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VW to build a SUV based on next-generation Passat
By Yoann Besnard on 17 April 2008 | 
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The German carmaker is planning to build a new model based on the Passat to reinforce its SUV lineup.
With the goal to overtake Toyota by 2018, Volkswagen double its efforts to expand its lineup and to compete on all segments. After the Passat CC, the German carmaker is currently working on a future SUV based on the next-generation platform Passat. The future model will be VW’s attempt to get a share of the growing premium SUV market segment dominated by the BMW X3.
The largest market will be the US as dealers complain about the Tiguan, too small and too expensive for American buyers. Along with the BMW X3, the future SUV will compete with the Mercedes GLK, the Volvo XC60, the Infiniti EX37 and the eagerly-awaited Audi Q5. However, the Passat SUV will differ from competition by being a seven seater model.
The future SUV won’t share its underpinnings with the Audi Q5 as it might be obvious, but the company wants to keep the production costs as low as possible. Sharing the platform with the next Passat will certainly help. It might even be possible to extract a Skoda version as the new Superb shares its inner structure and engines with the current Passat.
