Volkswagen pulled off a surprise when it launched the all new Passat last year with a single, diesel engine option. Back at that time, Volkswagen said that the overwhelming demand for diesel engined cars in the premium segment prompted its move to launch the Passat as a diesel only model. The all new Jetta that followed soon after also featured only a diesel engine although we have spotted numerous Jettas with the 1.8 TSi petrol engine doing the testing rounds in and around Pune. Today, we’re hearing that the Passat will come with a petrol engine soon and the launch could happen as soon as next month.
The Passat petrol is said to feature the same 1.8 liter TSi turbo petrol direct injection engine that is a staple of many Volkswagen group cars in India, ranging from the budget Skodas to the high end Audis. Internationally too, the Passat does come with the 1.8 liter TSi engine and considering the number of Volkswagen group cars that this engine does duty in, plonking it into the Passat’s engine bay shouldn’t be an issue for VW India. The engine ouputs a peak power of 160 Bhp and peak torque of 250 Nm and is a hoot to drive around town with a a flat torque curve. Incidentally, this is the same engine that was used on the previous generation Passat as well.
2012 Volkswagen Jetta 1.8 TSI Petrol Sedan
Being a turbo petrol engine, the 1.8 Liter TSi unit is reasonably fuel efficient too compared to the rest of the naturally aspirated petrol engines the competition(read Honda and Toyota) offers. The Passat will come at a time when two new petrol engined cars are set to be launched in India, the Hyundai Sonata Fluidic and the 2012 Toyota Camry. If the Passat indeed gets this engine next month, expect the Jetta to also follow soon after. The petrol engined Passat could sit as an entry level variant in the model line up. While the price of the petrol model is expected be a lakh or two lesser than the base diesel version, we’ll have to wait for the actual launch for exact figures.
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