Volkswagen Likely to Drop the Passat in the United States

….When New Sedan Debuts!

Volkswagen probably will drop the Passat sedan and wagon in 2011 when VW's new U.S.-built mid-sized four-door is expected to go on sale.

"We are looking at it in detail," Stefan Jacoby, VW Group of America CEO, said this month at a press event here.

The U.S.-built sedan, which has yet to be named, will be larger than the Passat but priced lower.

"We'll have two sedans coming out at the same time, and the smaller one will cost considerably more than the bigger one," said a VW spokesman.

The Passat sedan is 188.2 inches (4789mm) long. VW has not released dimensions for the new sedan.

VW has said it can afford to price the new sedan lower because it will be built at the new factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Unlike the Passat, it will be less affected by currency exchange rates.