2009 Volkswagen Passat CC

Volkswagen is testing the premium midsize car waters with the production sedan it unveiled at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. Riding the four-door coupe trend pioneered by Mercedes-Benz's CLS is Volkswagen's new Passat CC. Volkswagen refers to its newest entry as "a coupe with sedan access and functionality."

Passat CC rides on 17-inch alloy wheels and features a sloped rear roofline and trunklid spoiler imitating that of a coupe. Power comes from a standard 200-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine or optional 280-horsepower 3.6-liter V6. The 4-cylinder comes standard with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode; the V6 with the 6-speed automatic with manual shift mode.

CC's interior features a panoramic power sunroof that's 29.5 inches long and 44 inches wide. This four-door sedan seats four in individual heated and ventilated sport seats.

Passat CC showcases several Volkswagen-first technologies. Lane Assist corrects unwanted lane departure and Park Assist, which operates like Lexus LS' system, automatically guides Passat CC into a parking spot. Passat CC also features Automatic Distance Control, which automatically brakes and accelerates to keep the car at a driver-predetermined distance from the rest of traffic. Dynamic Drive Control allows drivers to select from three electronically-adjustable suspension modes; Normal, Sport, and Comfort.

Prices were not announced, but look for the 2009 Volkswagen Passat CC on sale in late 2008.