New for '09: Volkswagen Passat CC

Volkswagen Passat CC

After failing to move the Volkswagen brand in the United States up market with the $60,000 Phaeton sedan, VW will try again in 2009 with the Passat CC, which looks remarkably similar to the Mercedes-Benz CLS sedan. The rakish design gives the front-wheel-drive Passat CC the lines of a coupe with the practicality of a four-door sedan. Under the hood buyers will find a 197-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, coupled to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. A 3.6-liter V-6, rated at 295 horsepower, is available if buyers also choose Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel drive system. No word yet on fuel mileage ratings or pricing, but it's likely that the sticker on the Passat CC will be over $35,000.