Following in the footsteps of the Golf GTE, the all-new VW Passat has received a GTE-badged plug-in hybrid version for the Paris Auto Show.

Offered both in sedan and wagon versions, the VW Passat GTE can be driven up to 50 km (31 miles) in the all-electric “E-Mode.” The first Passat with a plug-in hybrid drive system is powered by a turbocharged direct injection petrol engine (TSI) combined with an electric motor which sources energy from a chargeable lithium-ion battery.

The petrol engine is a 1.4-liter TSI which produces 156PS (154hp), while the electric motor produces 85 kw (115PS or 113hp). Combined system output is 218PS (215hp), with the maximum torque reaching 400Nm (295lb-ft). The VW Passat GTE averages under 2 l/100 km (117.6 mpg US) and 13 kWh/100 km, equating to CO2 emissions fewer than 45 g/km.

As a result, total driving range exceeds 1,000 km (621 miles) with a full 50-liter fuel tank and fully charged battery. To put that into context, VW says the new Passat GTE covers the route from Paris to London and back to the French capital without a single refueling stop.

Equipped with a 6-speed DSG transmission especially developed for this model, the front-wheel drive Passat GTE sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than 8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 220 km/h (137 mph. In all-electric mode, top speed is limited to 130 km/h (81 mph).

Styling-wise, the Passat GTE stands out from regular models thanks to details such as the specific chrome radiator grille unit with additional blue line, redesigned front bumper, striking cross panels in the lower air inlet and the C-shaped LED daytime running lights. Additional styling tweaks are the exclusive 17-inch “Astana” alloy wheels and the blue-painted brake calipers.

Inside, the VW Passat GTE features a specific menu for the functions and displays on the “Composition Media” infotainment system and the instrument cluster. Other specific details are the blue ambient lighting, leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel with blue decorative stitching, GTE-specific gear **** with blue stitching and seats covered in “Sevilla” cloth with a blue basic structure.

VW will launch the Passat GTE in the second half of 2015.

VW will start accepting orders for the new generation Passat saloon and Estate in Britain on October 7 ahead of first deliveries in January next year. OTR (On-The-Road) prices start from £22,215 for the sedan and £23,745 for the Estate.

The more stylish and lighter (up to 85kg or 187 lbs) eighth-gen Passat will be offered exclusively with diesel engines at launch in the UK, with the newly announced GTE Plug-in Hybrid that marries a 1.4 TSI petrol to an electric motor to follow in October of 2015.

Diesel engine choices start with a 120PS (118hp) 1.6-liter TDI, and continue with a 150PS (148hp) 2.0 TDI, a 190PS (187hp) 2.0 TDI and a range-topping 240PS (237hp) 2.0 bi-turbo TDI with a DSG gearbox and 4MOTION four-wheel drive.

VW will also add a frugal BlueMotion with a 1.6-litre unit returning 78 mpg UK and 95 g/km of CO2 to the range in June 2015.

At launch, the 2015 Passat will be available with five trim levels named S, SE, SE Business, GT and R-Line.

The SE adds Front Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Crash system, Driver Profile Selection, Ergo Comfort seats and front and rear parking sensors, with the SE Business that is aimed at fleet buyers gaining a navigation system. The GT is further enhanced with heated Alcantara seats, three-zone climate control and 18-inch wheel, while the R-Line sports a host of cosmetic upgrades including an aero kit.

Volkswagen has released new details and a huge photo gallery of the eighth generation Passat, which debuted at the Paris Auto Show last week.

Up to 85 kg (187.4 lbs) lighter than its predecessor, the latest Passat features an all-new engine lineup that’s up to 20 percent more fuel-efficient. The new model is offered with ten TSI and TDI engines with outputs ranging from 120PS to 280PS. All versions are equipped with a stop-start system and a regenerative braking mode. A dual clutch gearbox (DSG) is available as an option for all engine versions, and is standard for the top engine.

