10 things Passat
The Passat needs no introduction. But in case you needed a reminder, here’s everything you need to know about the world’s best-selling sedan.
1. It is older than the Golf
The first-generation Passat was introduced in 1973 as a fastback, a few months before the Golf. A a three-door hatchback, four-door sedan and wagon versions were later introduced in 1974. The hatchback sedan was (then) the most versatile Volkswagen yet.
2. The Passat came with numerous "firsts" for Volkswagen; it was the first water-cooled, front-wheel-drive model, and was the first Volkswagen designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, who also styled the Golf at his ItalDesign company in Turin, Italy.
3. Fans will often refer to the Passat with its internal "B" designation - the B1 is the first generation, and subsequently followed by B2, B3, B4 …
4. The name Passat was derived from "passatwinde", the German word for trade winds.
5. This popular sedan also came with different names in the different markets - it was the Dasher and Quantum in America, Santana in Mexico, Magotan in China, and Carat in Argentina.
6. There's variety in names, and in … variations. Apart from the previous Passat hatchbacks, there is also the Passat Variant (station wagon) and Variant Alltrack.
7. The Passat is a winner through and through, having won plenty of coveted awards around the world, including "Car of the Year" in 2015 thanks to its well-designed interior, safety and comfort, and impressive performance.
8. The 30th millionth Passat was produced on the 14th of March in 2019. This bestseller now is the third Volkswagen model after the Beetle and Golf to surpass this magical number. It is also the first model in its segment to cross the threshold of 30 million units sold.
9. Designed for families and professionals, the Passat is currently in its eighth generation - that's eight generation of progress. The Passat is not only sold on every continent, but it is also built in countless Volkswagen production facilities around the world, including Pekan here in Malaysia.
10. Local assembly of the Passat began in 2013 with the B7 which rolled out the sporty Passat R-Line and refined Passat Elegance.
