Back in the day, VW decided to match Mercedes model-for-model. This strategy led to the ill-fated, brand-busting, $60k-and-up Phaeton. Judging from the new VW Passat CC unveiled at The Detroit Auto Show, VW CEO Martin Winterkorn is determined to get right back on that [dead] horse. The CC is a CLS clone, with the distinction of offering less visibility and more chance of rear passenger decapitation than the Mercedes version. At VeeDub's axles of white power stand (eye searingly white with blue lighting a la Apple), Winterkorn said the CC was part of the German automaker's "fireworks of great new cars" master plan to sell 800k cars in the U.S. Huh? That's a significant climb-down from VW's publicly stated goal of shifting one million units stateside by 2018. Ironically enough, VW gave us reason not to be optimistic re: it's not-so-great-anymore expectations. An introductory film revealed that Americans want three things from a car: reliability, durability and "fine design." Herr Winterkorn better hope that two out of three ain't bad.
[reported by Sajeev Mehta]
“Americans want three things from a car: reliability, durability and ‘fine design’.”
This is why VW will remain a niche player in the North American market.
RE: “The CC is a CLS clone, with the distinction of offering less visibility and more chance of rear passenger decapitation than the Mercedes version.”
I really give MB credit for that design in the first place. It’s one of the most elegant shapes in the new car market and I am not a bit surprised that someone would try and emulate it, although it seems to speak to a lack of innovation by VW.
No rear wheel drive?
So they are going to produce a VW badged version of the Audi A7? Why?
In the USA the CLS comes in 380 and 500 HP variants. A front-wheel-drive VW with those engine outputs would be quite funny.
The distinctiveness of VW’s lineup is getting squeezed out like a kidney stone.