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The Passat is primed for Paris. The latest versions of VW’s venerable saloon and estate will make their debuts at October’s Paris Motor Show, offering a step forward in luxury and style. And our spies have caught the estate on test in the USA, although the wagon version is unlikely to be sold across The Pond.

Just like the previous Golf, VW has elected to thoroughly update the old platform, refining and improving the older version rather than start from scratch, to save money. This should ensure handling remains surefooted, but refinement increases to levels similar to stablemate Audi.

The styling will be predictable, with the Passat getting VW’s latest design cues to bring it in line with the Golf, Polo, Touareg and Touran. The Passat will get the Touran’s clever main beam lights, which keep the lights at full brightness at all times, but masking the beam so as not to blind oncoming motorists, rather than dipping the lights.

The Passat will get VW’s latest petrol and diesel engines, perhaps even a unit as small as the 104bhp 1.2-litre TSI couple to a seven-speed DSG gearbox. Stop start and other fuel saving systems will be standard. A hybrid version is likely to join the range next year.

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