Passat CC heads VW's US push

A move away from utilitarian transport to more "emotional" cars will be one of the lynchpins in Volkswagen push to become the number one import brand in the USA. That's the message VW Group execs were sending at last week's North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), the venue for the surprise international debut of the Passat CC.

Not a coupe convertible, but rather a swoopy Mercedes-Benz CLS-like four-door 'coupe', the oddly-named Passat CC was expected to be unveiled at March's Geneva show. Instead, it headlined the carmaker's resurgent Detroit presence.

The large conventionally-engined sedan (there was no mention of hybrid versions but VW will eventually offer turbodiesel versions in the USA) was in stark contrast to the company's econ-box/citycar Up! offerings at both of the most recent major motor shows -- Frankfurt and Tokyo -- as well as smaller shows such as Delhi and Bologna.

Built on cooking-model Passat underpinnings, the CC shares few visual clues with its more upright stablemate. It also eschews the sedan's rear bench for two buckets -- also a la CLS. Though 50mm lower than the Passat sedan, the CC is 31mm longer and 36mm wider than the mass market saloon.

The car features an almost 'pillarless' profile and gets frameless front and rear doors to help with the 'showcar' illusion. Also unique to the CC is its interior. Though clearly the parts come from the same bin, the execution is much posher -- befitting its position at the head of the international VW sedan range. (Don't expect VW's Phaeton on sale in many markets outside of continental Europe again in a hurry.)

The CC won't only go on sale in America. As we revealed here late last year, it's also a starter for Australia and other key markets later this year. Here it will headline with the same 4MOTION and 3.6-litre V6 underpinnings as the upcoming R36 Passat.

Equipment expected to debut Down Under on the CC includes lane assist, distance control with front assist (to reduce the likelihood of front-rear collisions) and 'Dynamic Drive Control' chassis tuning system (dampers and steering characteristics). Driver comfort will be aided by VW's Active Comfort Seat -- ironically from the Phaeton's suite of goodies.

Volkswagen has recently restructured in the USA and moved its headquarters from Detroit to the east coast to align with the likes of Mercedes-Benz and BMW. A name change (to Volkswagen of America) and rumours that the carmaker is close to finalizing its choice of location for a US-based production facility all add up to a deadly serious tilt on the world's largest developed car market.

VW Group boss, Dr Martin Winterkorn opened proceeding for the brand at Detroit, making it clear the the 16-million car US market was the key target for the brand.

"For Volkswagen, the USA has top priority. We want to win back our place as a leading foreign automaker. We are challenging our competitors and we plan to sell 800,000 per year in the USA by the year 2018," Winterkorn said.

"Volkswagen is putting its pedal to the metal," a slightly uncomfortable VW chief added for the cameras.

The metal is the CC and cars like it -- built to appeal to a wider group of US buyers than the traditional Golf (Rabbit in the USA) hatchback, VW USA officials say.

 "Brave new cars", Winterkorn called them.

New VW-USA boss Stefan Jacoby was on hand to present the CC, dubbing it "a stylish design-oriented car" and a "roadrunner in a tuxedo".

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