While Volkswagen is content to show off the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack as a production car in Tokyo, the German carmaking giant deigns us fit to get the Alltrack as a concept. What, nobody here likes a good longroof?
We doubt that the Subaru Outback/Audi Allroad market has a lot of money in it, but Volkswagen is showing at least a little faith in American wagon buyers by showing the Alltrack here, especially since it runs on trucker fuel.
Yes, this Volkswagen is a diesel, just like your dad's old Rabbit. In the Alltrack, the theoretical US buyer gets 140 horsepower out of the low-revving two liter, and 236 lb-ft of torque, hooked up to a VW-standard Doppelkupplungsgetriebe.
This phantom American would also get to enjoy a 1.2-inch suspension lift and VW's 4Motion Haldex four-wheel-drive. It sends 90% of the power to the front wheels in normal driving, but can send 100% to the rear if necessary.
These are the kinds of perks that come with the superior European-market Passat platform.
Coupled with new steel skid plates and hill descent programming, the Alltrack could be pretty good at getting owners out into the woods or up into the mountains.
That is, it would be good for theoretical owners. Volkswagen is still not sure if any of these potential buyers actually exist.