May 3, 2005. Copyright 2005, Graphic News. All rights reserved Impressive Passat is big, but bland; if only VW had liberated the designers By Neil Winton LONDON, May 3, Graphic News: ItÕs almost an iron law of nature. Highly successful cars will be replaced by designs which look almost exactly the same as the old one. ThatÕs why the new Volkswagen Passat looks familiar. ThatÕs why the new BMW 3-Series looks suspiciously similar to the model it replaced. ThatÕs why new Fiats look completely different from previous ones. ItÕs a shame, because VW seems to have started off with a plan to make the new PassatÕs styling exciting and cutting edge. If only it had dared to stick with the initial working drawings for the project, the latest model would have such a wow factor that BMW, Mercedes, Audi and Jaguar might have felt the pressure. Instead it looks nice but bland; nothing too raunchy to frighten the customers. VW doesnÕt see it this way. ÒThe development team has breathed new passion and pulsating liveliness into this Passat through an uncompromising combination of shape, functionality, design and ergonomics,Ó it says. The Passat has been highly successful as a solid, reliable family car, or as a rep-mobile, bombing up and down the motorways of Europe. Understandably, VW doesnÕt want to jeopardise a successful formula. The new car is noticeably bigger than the model it replaces and has tremendous quality, with many ideas inherited from the luxury VW Phaeton. The doors shut with a satisfying clunk. The interior must be best in class, even rivalling the fabulous dashboard and interior of one of its biggest rivals, the Honda Accord. The wood trim and instruments look classy. ThereÕs even an umbrella holder built into the driverÕs door. The ignition key, which isnÕt really a key but a plastic gizmo which slots into the dashboard, is borrowed from the Phaeton. While still in your pocket or handbag it signals to the car as you approach that you are entitled to enter. You press a button behind the door handle and the locked door opens, and deactivates the immobiliser. You fire the engine by pressing the starter button. The ride was impeccable, the steering tight and feedback excellent. The cabin felt insulated from the world. Driving around motorways outside Barcelona, the new Passat was in its element. The first wave of Passats will have a choice of four engines -- a 1.6-litre FSI (direct injection petrol) 115 bhp, a 2.0-litre FSI 150 bhp petrol, and two diesels -- a 1.9-litre TDI 105 bhp and a 2.0-litre TDI 140 bhp. The 140 bhp diesel was superb. The base price for the Passat in Germany is 21,800 euros. VW claims two firsts in this class: an electronic hand-brake, and two-zone, individual air conditioning. The electronic handbrake works well; it releases when you press the accelerator. On hills, it is programmed to stop the car rolling back. ThatÕs great for inexperienced drivers. If only VW had the courage to build a Passat with the wow factor intact. Then it might even persuade BMW and Mercedes owners to come on down. /ENDS