SPY PICS: Volkswagen NMS spied

Volkswagen appears to be doing a Subaru with its Passat by offering different versions for the US and European markets.

While the latest eighth-generation Passat -- which is largely a rework of the previous (and current in Australia) model -- has just been launched in Europe, the US version currently known as the NMS (New Midsize Sedan) is approaching the end of its development prior to being officially unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in January 2011.

Although the US version will share a lot of its componentry with the Euro Passat, the dimensions are expected to be slightly larger to offer strong opposition to the likes of Toyota's Camry and Honda's Accord in North America.

These Carparazzi pics show the NMS in its final stages of development prior to its US launch next year.

Although the disguise is sufficient to render front and rear details unclear, the NMS's visual connections with the latest Passat are abundantly evident. It can be assumed it will adopt the new, more restrained face seen across the latest VW models.

Current speculation says the NMS (no announcement of the actual name has yet been made) will use VW's current range of powerplants including diesel and petrol engines, with the TwinCharge 1.4-litre also mooted to be on the agenda. A hybrid is expected too, but not before 2012.

Australia? Not likely according to comments from VW top brass.

As an additional model on top of the next generation Passat (an Australian launch date has yet to be announced) the similarities would render it pretty pointless. And the fact the NMS will be built in VW's Chattanooga plant in the US would seem to rule out right-hand drive as a possibility.

-- with Carparazzi

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