DETROIT AUTO SHOW: 2012 Volkswagen Passat, Is It MORE Than A Bigger Jetta?

And you thought after the 2012 Honda Civic Concept that a design couldn't get more conservative. Well, you thought wrong. That's because Volkswagen decided to unveil the NM...er...Passat at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show.

Reading through some other publications has shown that many are billing the new Passat as a Jetta on steroids. Well, I won't go that far just because I haven't had the chance to knock around in the new Passat. While it is readily apparent in the 2011 Jetta that VW made strategic cutbacks in order to drop the base price, I cannot determine that just yet in the all-new Passat.

Judging from what Volkswagen has said the company's strategy would be going forward -- from the 2011 Jetta -- I would expect more of the same though. Essentially, we're seeing Volkswagen "Americanize" its cars.

Note: the new Passat is using motors from other VW models, that's going to create an economy of scale. Another note: VW built its plant in Tennessee for a reason, to shorten its supply chain, which will lower costs across the board while cutting down lead time on deliveries.

After you take all of that in though, take a peek at the car in real life -- those reveal photos were just CGI renderings -- and let us know what you think. Two thumbs UP or two thumbs DOWN?


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