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Volkswagen dealers expect to boost their local user-chooser fleet business with the new generation Passat saloon and estate which enters UK showrooms in January 2015.
The new car will make its public debut at the Paris Motor Show in October with UK order books opening at the same time.
The Passat is an established player in the fleet market with global CEO Dr Martin Winterkorn describing it as: “Europe’s most successful company car.”
Colin Jackson, VW brand director of south-east dealer group Beadles said the car will be strategically important for his group’s VW outlets.
“In this highly competitive market segment sales volumes for us have traditionally been strong based on the quality and cost of ownership of our product – we are all excited and looking forward to the New Passat continuing this tradition for all of our Volkswagen retailers,” he said.
Emphasising its fleet aspirations the new Passat is being marketed under the banner of ‘new business class.’ It is slightly longer, lower and wider than the outgoing car, with Volkswagen promising more space for passengers and luggage alongside uprated technology and quality.
The car is the latest to be built around the VW Group MQB platform, and the resultant weight saving of 85 kilos has enabled Volkswagen to promise efficiency gains of around 20% over the previous Passat.
The new car will only be offered with diesel engines. Future plans include a plug-in hybrid, while the four-door coupe Passat CC variant will join the range within 18 months.
Prices are expected to start from around £22,000, a £1,000 premium over the current model.
The Passat is Volkswagen’s third best seller globally. UK sales currently run to 23,000 units.