The 2014 Passat Sport is news to me: where did this very affordable and chic black optics pack come from!
A surprise and delight, to be sure, from Volkswagen ahead of the big show next week. The 2014 Passat Sport is a trim line between SE and SEL, with manual or automatic boxes available to suit your preference.
The Sport is offered with the strong 1.8-liter Volkswagen turbo that has seen action mostly in high-powered models not imported to the States.
Luckily, the new turbo will roll out across the full VW USA line-up in the coming years. Boost is a good feature for fast drivers to have with their car – even with no intent on tuning or car mods any time soon.
After a few years, however, any boosted engine will be able to flip on 30% extra power via ECU kits. Alternatively, high-rev zingers like the Honda VTEC will cost thousands per extra pony for DIY enthusiasts.
The details on the new Passat Sport are below from VW, with first deliveries around February at VW dealers nationwide.
This Passat Sport is a fantastic update of some shoddy DIY “upgrades” we imagined on the Passat a few weeks ago…
Even better than a potential, future low-volume R model some day in the future: this sports model is only a modest upgrade from the mid-level SE trims, but is worth every penny.
2014 VW Passat Sport From $27k
2014 VW Passat SE and SEL
VOLKSWAGEN ANNOUNCES PRICING FOR 2014 PASSAT SPORT
• Black roof, black mirror caps, sport seats and interior carbon trim add to Sport’s unique look
• Available with new EA888 Gen 3 1.8-liter turbocharged and direct-injected four-cylinder engine
• Will arrive in showrooms in early 2014
• Starts at $28,495 with a six-speed automatic transmission
Herndon, VA – Volkswagen of America, Inc., announced today that it will offer a production version of the Passat Performance Concept shown at the 2013 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS): the Passat Sport. Joining the Passat line-up between the mid-level SE and the range-topping SEL Premium trims, the 2014 Volkswagen Passat Sport takes a number of design cues from the concept car to offer an athletic-leaning take on the award-winning sedan.
Specifically, the Passat Sport features 19-inch Luxor wheels, a rear spoiler, foglights, a unique interior with sport comfort seats, carbon trim accents, aluminum sport pedals, paddle shifters (automatic transmission only), stainless steel door sills, and Sport-specific floor mats. Three exterior colors are available for the Sport: Urano Gray (an exclusive color for this model), Candy White, and Tungsten Silver. Candy White and Tungsten Silver are accompanied by a black roof and black mirror caps, as seen on the concept car.
These features are in addition to those already offered on the mid-level SE trim, which includes Volkswagen Car-Net™, the Premium VIII touchscreen sound system with HD Radio™, automatic headlights, rearview camera, heatable front seats and leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel with audio and phone controls.
The Passat Sport is available with Volkswagen’s new 1.8-liter EA888 Gen 3 turbocharged and direct-injection four-cylinder engine, which offers 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The 1.8-liter can be matched to a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.
The 2014 Passat Sport is priced starting at $27,295 with the manual transmission (including $820 destination and handling), and will go on sale in early 2014.
About Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc., an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWoA) is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. VWoA’s operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Volkswagen Group is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. VWoA sells the Beetle, Eos, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, CC, Tiguan, Touareg, and Routan vehicles through approximately 630 independent U.S. dealers.
Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com
Tom Burkart is the founder and managing editor of Car-Revs-Daily.com, an innovative and rapidly-expanding automotive news magazine.
He holds a Journalism JBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Tom currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his two amazing dogs, Drake and Tank.
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