VW Debuts Performance Luxury Concept Car
German Automaker Aims for High-End Once Again with Latest Creation
Nov 11, 2008
The company has teamed with APR, a well known performance parts and software company in the Volkswagen community, to develop the car. Essentially, the car is a "souped up" version of the Passat CC, which will likely serve as the high-end model here in the United States.
VW's Phaeton model never took off on this side of the pond, prompting the automaker to pull it in 2007. However, there still is some type of market for luxury cars here -- and a model like the CC may be the answer for a company that Americans seem to more associate with value-based cars.
Hyundai is trying their hand with such a vehicle in the Genesis, which Volkswagen may be taking its cues from. In the Genesis' case, instead of trying to compete directly with the luxury brands, Hyundai is offering features typically in $60,000-plus models in a car half the price.
Classy Exterior Hides the Power Within
To the unsuspecting onlooker, the appearance of the car itself may lead some to believe the car is little more than your average luxury sedan: big on looks, but at the sacrifice of performance. Shiny "grey pearl" paint is accented by black chrome accents, with a custom front and rear bumper along with side skirts that give the car a sportier look.
The car is lowered on H&R sport coilovers, which when combined with the 20-inch custom 10-spoke OEM wheels reduces much of the wheel gap that has become all too common with many of Volkswagen's recent models.
Larger then typical brakes, obviously included to improve control of the vehicle with the added power, give the car an even more aggressive look.
Design Elements Continue through the Interior
Volkswagen has continued the design elements of the exterior in the inside as well, bringing the black inside, accenting the seats with a white stripe reminiscent of a piano. The front seats are made by Recaro, a company that many European sportscar enthusiasts have depended on for aftermarket seats.
White piping accents the floor mats, and the doors and headliner are also done in a shade of white as well.
"Chipping" on the Fly
Many car enthusiasts are familar with the process of "flashing" or "chipping," where the car's internal software is modified in order to extract more power out of the engine. With the Performance CC, that looks to be not necessary as Volkswagen has already done it for the customer.
The 2.0-liter TSI engine would come with three settings. The highest performance setting called "full" provides 313 horsepower and 313 lbs. ft. of torque. A mid-level setting called "GT" would give 252 horsepower and 268 lbs. ft. of torque, while even in whats called the "Eco" setting 222 horsepower and 236 lbs. ft. are available to the driver.
Gas consumption is also apparently not a concern with this vehicle: at its highest setting fuel economy was increased over typical Volkswagen models, and in Eco mode 27mpg in the city and 33mpg on the highway were attained in company tests.
It is not clear when the Performance CC would be available to the public, if ever. The Passat CC, which this concept car is based off of, is expected to be available quite soon to US consumers.
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