2003 Volkswagen Passat W8 - Transformed from Competent Performer to Confident Powerbroker
The 2001.5 Passat marked significant improvements over the previous model. On the surface, changes seemed no more than skin deep. Yet a total of 2,300 modifications transformed the look, feel and driving experience. From an attractive, well-made, better-than-average performing car it blossomed into a gorgeous, luxurious, confidence-inspiring sport sedan. But now this has all changed.
But don't worry. For those who love the zippy 1.8-L turbocharged 4-cylinder, it's still the standard engine. What's more, it has recently been upgraded from 150 to 180-hp. The wonderful Audi derived V6 is still available too. But in typical VW fashion, everything has to keep getting better and faster. With that in mind the 270-hp W8 that now resides under the Passat's hood is not typical of VW at all.
Not that their engineering wizards - many of which pull double-duty with next of kin premium brand Audi - aren't capable, its just that the car company that rose to stardom for its cheap, reliable and hopelessly underpowered Beetle (excepting #53 Herby the Love-Bug) shouldn't do stuff like this, should it? Well Volkswagen seems to think it should, and respectfully the brand has produced some extremely impressive performance models since the beloved old Beetle went away.