Volkswagen is preparing to launch sales in Kazakhstan of a new Passat sedan assembled in China. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
A new Volkswagen Passat of Chinese production has appeared in the register of vehicle type approvals (OTTS) of KazStandard. The model is produced by the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture and sold in China under the name Magotan. This is the second model from Volkswagen's Chinese lineup certified for Kazakhstan. Earlier, the Tayron L crossover, a close relative of the new Tiguan, underwent a similar procedure.
Despite the familiar name, this is not the European Passat. As noted by Kolesa.kz, in China this sedan is produced under the name Magotan, while the Passat Pro model is produced by another joint venture, SAIC Volkswagen.
The car has a body length of 4,990 mm and a wheelbase of 2,871 mm, corresponding to the new generation Magotan. Under the hood is a 2-liter turbo engine with 220 hp and 350 Nm of torque. The type of gearbox is not specified in the OTTS, but in China such a sedan is available with a 7-speed DSG robot.
Configurations for Kazakhstan are not yet known, but an idea of them is given by the export version of the model, which is sold in some foreign markets under the name Passat. In more expensive trim levels, matrix LED optics, a panoramic roof, three-zone climate control, multimedia with a 15-inch display, head-up display, wireless charging, ambient interior lighting, and leather upholstery are available. However, the export Passat lacks the third display on the front panel that the Chinese Magotan has.
The appearance of the new Volkswagen Passat in the OTTS database means that the model should go on sale through an official dealer in Kazakhstan in the coming months. Earlier, Kursiv Avto reported on the certification in Kazakhstan of the Jetta VS7 crossover, created by FAW and Volkswagen.