Before Volkswagen fully transitions to electric vehicles, the remaining gas-powered lineup still has a ways to go. In order to go out of ICE with a bang, the German automaker is beginning to offer more standard features across the board. These standard features will vastly improve the mediocre base models while attracting buyers on a budget.
Volkswagen's entire lineup is receiving some sort of update for 2022, so no carryover models are to be seen for the time being. After VW discontinued the standard Golf earlier this year, the eighth generation GTI and R variants are finally on their way to the US. The new Golf GTI is arriving later this year with a turbocharged 2.0 liter 4-cylinder engine and three trim levels; S, SE, and Autobahn. It will start at $30,540 for the S and $35,290 for the SE, topping out at $38,990 for the Autobahn. As for the R, an upgraded turbocharged 2.0 liter inline-four brings more power and a higher price. Buyers will have to face an eye-watering price of $44,640 for the 315-hp hot hatch. Volkswagen's Arteon flagship sedan also receives slight revisions, even after a facelift last year. The sleek fastback gets much more powerful for 2022, as the 2.0 liter 4-cylinder is being replaced by a standard turbocharged 2.0 liter inline-four that produces an outstanding 300 horsepower, which is just 15 less than the new Golf R. Its boring eight-speed automatic has also been dropped in favor of a seven-speed dual-clutch. The new DCT format is known for faster, smoother shifts as well as better fuel economy than most other transmissions. Don't forget more style; the Arteon already has enough of it, but the sporty R-Line package is now standard across all trims. Of course, the base price has been raised to $41,190, which is a $3,000 increase.
As for the SUV lineup, the midsize Tiguan is being revised for 2022 with an updated design, larger infotainment screen, more colors inside and out, and more standard features. The smaller Taos is an all-new addition to the lineup, replacing the iconic Beetle. The subcompact crossover is a US-specific model, with a rugged design and modern interior. The Volkswagen Taos starts at $22,995 for the S trim. The Volkswagen Atlas got a major facelift last year, following the release of the new Atlas Cross Sport. For 2022, trim levels are being streamlined to S, SE, SE Technology, SEL, SEL R-Line, SEL R-Line Black, and SEL Premium R-Line. SE Technology models receive a new trailer hitch as standard. The regular Atlas gains USB ports in the third row. The Atlas now starts at around $33,000, and the Cross Sport version at $32,775. The Jetta compact sedan and its faster GLI counterpart, which are slated to get facelifted for 2022, have been announced in the press release but have not yet been revealed. The same goes for the ID.4 electric crossover, but it is said to be mostly a carry over model for next year.
Aside from these updates, the arguably largest upgrade for the 2022 Volkswagen lineup is the new standard technology. The Volkswagen Digital Cockpit is now standard across the board, with a eight-inch screen for the base models and larger 10.3-inch version as an upgrade for the more expensive trims. The models that receive the new standard infotainment are the Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, Tiguan and Taos, which previously offered small non-color displays as standard. VW is also adding digital instrument clusters as standard on most of the range as well. The Golf GTI and R will have the full digital gauges and 10.3-inch screen as standard. VW's IQ.DRIVE suite of driver assistance features is standard on most models, but available on the Tiguan and Taos S models.
Finally, Volkswagen's Passat midsize sedan is officially being retired in the US due to slow sales next year after nearly fifty years on the market. Volkswagen is giving their once-popular sedan a special Limited Edition sendoff model, which will only reach 1,973 units to commemorate its original release for Germany in 1973. Each set of Limited Edition Passats will remember a part of the sedan's history. The first 411 Passat Limited Edition models will be painted in Aurora Red Metallic with a Titan Black interior. "411" was the Passat's original production code. The next 423 units will come in Racing Green Metallic, which was never previously offered on the Passat, and a Mauro Brown interior. "423" is the area for Chattanooga, Tennessee, which was where the US-spec Passat was built for the past ten years. An additional 524 units will have a Pure White exterior and a Mauro Brown interior with "524" remembers May 24, 2011, the day that VW's Chattanooga plant opened. The final set of 615 units will come in a Platinum Gray Metallic exterior and a Titan Black interior. "615" represents the 6 Passat generations that were imported from Germany, the 1 generation produced in the US, and the 5 decades that the Passat served in the US market. Unique design details for the Limited Edition include 18-inch aluminum alloy rims with 15 spokes, power-folding side mirrors with black mirror caps, LED headlights with AFS, seat tags reading "1 of 1973" on one side and Chattanooga 2011 on the other side, an aerial map of Chattanooga on the cupholder mats, comfort sport seats with Vienna leather and power functions, heated seats in both rows, built-in navigation and other infotainment features, wood accents, and a Fender Premium sound system. Until it is sent to the graveyard, the S, SE, and R-Line trim levels from 2021 will remain available.
Source Credits: VW Media (USA)
Images: Volkswagen
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