Volkswagen Passat in R-GT’s Clothing

April 19, 2006 – 3:50 pm by Dan Volkens
Filed under Design Reviews, Featured, Volkswagen Passat

Volkswagen’s Moonraker Project releases another experiment at the New York International Auto Show. They presented the new Passat with an appearance package that is almost identical to the Passat R-GT concept shown at SEMA last November.

Passat at New York Auto Show with R-GT Styling
* Photo Credit: VWvortex.com

The new package will be available as an option for $4,500 (Yikes! o_0 ). That does include paint and installation however, as far as I know. Customers will also be able to purchase the individual parts at Volkswagen dealerships. That’s great for the do-it-yourselfers and the tuning market, or if you happen to only want to replace your stock grill with the fancy new one. Sorry, I don’t have individual parts pricing at this time.

I’m still on the fence about whether I like the styling or not. Parts of it are “over-the-top” for my tastes, and quite frankly I don’t think it fits the Passat’s general aesthetic: high class. The various vents in the ~~side panels~~ rear bumper sides and the gaping ones on the frontend are a little too youthful, if you can describe them that way. I would have liked to see a bit more restraint with those. Some of these kits nowadays, and you know the kind, just look absolutely hideous because they don’t fit the original design AT ALL. I.E. Flagrant wings and bulges on smooth body panels. The kit needs to enhance the original aesthetic of the car, not detract.

The price point is a bit on the high end being around $1,000 or so more than the Audi A4’s S-line package. Buuuut, Passat buyers may not bawk so much at it. They may or may not already be used to a premium price point for accessories and such.

Well, do you like it?

Volkswagen Passat in R-GT’s Clothing
April 19, 2006 – 3:50 pm by Dan Volkens

5 Responses to “Volkswagen Passat in R-GT’s Clothing”

I think it looks awesome, but if it’s only body mods then it just sounds rediculous. I like body mods if they have the engine/drivetrain to back it up.

By Justin Perkins on May 18, 2006 | Reply

Absolutely Justin. All-show-no-go is thumbs down in my book. No use in prettying up your ride if it can’t fly too. :D