VW gains luxury ground with W8 Passat - New Product in Brief

Automotive Industries, June, 2002 by Andrea Wielgat

The Basics

Volkswagen moves upmarket into BMW and Mercedes territory by bringing its W8 engine to U.S. shores. Installed in its popular Passat sedan and station wagon, the W8 "takes the Passat to a higher level," says Frank Maguire, vice president, sales and marketing for Volkswagen. The high-powered Passat also has VW's 4Motion all-wheel-drive and numerous interior goodies that will help the vehicle compete in the entry-luxury segment

Engine details

The W8 -- which has been on the market in Europe for more than a year--is a derivative of VW's W12 engine. During development of the W12, engineers combined two VR engines in a parallel arrangement making a compact W shaped 12-cyl. unit Derived from this engine, the condensed size of the W8 allows for installation into the Passat -- a vehicle not designed to be equipped with an 8-cyl. engine. The 4.0L, 32-valve engine achieves 270 hp at 6,000 rpm and 273 ft.-lbs. of torque 2,750 rpm. Stefan Krebsfanger, VW's U.S. technical chief, says the W8 is "the most polished performer Volkswagen has ever built."

Features

The W8 Passat is packed with high-end VW features including a five speed manual transmission with a Tiptronic manual shift option and 4Motion all-wheel-drive. It also has an outstanding interior comparable with more expensive vehicles. Look for leather seats, heatable eight-way driver and front passenger power seats, an automatic climate control system, power glass sunroof and other goodies. Starting in 2003, the vehicle will also be one of the first from VW to be equipped with a telematics system by OnStar.

The numbers

VW expects to sell only about 5,000 W8 Passat's a year--that's just 5 percent of annual Passat sales. "We don't expect it to be high volume," Maguire says. The sedan is on sale now with the wagon following shortly. Customers can expect to pay $37,900 for the sedan and $38,700 for the wagon. A sport package with a 6-speed manual transmission and a stiffer, sport suspension will be available in the fall.

What we think

VW is ambitious with its plan to move upmarket. The W8's price is high compared to its family-sedan competitors. But the engine is high-tech and will certainly find a following among Volkswagen loyalists looking for more power. The vehicle will also help consumers look at VW with a new more prestigious eye -- one that VW will need before the launch of its Thuareg SUV and Phaeton luxury sedan next year.

RELATED ARTICLE: 2002 W8 Passat

What is it: 72 degree V-8 gasoline engine

Bore: 3.31 ins.

Stroke: 3.55 ins.

Displacement: 4.0L

Horsepower: 270 hp at 6,000 rpm

Maximum torque: 273 lbs-ft at 2,750

Compression ratio: 10.8:1

Engine Components Supplier Involvement

Hydraulik-Ring: Infinitely variable intake valve

Bosch: Injection, motor management

Pierburg: Intake manifold

Kolbenschmidt: Crank house

Mahle: Pistons

Emishaft: Crank shaft