2017 Volkswagen Passat spotted testing in India

The 2017 Volkswagen Passat has been spotted testing in India. This is the first time that the new Passat has been snapped on public roads in the country. It is expected to launch in the second quarter of next year, i.e., April - June 2017.

Interestingly, the spotted car wasn't disguised under any thick camouflage. Even the brand and product nomenclature badges were visible. The source of the spy shots claims that the spotted model was undergoing high speed test runs on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

The spotted model had a 2.0 TDI badge. This indicates that the company might continue to offer the existing 2.0-litre, four-cylinder TDI diesel engine in the new-gen Passat. Under the hood of the previous-gen model, this engine was capable of developing 168 BHP. It will likely be mated to an automatic transmission, probably a 6-speed DSG unit.

Volkswagen had earlier showcased the new eighth generation Passat at this year's Auto Expo. The automaker even had a plug-in hybrid model, the Passat GTE, on display. As a result, Volkwagen India might launch the 2017 Passat in a diesel and a gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid variant.

Source: AutoColumn