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Article: 2002 Volkswagen Passat W8. (Automotive).(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Popular Mechanics
- Article date:
- August 1, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Hearst Communications, reprinted with permission of Hearst. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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In case you haven't heard, Volkswagen is taking on Mercedes-Benz. Yes, VW, the company that sprang to life with its "people's car" is trying to get comfortable in the same circles as its German brethren, Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Leading the charge upscale is the new $38,000 Passat W8.
By dint of its engine, the Passat W8 is VW's first production 8-cylinder sedan. The "W" refers to that engine's configuration, essentially a double offset "V" of closely spaced cylinders. The 4.0-liter motor is a technological tour de force utilizing an aluminum block and heads, four adjustable camshafts, four valves per cylinder and dual balance shafts. It all works to make 270 hp ...