VW boss Martin Winterkorn characterises the challenge with the following question: “ how do you make an almost perfect car better?”

One part of the answer is the adoption of Volkswagen’s new MQB modular architecture for small and medium-sized front-wheel drive cars.

MQB? We’ve already seen this basic chassis architecture on the latest versions of the VW Golf, Audi A3 and Skoda Octavia, in the case of the larger Passat, the switch to MQB produces a weight saving of 85 kg compared with the outgoing model.

The space for alternative drivetrains – we already know there will be a plug-in hybrid – has been designed in from the start.

New Passat engines

Volkswagen has said that the engine line-up is all-new, and should work out about twenty per cent more economical than before.

There are TSI petrol engines offering 125, 150, 180, 220 and 280 PS, with the plug-in hybrid pairing a 156 PS petrol engine with an electric motor for a combined 211 PS.

On the diesel side, there’s a powerful new two-litre engine churning out 240 PS and 500 Nm of torque, which should stir the interest of tax-conscious company car drivers who still value a bit of poke – that engine is paired with four-wheel drive and a seven speed DSG gearbox to handle all the power. There are also 150 and 190 PS TDI engines as well.

Volkswagen has taken advantage of the model change to introduce a wide range of new technologies. These include the first head-up display fitted to a VW, and safety systems such as city emergency braking with pedestrian recognition, Trailer Assist and Emergency Assist. LED headlamps will also be available on high-end versions.

There’s also a “progressive steering” option which is more directly geared around the straight-ahead position.

One promise – the new Passat will have “more connectivity, less complexity” so a lot of effort seems to have gone into tidying up the dash.