2009 Volkswagen Passat CC Australian Release

Volkswagen has today announced the Australian release of its new ‘four-door-coupe’ Passat CC. As we speak, The Insider is likely riding shotgun in the shiny new CC at the official launch, and he’ll be getting back to us all with his ‘first drive’ impressions shortly. In the meantime, a quick overview seems appropriate.

VW is intentionally offering the Passat CC in just one luxuriously-equipped variant, aimed squarely at the premium end of the mid-class car sector.

The Passat CC is 4.8 metres in length and features a range of standard equipment including 18-inch alloy wheels with size 235/40 tyres, chrome accents (interior and exterior), four ergonomic sport seats (individual seating system in rear), a new three-spoke leather steering wheel design, climate control, ESP Electronic Stabilisation Program and automatic headlights.

There are two engine options on offer: a 125kW 2.0-litre TDI that can achieve 6.3 L/100km or a 220kW 3.6-litre V6 FSI that will return 10.5 L/100km on average. The new generation of 4MOTION full-time all-wheel drive is standard equipment on the V6 FSI model.

There are also a few innovative features making an appearance in the CC. For the first time on a Volkswagen, the Passat CC is equipped with a new 'Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)' with Front Assist for braking distance reduction. There is also 'Park Assist' parking assistant and 'Adaptive Chassis Control' which includes three settings: Normal, Sport and Comfort.

Another first for Volkswagen is the standard fitment to every Passat CC model of the Continental Mobility tyre. Using a technology called ContiSeal, a protective layer on the interior surface of the tyre tread area immediately seals holes caused by the penetration of foreign objects. The sealing process works for nearly any leaks caused by objects up to 5mm in diameter. According to Volkswagen, this means that around 85 percent of flat tyres can thus be avoided.

Driver and passengers alike will appreciate the newly developed, electrically actuated Panoramic glass roof. The transparent roof covers the entire front section up to the B pillars. In this case, the cross-beam above the windshield is also in black.

Another interesting option is the active climate control front seats. In summer months the active climate seat is said to provide for noticeably improved comfort on long drives.

The radio system is also new and now features an optional Media Device Interface (MDI). This USB interface can be used to integrate iPods and many other current MP3 and DVD players. The USB port is located in the glove box, while control is taken care of via the radio or radio-navigation system.

The Passat CC is available as of now with pricing as follows:

Passat CC 125kW TDI - $54,990

Passat CC V6 FSI - $65,990