height increased by over an inch to the benefit of ground clearance as well as approach and departure angles. European buyers who like to leave the road every once in a while (or give the impression that they do) will be able to choose from a range of five engines: two burning gasoline with either 148 horsepower or 217, and three diesels available in 148-, 187- or 237-hp states of tune. The base TSI and TDI engines are mated to a six-speed manual, while the top three are hooked up to a six-speed DCT, but they all come with 4Motion all-wheel drive as standard. All but the base TSI model boast a towing capacity of 1,800 kg, enhanced by a Trailer Assist system that automatically lines the vehicle up to a trailer. It even comes equipped with an off-road mode that incorporates Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Assist to make any journey across the Alps a breeze. Wolfsburg / Geneva, 19 February 2015 World premiere of the new Passat Alltrack All-wheel drive all-rounder combines the best of on-road and off-road driving - Passat Alltrack: 100 per cent 4MOTION – from 150 PS to 240 PS - Superior off-road performance with off-road mode and all-wheel drive Ten important facts about the world premiere of the Passat Alltrack: 1. Permanent 4MOTION all-wheel drive as standard. 2. Distinctive off-road look with new bumpers, underbody protection, door sill and wheel arch trims. 3.

Volkswagen Passat gets classier styling, tech updates for 2016

Volkswagen revealed a snazzier-looking, better-equipped version of the Passat Monday evening, which will start at $23,260 when it goes on sale as a 2016 model late this fall. The refresh updates VW's midsize sedan, though the changes are mostly evolutionary, and they come as Volkswagen is mired in scandal following charges it cheated on EPA tests. The design features a new hood, grille, rear bumpers, and front fenders. It's also the first VW sedan to offer LED head- and taillights as an option, and the 2016 version is the first Passat to get an R-Line package, which includes black accents, 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, and a custom front bumper. "We applied a progressive design strategy with the new Passat, giving the car a dynamic presence and a more sophisticated look," Klaus Bischoff, Volkswagen head of design, said in a statement. "We have integrated several new design elements, including a sculpted, domed hood that significantly sets the car apart from its predecessor." Inside, the cabin gets nicer materials, including chrome and piano-black trim, a new steering wheel, and available heated rear seats. VW's second-generation modular infotainment platform is standard, and it offers swiping and pinch-to-zoom features on most models. Volkswagen's Car-Net system is also available, which allows for smoother smartphone integration. The powertrain lineup carries over and is made up of the 1.8-liter turbo four-cylinder, 2.0-liter turbo diesel, and a 3.6-liter V6. It's unclear if the TDI model will be offered at launch in light of VW's recent diesel scandal. VOLKSWAGEN UNVEILS NEW 2016 PASSAT WITH STRIKING DESIGN, INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AND ENHANCED VALUE The Chattanooga-built Passat raises the bar in the midsize segment, offering new styling inside and out as well as a host of new connectivity and driver assistance features • Striking new front and rear design • New interior with updated instrument panel and center stack for a more premium feel • Standard MIB II infotainment system includes USB connectivity • Available VW Car-Net® App-Connect supports smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay®, Android Auto™ and MirrorLink® • Energy-efficient LED headlights and taillights available for the first time on a VW sedan • New driver assistance systems are standard features on select trim levels • First-ever R-Line® trim for U.S.

Winterkorn vacates chairs on Audi, Truck & Bus boards

The last remaining vestiges of Martin Winterkorn's power within the Volkswagen Group are slowly melting away. The former chairman of the group's management board resigned as CEO nearly two months ago in the wake of the diesel emissions scandal. He held onto other roles within the group, but one by one he's been vacating those as well. Last month Winterkorn resigned from his role at Porsche SE – Volkswagen's largest shareholder. Now the latest development comes from Bloomberg, which reports that Winterkorn has stepped down from his role as chairman of the supervisory board at Audi. Prior to his promotion to run the entire group, Winterkorn served as chief executive of the Audi division, and prior to his resignation served continued to serve as its board chairman. No date was given for his resignation from that capacity, nor any successor named at this point. Repeated requests for clarification from Audi have gone unanswered. In correspondence with Autoblog, however, spokespeople for VW's commercial vehicle operations confirmed that Winterkorn has also stepped down as the chairman of the board at Truck & Bus GmbH. The newly established division encompasses truck manufacturers Man and Scania. Winterkorn also served as chairman of Scania's board, but requests for confirmation of his departure from that role also went unanswered. The Swedish truck manufacturer, however, named Henrik Henriksson as its a new chief executive only a few days ago.