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Following the suspension of production of the European version of the Volkswagen Passat (the domestic equivalent of Maiteng) and the American version of the hatchback Passat (the domestic counterpart of the Volkswagen Passat), SAIC Volkswagen's latest Passat has become a hatchback version of the Passat specifically for the Chinese market. On the evening of September 15, SAIC-Volkswagen 2023 Passat was officially launched. The new car has launched a total of 9 models with a price range of 18.19-252900 yuan.

As an annual revamped model, the biggest change of the new car is mainly focused on the configuration, the appearance of the basic continuation of the cash model "double front face" design style. Specifically, the front face of the new car uses two shapes, namely, the lattice grille and the star grille, in which the lattice grille is fashionable and the starry grille is commercial. In the rear part, the new car still uses the through lamp group, the middle of the rear is the brand English alphabet, and the lower bumper is completely designed, using a through chrome trim to lengthen the visual width of the whole car.

In terms of body size, the length, width and height of the new car is 4948/1836/1469mm, the wheelbase is 2871mm, and the positioning of the medium-sized car is consistent with the old model. For comparison, the length, width and height of the current Camry are 4900/1840/1455mm and the wheelbase is 2825mm. By contrast, the Camry has an advantage in size. In terms of body color, the new car adds 280TSI Star Elite version, and provides elegant white and crystal diamond silver car paint.

In the interior part, the new car uses the classic family language of Volkswagen, and the new car does not use the popular suspension layout, but uses an embedded central control screen. in addition, the car is equipped with a three-spoke multi-function steering wheel, liquid crystal dashboard and mechanical handle. the whole is more concise. In configuration, the new car comes with a standard collision warning system (with automatic brakes), Elite Edition / Star Elite Edition will provide ACC adaptive cruise, parking automatic folding exterior rearview mirror; Deluxe Edition / Star Deluxe Edition will add IQ. Intelligent car couplet system and other functions.

In terms of power, the new car offers three power options, respectively equipped with 280TSI (1.4T), 330TSI (2.0T low power) and 380TSI (2.0T high power) power, of which 280TSI (1.4T) version of the maximum power 110kW, peak torque 250Nm; 330TSI (2.0T low power) version of the maximum power 137kW, peak torque 3230 Nm; 380TSI (2.0T high power) version of the maximum power 162kW, peak torque 350Nm. In terms of transmission, all three power versions match the 7-speed DSG double clutch gearbox. In addition, the new car will continue to offer PHEV models with 1.4T engines.

According to foreign media reports, Volkswagen announced that the Passat would no longer be updated and would withdraw from the US market before 2023, but due to poor sales of its models, Volkswagen advanced this decision to December 2021, and the US version of Volkswagen Passat "Passat" went offline at its Chattanooga plant in Tennessee, meaning that the production of the American version of VW Passat "Passat" is a thing of the past. Passat is not only one of the most representative models of Volkswagen, but also the main intermediate car with a long history. Volkswagen Passat first entered the American market in 1974. Up to now, it has a history of 48 years and has sold more than 1.8 million cars in the United States. In 2011, the "special supply version" Passat for the United States and China entered the market respectively, and the "special supply version" Passat market in the United States market in 2012 was particularly stunning, with cumulative sales of 117000 vehicles that year, but not for long. After that, with the popularity of SUV, the sales of Passat also began to decline. In 2021, the annual sales volume of Passat was only 24400, and the persistent downturn has also become the main reason for the suspension of the model.

In the domestic market, the prototype of FAW-Volkswagen Maiteng is the European version of Passat, while the prototype of SAIC-Volkswagen Passat is the American version of Passat. By contrast, the sales of Maiteng and Passat cars in the domestic market are more satisfactory. According to statistics, the annual sales of FAW-Volkswagen Maiteng and SAIC-Volkswagen Passat cars in 2021 are 133980 and 131291 respectively. With the discontinuation of European version of Volkswagen Passat (domestic counterpart Maiteng) and American version of Volkswagen Passat "Passat" (domestic counterpart of Volkswagen Passat), SAIC Volkswagen's new Passat has also become a hatchback version of Passat specifically for the Chinese market.

According to the concern of the automobile industry, the domestic version of Mai Teng and Passat are sister models to each other, of which the mid-term modified Passat was officially launched in August 2021, and this new car is an annual model, while Maiteng is currently on sale in 2020 and went on sale in December 2019. Although the speed of Maiteng's change is not fast, it does not affect its popularity in the domestic market. The latest figures show that Volkswagen Passat sold 93481 vehicles from January to August, while Maiteng sold 98613 vehicles, and the gap between the two models was just over 5000. By contrast, Toyota Camry, a comparable model, is far ahead, selling 153497 vehicles from January to August.

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