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

[99 Silver]

Check this out as they have taken a few design elements from the MB S550:

http://www.automobilemag.com/new_and_future_cars/2009/0807_2009_volksagen_passat_cc/index.html

Nice looking car!

[Triple Bob]

Looks very like the current model to me..?

[mmret]

Definitely a looker.

[rrocket]

Another car company calling a sedan a coupe....sigh...

[Ex-airbalancer]

Another car company calling a sedan a coupe....sigh...

Not everything can be a great has a Toyota

[rrocket]

What does that have to do with Toyota?      First MB calls the CLS a "four door Coupe" and now VW calls this the Comfort Coupe. Calling a sedan a coupe is stupid IMO.

Maybe it's just something Zee Germans like to do....

[mmret]

Why does it matter what they want to call it?

IMO its not as outrageous as BMWs Sports Activity Vehicle and that abominable Personal Activity Sedan or whatever it is.

Marketing is marketing. Its like democracy.

[rrocket]

Why does it matter what they want to call it?

Ummm...because a sedan isn't a coupe no matter what they call it.....

But hey..whatever floats your boat..

[mmret]

Why does it matter what they want to call it?

Ummm...because a sedan isn't a coupe no matter what they call it.....

But hey..whatever floats your boat..

Definitions, perceptions, and norms change with time.

[rrocket]

^^For some people I guess....

[99 Silver]

Other than the stupid name which VW has a history of creating, it looks like a pretty decent car.

[99 Silver]

Looks very like the current model to me..?

I haven't seen a Passat like that in North America yet.

[Dante]

I've seen it at the Auto Show and it is a good looking sedan.

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.
I think Polo would do much better for VW in NA these days than the Passat CC.

[huota]

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.

[Triple Bob]

What does that have to do with Toyota?      First MB calls the CLS a "four door Coupe" and now VW calls this the Comfort Coupe. Calling a sedan a coupe is stupid IMO.

Maybe it's just something Zee Germans like to do....

You vill obey zee BMW vay until you are assimilated!  "The X6 iz our Personal Offroad Sedan, or P.O.S. if you vill"...

[Dante]

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.

[Allen]

Why does it matter what they want to call it?

Ummm...because a sedan isn't a coupe no matter what they call it.....

But hey..whatever floats your boat..

Here's another one, etched on the rear door window on the new 09 Maxima is "4DSC" which stands for 4 door sports coupe.... everyone is trying to rebadge a sedan to a coupe, must be for all us older baby boomers

[loser40]

Hi...

I saw the new Passat CC at my local VW dealer... in the metal they are a great looking car.  Good road presence and a really nice shape - it's another VW winner.  IMO it will outsell the standard Passat saloon.  Why VW just didn't make the new CC shape the standard Passat is beyond me, I know VW is keen to fill every niche, but having two 4 door Passat saloon's/sedan's just seems crazy !

As for the VW group going upmarket, that's true to an extent, but, the real vision is/was to have a VW car in every price band, high and low, and truly be what the brand claims to be - the peoples car.

The Pheaton was a mistake... it was VW revolution rather than it's traditional evolution.  IMO VW will let the brand evolve and create increasingly expensive variants, but, at the same time, they will continue to make cheaper, smaller, affordable cars so they can still be "the peoples car" .

M.

[huota]

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.

I agree about the Phaeton. I suppose it was designed to show their technological know-how. I don't think it was ever meant to be a big seller.

I have not read the VW announcement, but wonder why should they go the Toyota way to compete against them? Isn't it better to go to a competition utilizing your own strengths rather than follow the rules set by the competitor?

[Dante]

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.

To me, a Rabbit/Jetta built, equipped and priced in line with Mazda3 and Civic would make much more sense than trying to sell it as a premium small car.
The same goes for the Passat. Mazda6 and Accord are very well built vehicles so it wouldn't be like VW would have to dumb down the Passat.