VW Passat To Get all ‘CLS’ On Us? Exclusive Photos

Rumors have been flying for some time that Volkswagen would create a stylish 4-door “coupe” version of their Passat, similar to the Mercedes CLS.

Now we get the very first photos of the car as VW testers roll out a prototype for testing in the US southwest.

Photos Courtesy of: Hans G. Lehmann / Hidden Image

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w209w114 - 8/20/2007 1:31:48 PM

+2 Boost

Looks cool, but nowhere as beautiful or elegant as the CLS

S4cabriofoxone - 8/21/2007 12:43:15 PM

+1 Boost

Well, what can you expect for half the price?

w209w114 - 8/20/2007 4:54:38 PM

+2 Boost

Yep. Def an improvement

chewy - 8/20/2007 3:22:39 PM

+2 Boost

nice, finally some real shots of the thing

nybimmer - 8/20/2007 3:23:09 PM

-1 Boost

Kind of like putting lipstick on a pig. Even though the front is shrouded by that camouflage stuff, it seems to share the distinctive FWD bulk of the other Passat-derivation products - the Passat, Eos, Golf, Rabbit, GTI.

All that FWD driveline stuff takes up so much room that they can't obscure its existence.

nybimmer - 8/20/2007 3:23:12 PM

-1 Boost

limited - 8/20/2007 3:41:19 PM

+1 Boost

The CLS and upcoming Jag have it pulled together very well, this VW looks a 300M to me and screams cheap...was kind of hoping it looked better...

iepurilah - 8/20/2007 4:13:29 PM

0 Boost

Though I like VW, I think this car will have no success at all, because the CLS, beside its almost perfect engineering, is a Mercedes after all. I think it will be the same as in Phaeton failure.

Bmw8ter - 8/20/2007 9:25:13 PM

+3 Boost

Despite the failure of the Phaeton, I would honestly consider owning one. The cheapest "used" luxury car you could ever buy, and it looks good; not too overdone. I only wish the diesel version was available in the U.S.

bmwdrvr - 8/20/2007 10:07:39 PM

+2 Boost

i agree the phaeton would be a great used car, wouldnt buy one but it makes alot of sense. it has everything the more expensive cars that use its parts do, an its nice looking and elegant with out drawing to much attention to itself, and a great interior ive sat in one before a freind has one

S4cabriofoxone - 8/21/2007 12:45:53 PM

+2 Boost

The Phaeton was a very, very impressive car. But people thought, "Why not buy an A8 or 7 Series for the same price?" Or an LS430 for even less?

But this car won't have that problem because it will probably be about $30K.

Bmw8ter - 8/20/2007 9:28:26 PM

0 Boost

what the piss does a VW have to do with American made cars?

MunichRob - 8/20/2007 8:14:54 PM

+3 Boost

This is one car that I wish wasn't being released into the market. I feel the four-door coupe thing should be kept as more of an up-market segment.

As for the spy photos I'll save my judgment as usual for the press photos, but you can clearly see the roofline & pillars in these pictures & to me, it sort of resembles a Chrysler Intrepid. Compare the two before biting my head off.

cdoke - 8/20/2007 9:01:54 PM

+1 Boost

There is something exceptionally weird with the placement of the doorhandles- they are almost halfway down the door.

Matthew1 - 8/20/2007 9:33:14 PM

+1 Boost

It looks that way, however in reality it is just that the window-line is very high.

S4cabriofoxone - 8/21/2007 12:44:20 PM

+2 Boost

It's because they're under the character line. The CLS's are like that, too, but I think they should be above the line (or on it) on the VW.

mikeydred20 - 8/21/2007 8:03:09 PM

+1 Boost

Depending on what angle you are looking at the CLS is elegant, I think the rear profile is horrible, and forget about a 6 footer fitting comfortably inside with the horrible headspace. This Passat atleast looks a little more roomier, but I still think 4 door coupes are useless.