There are five TSI engines to choose from, beginning with an entry-level 125PS 1.4 TSI unit that is also available in a more powerful 150PS version with active cylinder management (ACT). The latter averages 4.9 l/100 km (48 mpg US) and 115 g/km CO2, making it 1.3 l/100 km more fuel-efficient than the comparable previous model. Moving further up the range, there’s a 2.0-liter TSI unit offered with three output levels:180PS, 220PS and 280PS.

For the first time the Passat is available with a GTE plug-in hybrid version with an overall output of 218PS. The Passat GTE has an all-electric driving range of 50 km (31 miles).

The diesel lineup also includes five engines, starting with a 1.6 TDI producing 120PS, also to be offered later in a more frugal BlueMotion version. A 2.0-liter TDI is offered with three output levels: 150PS, 190PS and 240PS. The latter is a twin-turbo engine that produces 500Nm (369lb-ft) of torque, allowing the sedan to reach a top speed of 240 km/h (149 mph). Fitted as standard with the 4Motion all-wheel drive system and the 7-speed DSG transmission, the range-topping diesel averages just 5.3l/100 km (44.4 mpg US), equating to 139 g/km of CO2.

The new Passat will be offered with three equipment lines: Trendline, Comfortline and Highline. Standard features for the base grade include 16-inch wheels with 215 tyres and LED rear lights, front center armrest with storage compartment, height adjustment for the front seats, Keyless Go, Driver Alert, Automatic Post-Collision Braking, tyre pressure indicator, the “Composition Colour” radio system with 5-inch touchscreen, the “Plus” multi-function display, daytime running lights, Hill Hold Assist, Auto Hold, air conditioning and a coasting function (for DSG-equipped models).

The Passat Comfortline adds Front Assist including City Emergency Braking, while the Passat Highline comes with Alcantara/leather trim and LED headlights, among other features.

Arriving in German dealerships in mid-November, the new Passat is priced from €25,875 for the saloon and €25,950 for the estate in its home market. The model will reach European showrooms shortly after and will arrive in other international markets including right-hand drive markets in 2015.

VW currently considering a sportier Passat

Independent designer X-Tomi has created a virtual range-topping R400 variant of the Volkswagen Passat.

The rendering shows a sporty saloon with many design changes compared to the standard Passat. It features a fully redesigned front bumper with large air intakes and a carbon fiber splitter, new side skirts and a set of 19-inch alloy wheels, similar to the one in Golf R400 Concept.

If we were to believe a recent report, a sportier Passat R is being analyzed by the German manufacturer. According to the information, future R models will likely be offered with a 4MOTION all-wheel drive system as well as with six-cylinder engines that could also be turbocharged depending on application.

As a brief reminder, the Golf R400 Concept has a 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine that produces 400 HP (294 kW) and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft). It enables the car to do the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint in only 3.9 seconds.

So much for their security system

The 2015 Volkswagen Passat has been garnering a lot of attention ever since it was introduced earlier this year and it appears thieves couldn't resist taking a closer look.

According to the Emden Police Department, an unidentified male stole a vehicle from a Volkswagen plant earlier this month. The thief successfully escaped with the car but ditched it a short time later. Police were unable to apprehend the suspect but they did manage to capture him on traffic cameras.

Interestingly, this isn't the first theft of an all-new Passat. Police are also investigating the disappearance of another model on October 3rd but haven't confirmed whether or not the two incidents are related.

Was a Passat Variant with a Tungsten Silver Metallic exterior

Volkswagen has delivered the first 2015 Passat to a customer in Wolfsburg, Germany.

The first model was a Passat Variant which features a Tungsten Silver Metallic exterior with nine-spoke alloy wheels.

Volkswagen didn't have much to say about the car but they confirmed it was a Comfort Line variant. This means the model features a leather-wrapped steering wheel, aluminum trim and a generous assortment of standard equipment. The buyers also ordered the winter package and a Composition Media infotainment system.

Power is provided by a 2.0-liter TDI four-cylinder engine with BlueMotion Technology. It produces 150 PS (110 kW) and 340 Nm (250 lb-ft) of torque.