Volkswagen's Design Centre in Potsdam served as the ideal setting for the world premiere of a world-wide best-seller: the new Passat.

The most successful European business car makes its debut with new engines, less weight and not least with the latest assistance, Infotainment and convenience systems. The first cars will reach the Irish Market in January 2015 with orders being taken from the end of 2014.

"The name Passat, much like the Golf has become a hugely significant part of the Irish motoring lexicon - it is in itself its own genre. With this new, eight-generation Passat we feel that it is moving forward even further and this ever-popular family car is now more like an executive offering. This new Passat really is a game changer and we expect it to be hugely popular for us in 2015," said Volkswagen Ireland Operations Director Paul Burke.

"This Passat heralds in a new era: when it comes to design and proportions, engines and drive systems, Infotainment and assistance systems or when it is a matter of safety, convenience and driving pleasure," explained Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen on the evening before 500 guests. The Group chief continued: "The new Passat gives the right answers to the major automotive trends of its time. For me this Passat is a premium class car without premium costs. This fits perfectly to Europe's most successful business car - lining up with 20 percent better fuel economy, up to 85 kilograms less weight and a range of efficient petrol and diesel engines - there is even a plug-in hybrid available."

To continue this success in the eighth generation, the new Passat is again offered in saloon and estate versions with a multitude of innovations. Thanks to cutting-edge design methods its proportions were made significantly more dynamic (including lower body, longer wheelbase and larger wheels). At the same time, the latest technologies have been applied. They include systems such as Active Info display (a fully digital instrument cluster), extendible head-up display as well as systems such as an app-based Rear Seat Entertainment for tablet computers, Front Assist plus City Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring and three more world firsts: Emergency Assist (vehicle stops in emergency), Trailer Assist (assisted manoeuvring with a trailer) and Traffic Jam Assist.

The new Passat will be available with 10 direct injection turbocharged petrol and diesel engines covering a power range from 88 kW / 120 PS to 206 kW / 280 PS. The engines all meet Euro 6 emission standards and both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions were lowered by up to 20 percent. All versions are equipped with a stop-start system and a regenerative braking mode. For the first time, the Passat will also be offered with a plug-in hybrid drive (115 kW TSI petrol engine plus 80 kW electric motor and externally chargeable battery). With a system power output of 155 kW / 211 PS it will be Volkswagen's most powerful plug-in hybrid and a genuine zero emission vehicle as it has an all-electric range of 50 km.