Sporty limited edition: World premiere of the new Passat Variant R-Line Edition at the Geneva International Motor Show

Limited to 2,000 units: Passat Variant R-Line Edition launches with high-end configuration and top-of-the-range engines
Travel Assist as standard: New assistance system allows partially-assisted driving up to 210 km/h

Countdown to the launch of the extensively upgraded Passat has begun: The update to the Volkswagen bestseller that has sold almost 30 million units over the years, will be unveiled to the public for the first time on 7 March at the Geneva International Motor Show. Volkswagen celebrates the launch with the world premiere of an equally exclusive sporty limited edition: the Passat Variant R-Line Edition. Limited to 2,000 units. All-wheel drive (4MOTION) with optional top-of-the-range engine with 176 kW/240 PS (TDI) or 200 kW/272 PS (TSI). Pre-sales of the limited edition will begin in Europe in May.

The new Passat Variant 4MOTION R-Line Edition configuration comes in a unique design, with the high-tech all-rounder painted in the new “Moonstone Grey” finish. A number of black feature elements have been added to provide contrast, most prominent among them the high-gloss black roof. The roof-edge spoiler, roof rail, and wing mirror caps are also black. The side window frames, rear diffuser, headlight rims and all trim also come in high-gloss black. The dark LED tail lights and high-gloss black 19-inch alloy wheels (“Pretoria” type) have also been consistently integrated into this colour scheme.

Black also dominates the interior. Driver and passengers sit on R-Line sports seats, with seat centre panels covered with fine-quality Nappa leather, and the side bolsters with carbon leather. Pedals are finished in stainless steel (brushed), and the side sills (with R-Line logo) also come in stainless steel. New ambient lighting brings a wide range of colours into play.

The limited edition also features almost all the new technologies on board as standard, including the Digital Cockpit (digital instruments) and the glass-covered 9.2-inch Discover Pro navigation system with integrated SIM card (eSIM) and R-Line start screen. Thanks to the new wireless App Connect, iPhone apps can be wirelessly integrated into the infotainment system via Bluetooth for the first time, using Apple CarPlay.

Another new feature is Travel Assist. This assistance system means that the Passat is one of the first cars worldwide to have partially assisted driving at up to 210 km/h. It allows the Volkswagen to take over steering, braking and acceleration. All the driver needs to do is keep their hands on the steering wheel – the Passat checks that is happening using the brand’s first capacitive multifunction leather steering wheel, which reacts to a gentle touch. Travel Assist is a fusion of the front camera, Front Assist pedestrian monitoring system, Park Assist parking manoeuvre system, Side Assist lane changing system, and the ACC automatic distance control system, into a new, intelligent assistance system.

Other standard equipment includes the new IQ.Light LED Matrix headlight system, the Area View camera system, and the latest version of the DCC adaptive damper control system. The sporty positioning of the launch model – similar to the Golf R and new T-Roc R – is underlined by the “ESC off” function, which is used to disable the electronic stabilisation programme when driving on race tracks.