Driven: VW takes Passat Alltrack to Wolfsburg

VOLKSWAGEN Australia has added another model to its burgeoning Wolfsburg special edition fleet, maintaining that the badge is only rolled out for significant cars.

The Passat Alltrack wagon is the latest to score the Wolfsburg treatment, and follows in the wheel-tracks of the Golf R wagon and hatch, Touareg and Scirocco.

Of the Wolfsburg editions already released, the Golf R scored exterior and interior changes, the Touareg received minor cosmetic tweaks including larger black rims, while the end-of-range Scirocco was farewelled with a sports-biased interior makeover and minor exterior enhancements.

The Alltrack Wolfsburg package will be limited to 250 examples initially, and will add $4200 to the Passat Alltrack’s list price of $50,790 before on road costs.

It is currently being offered at $54,990 driveaway Australia wide.

“It was a couple of things that came together and there was sufficient demand to do it,” said Volkswagen Group Australia product marketing manager Jeff Shafer.

“The Wolfsburg branding is something we’ll continue to use, but we’ll use it judiciously. It’s been quite popular for us.”

Mr Shafer said that the changes will likely suit buyers who will use the Alltrack as a road car for the most part.

“We look at that model as something to go from the boardroom to boardshorts without the compromises of the traditional SUV,” he said.

“We’ve had good feedback from the dealers about the Wolfsburg edition, and they’ve been quite positive about it.

“I think more customers will land on the boardroom side, though. It does give you the opportunity of using the 4Motion (all-wheel drive) when the opportunity arises and I think there are quite a few people looking at a vehicle like that for 80 or 90 per cent city use, but they have that 10 per cent to got to the country or property… a bit of extra ground clearance and so on.”

He discounted the theory that the Passat Alltrack might steal sales from the brand’s large SUV, the Touareg.

“Towing is a major consideration for the Touarag customer, and it’s quite a capable 4x4,” he pointed out.

The Passat Alltrack’s 140kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine, Haldex front-biased all-wheel-drive system and six-speed dual-clutch transmission remains unchanged, but it scores interior and exterior tweaks that include VW’s new Active Info Display dash.

The company’s adaptive chassis technology, a hands-free powered tailgate that can also be operated via a proximity button and premium LED headlights and tail-lights have been added, as well as black Nappa leather, black roof lining, new dash and door card trims and additional piano black interior details.

A new colour, Crimson Red, has also been added to the range.

Part of the B8 Passat family, the Alltrack echoes the architecture of the wagon, but adds ride height, underbody protection and all-wheel-drive capability.

New bumpers, exhaust trims, black plastic wheel-arch overfenders and sills, roof rails and a set of unique colours sets the Alltrack apart from its regular wagon sibling, along with a 27.5mm lift in the ride height for a total of 147mm ground clearance.

The Alltrack is the second all-wheel-drive variant in the Passat family after the 206TSI, and uses a fifth-generation Haldex coupling to connect the active front wheels to the passive rears.

A six-speed DSG gearbox complements electronic front and rear diffs, while longer springs give the Alltrack its taller stance.

The aluminium Euro 6-compliant turbo-diesel makes 140kW between 3000 and 4000rpm, and 400Nm between 1950-3000rpm. It returns a claimed 5.4 litres per 100km.

It comes standard with powered and heated front seats (plus a massage function for the driver), a leather-wrapped steering wheel, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity via a bespoke Alltrack infotainment system, LED daytime lamps and interior lights, satellite navigation, Drive Mode Select with off-road mode, tri-zone climate control, a rearview camera and radar cruise with auto emergency braking.