}} Volkswagen released a sketch of the Passat NMS in February 2009 and a more detailed, second sketch on 28 October 2009. The Passat NMS reflects a design language developed by
Walter de Silva, the Italian design chief for the Volkswagen Group, and Klaus Bischoff, the German design leader for the Volkswagen brand. The Passat NMS interior borrows design elements from the European Passat, e.g., the traditional clock. The vehicle was developed by
SAIC-Volkswagen and
Volkswagen Passenger Cars, and it sits on an extended version of the European car’s platform, which makes it longer, wider and therefore offers larger cabin space. In the United States, it is produced in
Volkswagen Group of America's new
Chattanooga, Tennessee production facility using 80% US-sourced parts. The new facility is a "flex plant" which will allow for the production of vehicles based on the NMS and
MQB platforms. The American version of the 2013 model year Volkswagen Passat made its way to Middle Eastern markets, namely
Qatar,
Saudi Arabia,
Oman and the
United Arab Emirates, by the summer of 2012. The five-seater sedan is available in four trim levels, all with a 2.5-litre 5-cylinder engine and an automatic transmission only. The Middle East received this engine until 2019. In China, the new model is built by
SAIC-Volkswagen at its Nanjing factory and is marketed as a more upscale model with some interior and exterior differences to the North American model, such as wood-trimmed steering wheel, rear air vents, and LED accented headlights.
Facelift Volkswagen refreshed the North American Passat in 2015 for the 2016 model year with styling and technology updates, including revised hood, front fenders, front and rear bumpers, and trunklid. The Passat now offers optional LED headlights and taillights, a black-accented front bumper, a rear diffuser-like piece and 19-inch wheels. The updated dashboard features the company's MIB II system (modular infotainment platform) with two sizes of touch screens available, depending on option package. These screens also will feature proximity sensors to pop up the relevant controls as the hand gets closer to the screen. The system is set to offer Volkswagen's Car-Net connectivity system, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink compatibility, which allows connection to a smartphone. The revised Passat featured as standard equipment a rearview camera as well as automatic post-collision braking, which prevents the car from pinballing from an accident and crashing into other objects after an initial impact. Adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with autonomous emergency braking, a blind-spot monitor with rear traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and parking steering assist are all available depending on trim level. File:Volkswagen Passat NMS I IMG 0423 (colour corrected).jpg|Facelift (North America) File:2017 Volkswagen Passat SE 1.8L rear 3.24.19.jpg|Facelift (North America) File:2018 Volkswagen Passat GT, Front Right, 09-17-2020.jpg|2018 Passat GT (facelift) File:VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT NMS China (80).jpg|Facelift (China) File:VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT NMS China (81).jpg|Facelift (China)
Engines North America In Canada and the United States, the Passat NMS was initially released with a 2.5-liter 5-cylinder engine, 2.0-liter TDI engine and 3.6-liter VR6 engine. For the 2014 model year, a new 1.8-liter TSI 4-cylinder engine replaced the 2.5-liter inline-5 in North America. For the 2015 model year, a new 2.0-liter
EA288 TDI with increased power replaced the previous
EA189 2.0-liter TDI in North America. Due to the
Volkswagen emissions scandal,
TDI models were permanently discontinued after the 2015
model year. The 2016 Passat was planned to offer the same three engine choices featured in the outgoing car: the base-model 1.8-liter TSI turbocharged four-cylinder, the 3.6-liter VR6, and the 2.0-liter TDI diesel four-cylinder. The 1.8 T will do highway with the automatic transmission. Following the company's
emissions scandal, VW halted sales of 2.0-liter TDI-equipped vehicles. The 2.0-liter TSI was offered in place of the TDI. For 2018, the previous 1.8-liter TSI 4-cylinder engine for base Passat models has been replaced by a 2.0-liter TSI 4-cylinder engine, sourced from the second-generation
Volkswagen Tiguan. Models with the 3.6 VR6 engine were discontinued after the 2018 model year.
China In China, the NMS is offered with a base 1.4-liter TSI available with a 5-speed manual or 7-speed DSG. The 1.8-liter variant was available with the 6-speed automatic or 7-speed DSG gearbox. The 2.0-liter TSI was available with the 6-speed DSG or 7-speed DSG gearbox and 3.0-liter VR6 came standard with 6-speed DSG gearbox.
Reception The Passat NMS won the 2012
Motor Trend Car of the Year. The 2013 Passat TDI sets new
Guinness World Record for fuel economy under the non-hybrid car category. It achieved a fuel consumption of only 3.02 liters on 100 kilometers (77.99 mpg). In a March 2012 comparison test by
Car and Driver, the Volkswagen Passat NMS came in first place out of six cars. In a November 2012 comparison by the same magazine with three since-redesigned competitors, the Passat placed last. In another 2012 comparison test by
Motor Trend, the Volkswagen Passat NMS came in first place out of six cars.
Recall On November 23, 2020, Passats from 2016 to 2019 model years were recalled since the front seat back adjustment levers may not be engaged correctly, increasing risks of injuries. == Second generation ==