All-new 2023 VW Passat to launch in September but Malaysia won't be getting it.
Dinesh · Apr 27, 2023 12:00 PM
0
0
If you were tired of the traditionally Japanese-dominated D-segment here, the Volkswagen Passat was the last continental large sedan you could get here until it was discontinued recently.
While it wasnât perfect, it did offer that continental sophistication with an impressive ride and the current B8 Passat was even crowned the 2015 European Car of the Year.
Unfortunately though, the new Passat thatâs due for a September 2023 debut will likely not make its way here. The reason comes down to the fact that itâll be exclusively available in a station wagon body style and we all know how popular those are here.
The Passat was Europeâs best-selling midsize car in 2022, seeing 66,621 units out the door. Nonetheless, that figure was still 20 percent lower than 2021âs numbers. Sister brand Skoda and its Superb sedan thatâs based on the same MQB platform as the Passat occupied second place in that segment with 45,042 sold.
Similarly, the new Superb and the new Passat will share similarities but the Skoda gets a sedan body style and will launch a little after the VW. Therefore, if you still insist on the D-segment sedan from Volkswagen, the only option is the pricier Arteon that's still available in Malaysia.
Both models will be built together at Volkswagen Groupâs plant in Bratislava, Slovakia, after the group consolidated production of the new models from Emden, Germany, and Kvasiny, Czech Republic.
Skoda developed both models, displaying the synergies of how VW Groupâs volume brands are cooperating more closely without diluting each marqueâs DNA.
The Passatâs former home in Emden now rolls out EVs, having started with the ID4 last year and will soon be assembling the ID7 as well.
On the other hand, the Bratislava plant will carry on assembling large SUVs for the group, including the Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg alongside the Volkswagen e-Up electric minicar.
âBetter late than never.â Some despise it, others begrudgingly agree with it but he swears by it⊠much to the chagrin of everyone around him. That unfortunately stems from all of his project cars not running most of the time, which in turn is testament to his questionable decision-making skills in life. A culmination of many wrongs fortunately making a right; much like his project cars on the rare occasions they run, heâs still trying to figure out if another project car is the way to go.