Article originally published:
VW Motoring Magazine | March 1988
The first all-new Volkswagen for a long time is about to be unveiled and – surprise, surprise – the Passat replacement is called . . . Passat.
The Editor reports
It’s here – well, almost. Volkswagen’s replacement Passat for the nineties is due to debut at the Geneva Salon on March 1. Apparently many suggested names were considered for the all-new model – and rejected, in favour of the existing one. While this has a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’, it certainly never became a household word and it seemed as though the original Passat, overshadowed from the start by the Audi 80 from which it , was derived, was always destined to be something of a nonentity, at least as far as the UK market was
its predecessors, but apparently shares all the
refinements and specification options of the
saloon. This is a top-of-the-range model with
roof rails and alloy wheels; UK specifications
have not yet been finalised.
concerned. Even a fairly drastic facelift in 1980 didn’t do the trick, while the booted saloon had the additional handicap of being called Santana for a time. Somehow, the Passat didn’t seem to have a lot going for it, despite being a very competent all-rounder, as I can testify from personal ownership of an estate model. So, what do the Ides of March hold in store for the all-new Passat? Well, if the car’s paper specification and appearance are anything to go by, it could be a very big hit indeed, although UK prices, which will undoubtedly reflect a· further move up-market, will obviously have a considerable influence on sales.
Transverse engine
As can be seen from our cover picture and those reproduced here, Passat ’88 is a pretty different animal from its predecessor. Volkswagen say the design aim was to produce a vehicle superior in every way to the car it replaces; and to achieve this has taken a development budget of some DMl .2 billion (£400m). The car is powered by a new series of four-cylinder engines developed from the proven EA827 unit, ranging from a 1.6 litre 72 bhp version to a 2.0 litre 16-valve with 136 bhp. In between is a new version of the successful l.8litre 90bhp engine, fitted with ‘throttle body’ Monojet fuel injection; both this and a 107bhp version of the same engine have Lambda emission control. All models will be able tci run on · unleaded fuel, German market cars having catalytic.converters as standard. A major innovation is that the engines in the new Passat are, for the first time, mounted transversely. In conjunction with an increase of 75mm in the wheelbase, this has permitted a useful proportion of total length to be transferred into the passenger compartment. Indeed, it seems that major effort has gone into providing the maximum interior space, with specially shaped front seat backrests and mountings giving more room to rear seat passengers. The different engine layout has permitted the use of a newly-designed five-speed gearbox using special steel cables and rubber and hydraulic bearings, which, claim Volkswagen, gives a much improved gearchange whilst economising on both weight and space.
Depending on model, the new Passat saloon is equipped either with a spoiler
integrated into the bootlid, or with a separately mounted lip spoiler colour-keyed to
the bodywork. The entirely new body boasts a Cd of only 0.29, making it one of
the most aerodynamic vehicles in its class. The attractive new design incorporates
flush-fitting side windows and integral rain channels. Passenger compartment
safety is enhanced by wide lateral impact protection beams. Galvanised panels are
used in vulnerable areas, joints between panels are rubber and PVC sealed, box
sections are hot wax flooded and high quality paint finishes are used. There are
plastic wheel arch liners, and silencers are of stainless steel.
‘Thinking’ suspension
VW engineers used a computer program called ‘Isaak’ (Interactive System for Abacus Axle design) to examine the effects on handling of torsional strain. The basic tried-and-tested formula of MacPherson struts at the front and torsion beam with trailing arms at the rear is retained, but with the incorporation in the rear axle of track-adjusting bearings which allow a compensating reaction to lateral forces during cornering. This, say Volkswagen, gives most of the advantages of a four-wheel steering system without the cost, complexity and weight penalty ofactual4WS. Brakes have been increased in. size, with all models having servo assistance. The more powerful versions have all-round disc brakes, while ABS is optional across the range.
Built-in memory
Volkswagen claim a significant contribution to the reduction of repair costs thanks to a new system of on-board computer diagnosis. The new Passat’s built-in computer continually interrogates the car’s electrical system for any fault, and stores it in the life-long memory, where it can be read off at a VW dealership. Similarly, engine faults are monitored and stored in a way that can be read by another dealer-based computer. For the sake of electrical reliability, the engineers have forsaken the traditional wiring system in favour of a solid-state computer-style layout in which the main loom is divided into modules for the various components, making fault-finding easier and preventing one faulty circuit from causing problems elsewhere in the
system.
Two body styles
The new Passat will be available as either a saloon, with folding rear seats as described above, or an estate, and in three trim levels: CL, GL, and GT. In addition to the engine options already mentioned, a turbo-diesel version will become available later in the year, fitted with the 80bhp intercooled version of the l.6litre turbocharged diesel. Right-hand-drive models of the new Passat,are expected to go on sale here in -the early summer, when full details of specifications will be announced, together with launch prices. These, as we have already commented, will have to reflect the additional sophistication of what promises to be a most desirable range of Volkswagens. I’ll willingly settle for a 16-valve estate …