VW announces 206kW Passat

Volkswagen Group Australia has announced an effective replacement for its previous-generation Passat R36 in the form of the Passat 206TSI R-Line.

To be available in sedan and wagon form, the Passat 206TSI will share its 206kW/380Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission and 4MOTION all-wheel drive system with the Golf R and Passat 206TSI 4x4.

Also standard will be adaptive chassis control, dynamic LED headlights, self-parking technology and 19-inch alloys.

Priced at $57,990 plus on-road costs for the sedan and $59,990 for the wagon, it will be a spiritual successor for the 220kW/350Nm 3.6-litre V6-powere Passat R36 that was available for $66,990 until 2010.

While the new Passat 206TSI will be available from October, a revised MY17 Passat sedan, wagon and Alltrack range is on sale now.

The MY17 Passat upgrade brings 12.3-inch Active Info Display digital instruments and 18-inch Monterey wheels for R-Line models, 14-way powered memory seats for Comfortline, Highline and Alltrack variants, and 17-inch Soho alloys and Front Assist with City Emergency Braking for entry-level 132TSI variants.

At the same time, Volkswagen has announced a new Polo Beats special-edition to be aimed at younger buyers from September.

Representing a collaboration between the German car-maker and the audio company founded by music producer and rapper Dr Dre, the Polo Beats is based on the mid-range Polo 81 TSI Comfortline.

It gains an eight-channel, 300-Watt premium sound system with a subwoofer tuned by Beats engineers, 16-inch alloy wheels, cloth and Alcantara seat trim and unique decals.

Available in white or black paint with red mirrors or red paint with black mirrors, the Polo Beats will costs $21,990 drive-away in manual form or $24,490 drive-away with a DSG auto – up from $18,490 plus ORCs for the Polo 81TSI Comortline manual.

Finally, Volkswagen has announced a Wolfsburg Edition version of its premium Touareg SUV, based on the diesel V6-powered Touareg 180 TDI ($81,990 plus ORCs).

Priced from $89,990 plus ORCs, the unique Touareg adds bespoke cosmetics including black 20-inch Mallory alloys, adaptive cruise control, diamond-stitched Nappa leather trim, heated and cooled climate seats, adaptive cruise control and Front Assist with City EB.

Available from September, the Touareg Wolfsburg will be offered only in Reef Blue metallic paint.

The newly announced Polo, Passat and Touareg models are bookended by last month's Golf GTI 40 Years special-edition and the facelifted Amarok ute range – including a new V6 diesel variant – from late November.