Volkswagen Australia has announced, or rather confirmed, the imminent inclusion of a more powerful 206kW version of their Passat R-Line as a spiritual successor to the much loved Passat R36.
Prices will start at $57,990 for the new Passat 206TSI R-Line sedan while a wagon version will be an extra $2,000 at $59,990. The only buyer-selectable options available are the metallic/pearlescent exterior paint finish or panoramic glass sunroof, which costs $700 or $2,000 respectively.
We covered the the faster Passat in a previous story but at that point the information was purely speculative, with only the existence of the particular car in other markets being a certainty.
As the name makes plain, will feature a 206kW/350Nm power and torque figure extracted from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder VW EA888 turbocharged petrol engine.
While those numbers a little down on the older naturally-aspirated V6-powered R36, which generated 220kW and 380Nm, the new B9 generation Passat is inherently lighter to bring the power-to-weight ratio to a near exact match.
Torque delivery will be more immediate too over the atmospheric VR6 engine thanks to that turbocharger. The upcoming Passat 206TSI distributes power to all four wheels via the 4MOTION system while a six-speed DSG transmission handles shifting duties, allowing an impressive 5.5-second sprint time to 100km/h for the sedan or 5.7-seconds for the wagon.
To accompany the step up in performance, Volkswagen pairs the car with their adaptive chassis control system, allowing the driver to soften or firm up the ride. Other niceties include the R-Line styling pack that includes a sports body kit, 19-inch wheels, and dynamic headlights.
Inside, the Passat 206TSI is fairly similar to the other versions of the current-generation car. On the whole, ‘sporty’ touches have been kept to a minimum with the exception of leather-trimmed R-Line seats, paddle shifters, alloy foot pedals, and a flat-bottomed multi-function sports steering wheel.
Being a 2017 model year car, the 206TSI also gains the updated infotainment package which includes the new Active Info Display that we first saw in the all-new Tiguan.
The new hot Passat is now open for booking and is due to arrive for buyer delivery in November.
For more on Volkswagen vehicles, including pricing and specifications, check out our Showroom.
