The tech-centred era in which the car now seems thoroughly ensconced presents certain problems for the established players, especially where older "legacy' models are concerned.
The Volkswagen Passat is one of those. Now entering its ninth generation, it has a longer history even than Wolfsburg's hero model, the Golf- and because so many of us feel like we know it so well, we've come to develop certain expectations of it that simply don't encumber the likes of BYD, GWM and Nio.
We expect, for starters, a certain sense of maturity, functionality and grounded sensibleness from the Passat - a car that has always served as a filter of the affected, fleeting and superfluous.
Do we expect a 15in infotainment touchscreen with built-in ChatGPT artificial intelligence? Probably not here. And when you see one on the dashboard of a car like this, drawing your eye like some sort of digital totem, you can't help thinking: "Crikey, do I really need all that?"
Denne historien er fra April 17, 2024-utgaven av Autocar UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra April 17, 2024-utgaven av Autocar UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Poster car that went from rusty to trusty
One evening, two years ago, George Pappas was being driven down his local high street by a mate and mulling over whether to replace his Mk4 Golf diesel, a recent purchase that was boring him to death, when his girlfriend, also in the car, spotted an old BMW 3 Series at the side of the road with a 'for sale' sign in the window.
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The current-gen XC90 has been on sale since 2015 for good reason
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Where the story begins, in the Hyundai premium marque’s luxury saloon
LEXUSLBX
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Rolls boss ready to 'define the next chapter'
Nine months into the job, Rolls-Royce CEO and car guy Chris Brownridge tells STEVE CROPLEY what he's learned and where the firm's heading
Once more, with feeling
AC Cars' recreation of the classic MkII Cobra is at first glance a faithful facsimile of a 1960s performance benchmark. SIMON HUCKNALL drives it
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Does a PHEV set-up work in a coupé that exudes such old-school vibes?
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Lotus Elise specialist uprates 1990s icon with an eye on track days
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The hot hatch is alive and well, and living in France. On both road and track, there's much to savour`
UK HANGS ON TO OLD CARS
Average car age climbs as high prices dampen demand for new models
