Topic: VW tries to move up market with 2009 Passat CC

[huota]

The announcement I was talking about was made few months ago (I can go back and search for the article) and it was referring mostly to the US market IIRC.
The idea was that VW will design less complex vehicles to lower the cost, plus they will build them in the US. The VW exec was even talking about building US market specific versions of their cars.

That would probably make sense. Goes to show the challenges of marketing the so called world cars in different markets.

[JSCC]

I don't understand the whole idea of VW trying over and over again to go up market although they keep failing. Why can't they just do with it and stick building good mainstream cars? Toyota, Honda and others do it successfully while they have there designated luxury brands. VW already has Audi to fight the luxury market with a winning chance. If they feel like designing cool, luxo cars, just give them to Audi.

VAG has four car makes in Europe; Audi, VW, Seat and Skoda, of which Seat and Skoda fill the space in the "mainstream" below VW. Also, the Golf's biggest competitor is the Focus and to stay competitive in that class they have apparently chosen to go up market. And I am sure there are enough people who'd rather drive a VW than an Audi for image reasons.

Why would one prefer a VW versus an Audi if the image is a concern?

I think the Phaeton fiasco shows that extremely few people would buy a luxury car, for a luxury price, with a VW badge on it.

As announced, VW intends to compete with Toyota and going up market doesn't seem to be the way.

Let me just say that Audi is perceived as the new BMW by many people. Not everybody feels positive about these brands and the associated values they present.

Time to bring out Top Gear's "cockmeter"!

[Vil]

The pricing doesn't seem too upmarket to me.

Passat CC Sportline 2.0T 6-speed manual $31,975
Passat CC Sportline 2.0T 6-speed auto $33,375

Sportline 2.0T includes:
12-way power adjustable front driver seat w/ power lumbar support
17" alloy wheels 'Phoenix' w/ anti-theft locks and all-season
Auto-dimming interior mirror
Automatic headlights w/ coming & leaving home feature Brushed aluminum interior trim
Auxiliary input
Chrome Exterior Trim
Climatic single zone climate control
Cruise control
Digital compass
Diversity antenna
Driver & passenger front airbags, side airbags and Side Curtain Protection®
Electronic push button parking brake
ESP - Electronic Stabilization Programme
Front fog lights
Halogen projector lens headlights
Heatable front seats and washer nozzles
Leather wrapped Multifunction steering wheel and shift knob
Multifunction trip computer and indicator
Power heatable and adjustable exterior mirrors
Premium 7 radio w/ in-dash 6 disc CD changer & 8 speakers
Press-start ignition switch
Rain sensor w/ automatic wiper speed control
Sport suspension
TPMS - Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Sportline 2.0T options:
Panorama Vent Sunroof $1,400
SIRIUS® Satellite Radio $450
Rear Side Airbags $450

Passat CC Highline 2.0T 6-speed manual $37,975
Passat CC Highline 2.0T 6-speed auto $39,375

Highline 2.0T includes (in additon to Sportline 2.0T):
12-way power driver seat w/ power lumbar support and memory (incl. ext. mirrors)
18" alloy wheels 'Daytona' w/ anti-theft locks and all-season tires
Bi-Xenon headlights with Adaptive Frontlight system (AFS)
Brushed aluminum interior trim
Climatronic dual-zone electronic climate control
Homelink®
Leather seating surfaces
Panorama vent sunroof
SIRIUS® satellite radio
Top sport seats

Highline 2.0T options:
Technology Package (Nav/Dynaudio) $3,450
Rear Side Airbags $450
Bluetooth $375

Passat CC Highline V6 4Motion auto $44,975

Highline V6 includes (in addition to Highline 2.0T):
18" alloy wheels 'Interlagos' w/ anti-theft locks and all-season tires
Power rear sunshade

Highline V6 options:
Technology Package (Nav/Dynaudio) $3,450
Rear Side Airbags $450
Bluetooth $375

[sirAQUAMAN64]

That pricing is very reasonable.

Hurray to Canada getting a Highline manual!

Does anyone know if the Comfortline has cloth or leatherette seats?

[JSCC]

Good thing VW Canada brought the 2.0T for a lower starting price.
The sales ratio should be inline with the Passat sedan.
Hmmm, guessing (I4:V6 = 10:1), any data on that ratio SAM?

[Allen]

good looking car

good series of pictures here

http://www.leftlanenews.com/cars/image_popup/imagepopup2.php?model_name=2009%20Volkswagen%20Passat%20CC&model_id=42&model_type=custom&defimage=http%3A%2F%2Fimages2.leftlanenews.com%2Fimageresizeronfly%2FphpThumb.php%3Fsrc%3D%2Fvolkswagen%2Fvolkswagen-cc-1.jpg

[sirAQUAMAN64]

No official idea JSCC, but sounds right. Styling can do a lot for the sale of a more expensive vehicle, but the efficient power of the 2.0T is all most people need. The fuel economy on that sucker oughtta be very appealing.

The North American amber front turn signals really bug me on the Passat and Passat CC 

Answered my earlier Q... leatherette on Comfortlines.

Mocha Brown Pearl

[Dante]

Adjusted for features, it seems priced in line with the TSX and Volvo S60 (with the current $9,200 cash incentive), but just much nicer than both.

[Ex-airbalancer]

a CC with a TDI, some nice pixs
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3943164

[rrocket]

Yea..a CC CS with a diesel is pretty neat...

[Ex-airbalancer]

some more pixs
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4031702

[asam]

Passat CC is a real head turner, my guess is that VW isn`t planning on breaking any sales records with this car. Just another vehicle to bring people through the door in hopes to sell em something
 

[Allen]

I looked at a few of them in the VW lot at their HQ building in Ajax, they are a very nice looking vehicle, the only issue I see is that the roof line is so raked that the sun roof can't slide open, it can only tilt up at the back.

[asam]

First Passat CC arrived today, silver comfortline with roof and sat. Looks good!
The A5 has the same roof. I wish they could've made it slide on the outside, probably look pretty cool.

[Das Auto]

That pricing is very reasonable.

Hurray to Canada getting a Highline manual!

Does anyone know if the Comfortline has cloth or leatherette seats?

The is no comfortline in Passat CC
It starts with a Sport line -- and it has leatherette with really nice seats 

The next line up is a High Line - comes with leatherette.

The next one is a Highline V6 4 motion.  We sold 2 of those already, still have one left in a Sport Line 

[Wolverine]

It's a great looking car. The price looks right (well, 33K buys crap here in Brazil, so 60K would look right to me too, eheheheh).