After five decades on sale in the U.S., Volkswagen is pulling the plug on the midsize Passat. The explosion of SUVs’ popularity and the need to shift production power to electric vehicles are behind the decision, which will take place after the 2022 model year. The cars have been built at the automaker’s Chattanooga, TN plant since 2011, but the facility is being repurposed as VW’s North American hub for electric vehicle assembly.
Volkswagen is giving the car one last hurrah, however, in the form of the Passat Limited Edition. The car features 18-inch wheels, LED headlights with an Advanced Front Lighting System, and an easy-open trunk. Inside, the cars come with sport seats wrapped in Vienna leather, memory seating, a Fender Premium Audio System, parking assistance, and parking sensors.
Each car gets a special model tag with its limited production number.Volkswagen
Only 1,973 of the cars will be built, and it will only be sold in four colors, each with its own limited production numbers that have special meaning for the Passat:
- Aurora Red Metallic with Titan Black interior: 411 units to represent the original vehicle production code
- Racing Green Metallic with Mauro Brown interior: 423 units to commemorate the Chattanooga 423 area code
- Pure white with Mauro Brown interior: 524 units to signify the Chattanooga plant’s May 24 opening date
- Platinum Great Metallic with Titan Black interior: 615 units to signify six generations of imported Passats, one generation assembled in Chattanooga, and five decades of U.S. sales
Pricing for the 2022 Passat starts at $31,290, which includes a $995 destination fee. Adding Aurora Red Metallic drives the price up by an additional $395. Each car will receive a special number plate to designate its place in the limited production run.
The Passat Limited Edition gets several upscale features. Volkswagen
