2009 Volkswagen Passat CC Preview

One of the nicest four-door sedans... wait, scratch that. One of the nicest four

With just a glimpse you know that this is no ordinary Passat. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press)

door coupes to be unveiled so far this year is Volkswagen's Passat CC. The four-door coupe is an idea that was created by Mercedes-Benz a couple of years ago with its CLS, a configuration that has since been adopted by others. For the most part, four-door coupes incorporate low slung, sweeping rooflines that increase heart-throbs-per-minute, with the net negative effect being decreased headroom. Arguably, it's one of the hottest new endeavors in the auto industry in terms of design, with versions from Aston Martin, BMW, Porsche and Fisker on the way, just to name a few. The Passat CC is VW's entry.

What makes it the Passat CC a coupe? Well, the combination of 2+2 seating versus room for five, blacked out B-pillars, and a roofline silhouette that is 2.0 inches lower than the regular Passat is a start. The CC also looks a lot sleeker, as the reduced height comes in conjunction with gains in length and width by 1.2 and 1.4 inches respectively. VW tells us that the CC doesn't replace the regular Passat, but rather is the flagship of the line, in much the same way that the CLS doesn't replace the

CC could stand for Coupe Convertible, one of those folding hardtop droptops, but nope, this is a fixed roof car. (Photo: Volkswagen)

E-Class but is seen as a sportier, more upscale sibling. Strangely, for all of its sporting aspirations, the CC boasts a bigger trunk!

Penned by Walter de Silva, the CC is attractively styled with sharp creases and interesting details. It is instantly recognizable as a Volkswagen, by its wide grille and teardrop headlamps, although I notice a fair bit of the outgoing Acura RL in the rear three-quarter profile. Integrated into the design are front and rear spoilers that create downforce at higher speeds and assist in achieving a drag coefficient of 0.29. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are standard, with 18 inchers optional, and these can be wrapped in extended mobility tires. Frameless doors, which are usually known for their wind noise, are present here, but Volkswagen claims a new type of guide system won't give the wind anything to catch.

As the Passat CC is a German car, all of the usual safety features are present, including ABS, electronic stability control, a

Longer, lower, wider - these changes make for a truly sporty looking vehicle. (Photo: Volkswagen)

multitude of airbags, etc. More Orwellian safety features offered on the car include “Lane Assist”, which will actually steer a wayward car back into its lane; something VW claims is the first of its kind. Fortunately, if the turn signal is employed the driver won't have to fight with the steering wheel to make a lane change, as the system won't intervene. Even when active the driver can easily override the lane keeping system. A Lexus LS-like park assist feature that will automatically parallel park the car into an empty space is also featured, although input from the driver via the car's pedals is still necessary.

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