Has a 27.5 mm increased ride height

Volkswagen has revealed the Alltrack version of the new Passat ahead of a public debut set for Geneva Motor Show early next month.

Based on the latest Passat Variant, the new Alltrack derivative comes with a 27.5 mm increased ride height and adopts a slightly more rugged design with plastic body cladding on the wheel arches and sill trims while the front and rear bumpers have a different design to improve the car's approach and departure angles when travelling on bumpy roads. Volkswagen has also installed stainless steel underbody plates to protect the car's vulnerable components.

The Passat Alltrack comes as standard with a 4MOTION on-demand all-wheel drive system which in normal road conditions channels the engine's power to the front wheels but whenever more grip is necessary the Haldex coupling kicks in and sends power to the rear axle to improve traction. The standard differential lock transfers power to whichever wheel has the most traction.

Volkswagen has also added an "Off Road" driving mode which upon activation will alter the braking input, throttle response and the hill start & descent systems to further boost the car’s grip on slippery roads.

As you would expect, the engines are sourced from the regular Passat Variant and these include a 150 HP 1.4 TSI and a 220 HP 2.0 TSI along with three 2.0 TDIs developing 150 HP, 190 HP and 240 HP. The most powerful gasoline and diesel engines come with the firm's XDS+ system capable of applying the brakes to the inside wheels during quick cornering to improve stability.

The Volkswagen Passat Alltrack will premiere in less than two weeks at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.

Debuts in Geneva

ABT Sportsline has announced plans to introduce their new tuning program for the European Volkswagen Passat at the Geneva Motor Show.

Looking decidedly more aggressive than the standard model, the wagon has been equipped with aerodynamic body kit that includes a front lip spoiler, revised side skirts and a tailgate-mounted spoiler. Customers can also order new mirror caps, sport springs and a sports exhaust system. Other notable highlights include ABT-branded floor mats and 20- or 21-inch alloy wheels with Continental "sport-type" tires.

Performance changes are fairly limited but the 2.0-liter TDI four-cylinder engine can be tuned to produce 280 PS (206 kW) - an increase of 40 PS (29 kW).

Gets standard all-wheel drive

Volkswagen has introduced the Passat Alltrack today at the 85th Geneva Motor Show.

Based on the Passat Variant, the new Alltrack derivative comes exclusively with a 4MOTION all-wheel drive system and sits 27.5mm higher than the standard car. The body has received some plastic cladding around the wheel arches, side skirts and the lower sections of the bumpers to provide the wagon with a more rugged styling. For the same reason, Volkswagen has added stainless steel underbody which also protects the components whenever tackling rough terrain.

The bumpers adopt a slightly different design to improve the approach and departure angles, very important when driving on bumpy roads. Speaking of which, an "Off Road" driving mode has been added which upon activation will enhance grip on slippery roads by making some adjustments to the throttle response, braking input as well as to the hill start and descent systems.

Customers will be able to buy the Passat Alltrack with a 150 HP 1.4 TSI and a beefier 2.0 TSI rated at 220 HP while on the side there’s a 2.0 TDI with 150 HP, 190 HP and 240 HP. Opt for the most powerful gasoline or diesel engine and the car also gets an XDS+ system which will apply the brakes to the inside wheels to improve stability during cornering. All engines are Euro 6 compliant and come as standard with a stop/start system to cut fuel consumption.

Pricing hasn't been announced yet but rest assure the Alltrack "all-wheel drive all-rounder" will be more expensive than the Volkswagen Passat Variant upon which is based.

VW has done it again winning the coveted European Car of the Year award for 2015 with the new generation Passat, two years after it received the same accolade with the Golf in 2013.

The German firm's mid-size sedan –not to be confused with the unrelated, and at times, unloved, VW Passat sold in North America, came up first in a shortlist of seven finalists gathering 340 points from a jury consisting of 58 members from 22 European countries.

The runner up for this year's award was the Citroën C4 Cactus with 248 points, followed by the Mercedes-Benz C-Class with 221 points, the Ford Mondeo with 203, the Nissan Qashqai with 160, the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer with 154 and the Renault Twingo with 124.

"We are extremely proud of this accolade," commented VW CEO Martin Winterkorn. "In the new Passat we have again succeeded in developing a car that sets the standards for its class in terms of technology and quality. This honour is a tremendous confirmation for the work of our engineers, designers and the entire team. The new Passat shows that the Volkswagen brand has the right answers to the challenges of our time."