Volkswagen to Debut Alltrack Passat in Tokyo

The Passat Alltrack has VW's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system that can send 100 percent of the power to the rear wheels if needed, but is normally driven using front-wheel power.

The Alltrack features an off-road mode, similar to that on the VW Tiguan. This activates hill descent assist, which automatically brakes the vehicle when the descent angle is greater than 10 degrees.

The new car gets SUV-style bumpers with wheel-well and side-sill flares. It has a bigger off-road ramp angle, approach angle, departure angle and higher ground clearance all around. VW says it's an excellent alternative for driving on unpaved roads.

Photographs released by VW ahead of its debut, show a more rugged-looking front end than the standard Passat and extra clearance in the wheel wells too. The car also has Audi-like skid plates which sit centrally in the front and rear.

Two turbocharged gasoline engines will be offered, along with two turbodiesel engines. Power ranges from 138 hp to 207 hp, depending on engine choice. The two higher-powered cars will get 4Motion as standard equipment, while on the 138 hp car it will be optional. A dual-clutch transmission is also standard on the top two model.

The European market launch for the Alltrack is set for early 2012.