First details and sketches of new Volkswagen Passat revealed

A new 238bhp high-output diesel, a plug-in hybrid, lightweight body technology and improved connectivity touchscreen infotainment will be the technical highlights of the new Volkswagen Passat, on sale in the UK next January.

The new diesel will punch a hefty 369lb ft over a flat torque curve from 1750rpm to 2750rpm and be mated to a new high-capacity seven-speed DQ500 dual-clutch transmission.

A new high-pressure 200bar piezo-electric injector has been developed in conjunction with Bosch to deal with the very high cylinder pressure in the high-output diesel.

All-wheel drive 4Motion drive will be standard to keep the high torque output under control. Despite the high power output, Volkswagen is claiming 56mpg fuel consumption.

Read Autocar's road test review of the current Volkswagen Passat.

The diesel is the top-spec variant of a new EA288 family of diesels, starting with an entry-level 1.6-litre 118bhp unit and a 2.0-litre unit in two states of tune, 148bhp and 188bhp.

Also new in the Passat are five petrol engines from the EA211 family, featuring both alloy blocks and heads.

The range will be 1.4 123bhp, 1.4 148bhp, 1.8 177bhp, 2.0 217bhp and 2.0 276bhp. The 1.4 134bhp will be the only engine available with cylinder deactivation, which cuts output to just two cylinders, saving fuel on the move.

The new Passat is based on the latest variant of VW’s MQB, transverse front-engine platform, which also underpins the Volkswagen Polo and Volkswagen Golf.

Its dimensions are very close to the outgoing model with a length of 4767mm (2mm shorter) and height of 1456mm (14mm lower).

The engines have been canted back by 12 degrees to lower the bonnet line and the front axle moved forward to reduce the front overhang.

VW says its designers have pushed the firewall 40mm forward to increase cabin space without making the car any longer.

Heinz-Jakob Neusser, VW brand chief, says the passenger compartment is now 1830mm long, an increase that adds a useful 33mm to rear passenger knee room.

The new Passat is also lighter courtesy of detailed design to the body, engines, interior. Overall the kerb weight is reduced 83kg on one variant, with the biggest saving coming from a powertrain that’s 40kg lighter.

The Passat features a single aluminium panel for the first time, albeit it is the low-key 'parcel shelf' – the body panel behind the rear seats and under the rear screen. It's an innovation that saves 1kg.

High strength steels, including parts made with hot-rolling technology, and redesigned sill box sections, help get the weight of a bare body-in-white down by 21kg to ‘less than 280kg’.