Unveiled as a Passat CC, the Volkswagen four-door coupé will finally drop the Passat moniker to be simply called CC. By dropping the Passat link, Volkswagen hopes the CC will move upmarket and sit between the Passat and the future Phaeton.
Volkswagen wants to convince us that its four-door coupé is not a Passat in a attempt to position the CC as an all-new car and as a premium model at at time when the company suffers from a fierce struggle on for the pie of the saloon market.
Halfway between a saloon and a coupé, the latest variant of the Passat is an attempt at convincing us that another concept of travel exists: a separate luggage compartment, a lowered centre of gravity and above all a sleek shape in contrast with the current trend which promotes van-shaped vehicles with high driving positions and tailgates.
The CC distinguishes itself from the Passat by a curve that runs from the A pillar to the aft. This flat curve is emphasised by the chromed arc bordering the windows. The CC also features familiar styling cues from the CLS such as the line running from the front wheel arch to the rear of the car, and the door handles. the design of the CC is appealing and compared to its lacklustre sister, the new CC looks sportier and more elegant. However, the overall design looks a bit outdated as it reminds us the CLS, of course, but also the old Peugeot 607. Oddly, the three cars have been designed at a time when Murat Günak was working in those companies.
At 4,796 mm long, 1,856 mm wide and 1,420 mm high, the CC is 31 mm longer, 36 mm wider but 50 mm lower than the classic Passat. Despite a lower roofline, the CC seems to be roomy enough for four passengers and their luggage as VW North America’s chief Stefan Jacoby showed it during the presentation at Detroit. Thanks to an appealing exterior styling and decent roominess, the CC would hold the aces if Volkswagen hadn’t failed with the interior styling whose overall atmosphere is too reminiscent of the saloon.
Unquestionably, the biggest drawback is the dashboard which is identical to the saloon’s. In an attempt to give an upmarket touch, the CC is available with a choice of three new leather steering wheels. They all will have three spokes like the topping Passat versions but the lowerspoke will feature a kind of dual spoke with an integrated metal application. Likewise designers tried to mix aluminium and wooden panels as seen on top of the range versions in France and Germany except that the CC offers an exclusive brushed aluminium panel.
The front sport seats are also identical to that of its contemporary saloon counterpart. The driver seat is electrically powered in six ways while both front seats can be powered in twelve ways as an option. The novelty comes from a climate function which ventilates the seat and seatback surfaces thanks to tiny fans. There is a choice of any colour you like for the ventilated seats as long as it’s black. Front passengers will also enjoy a large windowed sunroof.
In order to accommodate only two persons, The rear seats adopt a sporty shape with larger lateral support. In case you would still like to seats three persons, the central storage compartment will keep you of doing it. As in front, the storage has two beverage holders with a sliding cover to close them. Once again, Volkswagen has been over-srupulous in not providing a seamless transition from the front to the rear tunnel trim.
Under the bonnet, the CC will be available with a range of three petrol engines and two diesel units. The entry-level will be powered by the TSI 1.8-litre petrol unit which has an output of 158bhp, followed by the 197 bhp TSI 2.0-litre engine. The range will be topped by the 296 bhp FSi 3.6-litre unit. In Europe, Along the petrol engines, the CC will also come with diesel units, a 138bhp and a 168bhp, both with a displacement of 2.0-litre. If the petrol engines will be enough to battle on the American market, the lack of a powerful diesel engine for Europe might become a major weakness at a time when even French carmakers plan to release 265bhp diesel units.
