VW Passat Tallies Its Best Month Ever in March

BALTIMORE, MD. (04/12/2012)(readMedia)-- The popularity of the redesigned 2012 VW Passat continues to rise, as Volkswagen recently reported that the sedan saw its best sales month ever in March. A total of 10,032 Passats rolled off U.S. Volkswagen dealership lots last month, nearly matching the 10,168 Passats sold throughout all of 2010.

Volkswagen's overall March sales numbers were enough to push the German automaker to its best first quarter in the United States since 1973. The company reported a 34.6-percent increase in U.S. sales last month, resulting in its 31st-consecutive month of sales increases. To help meet demand for the Volkswagen Passat, the automaker also announced last month that it is hiring 800 new employees to work at the Chattanooga, Tenn. plant where the sedan is manufactured.

"The 2012 Passat is refined, affordable and gets 32 miles per gallon on the highway, so it's no surprise that it has plenty of fans," said Michael Coleman, general manager of Russel Volkswagen, a VW dealer in Baltimore, Maryland. "It will be interesting to see whether Volkswagen decides to introduce more variants of the Passat to the U.S. market now that it has become such a hit with American drivers."

Volkswagen showcased its European Passat-based wagon, sold overseas as the Passat Alltrack, at the 2012 New York International Auto Show earlier this month. Brought to the United States as the Alltrack Concept, the wagon offers the road-savvy of a Passat sedan mixed with added off-road capability and space. Volkswagen will use the Alltrack Concept as a barometer to gauge interest in a potential American-spec model for the future.

Powered by a turbocharged TDI Clean Diesel engine in concept form, the Volkswagen Alltrack would likely appeal to American buyers that want better fuel efficiency than they'd find in an SUV but don't want to compromise much in capability or cargo space. The model that Volkswagen fans saw in New York outputs 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque, and if the TDI VW vehicles currently sold stateside are any indication, its fuel economy would be attractive as well.

To deliver on its promise of off-road capability, the Alltrack Concept features Volkswagen's 4MOTION all-wheel drive with an off-road driving program. Operating at speeds below 18 mph, the program tunes relevant systems to optimize performance. For example, the anti-lock brake system is set to have higher control interval thresholds, forming a wedge of material in front of the wheels when on gravel to aid deceleration. The off-road program also allows the electronic differential locks to work faster to help prevent wheelspin, while the engine's torque control is adjusted in tandem.

"An American version of the Alltrack would get great mileage on the highway, hold all your camping gear and get you wherever you need to go," added Coleman. "There is a growing demand in the United States for more fuel-efficient all-wheel-drive vehicles, and one with VW's engineering would be very popular."

About Russel Volkswagen:

Committed to building lasting relationships with Volkswagen customers in the Baltimore area one family at a time, Russel Volkswagen backs up its wide inventory of new and used VW vehicles with a no-hassle buying environment. Their team of factory-trained technicians, parts experts and knowledgeable sales professionals goes the distance to ensure every customer experience is a positive one. Visit their Baltimore, Maryland Volkswagen dealership at 6624 Baltimore National Pike for a test drive, or browse their inventory online at www.russelvw.com. They can also be reached by phone at 866-540-5268 and found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MarylandVW.