What Changed for 2009:

• All-new 4-door coupe
• Based on the Volkswagen Passat sedan
• Four-passenger seating
• Four- and 6-cylinder powerplants
• Six-speed manual and Tiptronic transmissions
• Upscale interior and a new instrument design
• Available 4Motion all-wheel drive (AWD)
• Manufactured in Germany

Overview
The Volkswagen Passat CC, a 4-door coupe derivative of the popular Passat sedan, debuted at the 2008 North American International Auto Show. Slightly longer and lower than the standard Passat Sedan, the Passat CC coupé—or “CC” as it is known—offers customers a sleek, sporty and upscale German automobile at a more reasonable Volkswagen price point. The interior of the CC continues the sport/luxury theme with available leather upholstery and wood trim in the cabin. Unlike the standard 5-passenger Passat, the interior of the new CC features four ergonomically formed sport seats. Arguably the most luxurious non-SUV in the Volkswagen lineup, the new CC arrives with a choice of 4- or 6-cylinder engines, front- or all-wheel drive (FWD or AWD), and a long list of standard features typically not found in this segment.

New for 2009 is Volkswagen’s carefree maintenance program. It is standard on all CC models. The benefits of the program include no-charge scheduled maintenance during the first 3 years or 36,000 miles of ownership. The 2009 Volkswagen CC also features a 3-year/36,000-mile basic limited warranty, and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Volkswagen also offers a 12-year/unlimited mileage corrosion warranty on all of its new vehicles.

Model Lineup
The 2009 Volkswagen CC is offered in four trim levels: Sport, Luxury, VR6 Sport and VR6 4Motion. The Sport and Luxury models feature a 4-cylinder turbocharged engine while the VR6 Sport and VR6 4Motion are equipped with a larger 6-cylinder powerplant. All models are FWD, except for the AWD VR6 4Motion.

The standard Sport model features a 12-way full power-adjustable driver seat, and an 8-way power-adjustable passenger seat. Both have standard 4-way power lumbar support. In addition, the Sport offers full power windows and locks, manual air conditioning, leather-wrapped steering wheel, sport-tuned suspension, 17-inch wheels, and an 8-speaker AM/FM radio with an in-dash 6-disc CD changer. The standard upholstery on the Sport model is V-Tex leatherette (synthetic leather). The upgraded Luxury model adds a 12-way power passenger seat, leather sports seats, satellite radio, rain-sensing wipers, and HomeLink as standard equipment. The two VR6 models upgrade even further to 18-inch wheels, the premium Dynaudio sound package, bi-Xenon headlamps, and a power rear sunshade. The VR6 4Motion, as the name implies, is fitted with Volkswagen’s permanent 4Motion AWD system.

Powertrain
Volkswagen offers the new Passat CC with two engine choices. The standard powerplant is a 2.0-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine rated at 200 hp and 207 lb.-ft. of torque. All standard models are FWD. The 2.0-liter comes with a choice of 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic with Tiptronic. According to Volkswagen, the standard model will accelerate to 60 mph in just 6.9 seconds with a 6-speed manual (7.4 seconds with the Tiptronic). Fuel economy is EPA-rated at 19 mpg city and 29 mpg highway with the automatic transmission. The engine on both CC VR6 models is a 3.6-liter 6-cylinder rated at 280 hp and 265 lb.-ft. of torque. The standard VR6 Sport model is FWD, while the VR6 4Motion features a permanent AWD powertrain. The 6-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic is standard on all V-6 models (a manual transmission is not offered). According to Volkswagen, the CC VR6 models will accelerate to 60 mph in just 6.6 seconds on towards a top speed of 130 mph. Fuel economy for the larger powerplant is 18 mpg city, and 27 mpg highway.

The front suspension of the new CC is of an independent design—it’s a MacPherson concept with triangular wishbones, coil springs and telescopic shocks. The rear suspension is an independent 4-link setup with telescopic shocks. Brakes are power-assisted discs on all four corners with standard anti-lock control (ABS). Standard wheels are 17-inch aluminum alloy on the standard models, and 18-inch alloy on the VR6 models.

Safety
All 2009 Volkswagen CC models feature driver and passenger front air bag supplemental restraint systems and driver and front passenger side thorax air bag supplemental restraints. Side curtain air bag protection and front safety belt pre-tensioners are also standard on all models. Rear-passenger side thorax air bag supplemental restraints, with safety belt pre-tensioners, are optional. The rear seating positions are also equipped with LATCH (formerly ISOFIX) tether anchors for child seats. All 2009 CC models are equipped with standard ESP (stability control), ASR (anti-slip control), ABS (anti-lock brakes), and a tire-pressure-monitoring system.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2009 Volkswagen CC 4-door with side air bags received 4 stars in frontal crash testing for both driver and front passenger, as well as 5-star (the agency’s highest rating) side-impact scores for both front- and rear-seat occupants. The CC received 4 stars for rollover resistance. The 2009 Volkswagen CC has not been crash-tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Technology
Volkswagen paid careful attention to managing airflow around the exterior of the new CC. This is important as improved aerodynamics translate to increased fuel efficiency, lower emissions, a quieter passenger cabin, and a more stable vehicle at highway speeds. To achieve these objectives, Volkswagen engineers designed lower air inlets on the front spoiler to optimize high-speed downforce, the manufacturer says. They also styled the trunk with an integrated spoiler. According to Volkswagen, it is designed to tame air turbulence around the rear of the vehicle and provide additional downforce without disrupting the flowing styling of the 4-door coupe. With an attention to aerodynamics and the details, the new CC earned a drag coefficient (Cd.) of just .29.