Volkswagen Planning a BMW 5 Series Rival

It appears that German car maker Volkswagen is on a mission to fill all possible gaps in its portfolio. First it was the compact five-seat SUV that will be showcased at the upcoming North American International Auto Show, and now it’s a BMW 5 series and Mercedes Benz E Class competitor.

According to a report by Auto Bild, Volkswagen is considering positioning a model between the Passat and the flagship Phaeton saloon. The said car, which is going to VW’s only offering in the segment, is likely to be a derivative of one of the existing products: either on the Passat or the Audi A6.

While the use of latter as the base might not be a great idea as it could end up taking away some of the sales from the A6, but using Passat as the platform will be cheaper to produce, argues the same report.

The vehicle, likely to be made in five-door notchback and shooting brake forms, is expected to be very competitively priced at 37,500 Euro onward for the base-spec model, which equates to about INR 28.7 lakhs. In comparison that’s the kind of money one would spend on a mid-range BMW 3-series in Europe.

Engine options could include four- and six-cylinder petrol and diesel units while a 4Motion all-wheel drive system could also be made available. The car would be built in China, Mexico, or North America, but sales expectations in the former are genuinely high for such a model.

Competitors: Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E Class

Expected Price: From EUR 37,500