The Volkswagen CC – Malaysian specifications revealed

Looks like June is shaping up to be a busy month for the Malaysian automotive scene. Earlier this month, we see Peugeot quietly introducing the 308 face lift and now word has it that Malaysians will soon be acquainted with the new CC. Introduced a few months earlier in Singapore, VW’s latest 4-door coupe has its name revised from Passat CC to just CC

• Wait, Did you just say Volkswagen is calling it’s latest model a sissy?
• No, CC
• Yeah, that’s what you just said …. sissy
• Oh, nevermind

A friend of mine wanted to look at the Passat and I just happened to tag along. Surprisingly, in the Passat test unit, there was a CC catalog and this reminded me of someone posting pictures of the car being in showrooms. Curious, I looked around and lo and behold! The stocks are in:

Aside from the fact that they’re all wrapped up like mummies, the sharp tapering of its snout is unmistakable. Said to be launched some time next week, there will be 2 variants: Standard and Sport (details at the bottom) and visually, they can be clearly differentiated by the rims:

Interlagos 18″ for the Sport whereas

Phoenix 17″ for the Standard

Inside, the addition of the Start Stop button is very obvious for the Sport vs the Standard

Unlike the Passat CC, the CC will have full fledged LED DRLs

 

So what’s different between the new CC and the Passat CC? Lots apparently and not all good.

 

Performance

 

The Passat CC had a Golf GTi 2.0litre engine mated to a wet clutch 6-speed DSG gearbox. Output is rated at 210PS with 280Nm torque.

The CC has the current Passat’s 1.8litre engine paired to a 7-speed DSG. Output has been reduced to 160PS with 250Nm torque. While torque value may not be that big of a difference, many sees this as a downgrade, particularly when acceleration from 0 – 100kph takes 8.5 seconds vs 7.6 on the Passat CC. Top speed has also been reduced to 223kph compared to the Passat CC’s 238kph. The good thing is that (on paper), the CC is more frugal in terms of FC, claiming 9.6/5.6/7.2litres comsumption per 100km for urban/extra urban/combined respectively vs the Passat CC’s 11/6/7.8litres but seriuosly, those values are academic at best. You don’t get a turbocharged VW for FC’s sake so it appears from the performance point of view, the CC is a downgrade.

 

Ride and Handling

 

Since the car is not launched and no test drives are available yet, no comment on this area but as both the Passat CC and CC as almost identical in size and has adaptive chassis control as well as the usual ESP recipe, I doubt the difference, if any is going to be astronomical.

 

Cabin Convenience

 

Probably the same as the Passat CC although it is interesting to note that kerb view side mirror is not listed as a feature in the CC but the CC gains auto-dimming side mirrors. Printing error? We shall see. Not sure if the Passat CC has ‘Rest Assist’ which alerts the driver if he/she is becoming tired via visual and acoustic warnings but the CC has it now.

 

Specifications

 

Engine & Gearbox

• 1.8L 160PS TSi turbocharged direct petrol injection 4-cylinder engine
• 7-speed direct shift gearbox DSG
• Adaptive chassis control DCC

Interior

• 3-spoke leather steering wheel with control for DSG, MFD and radio
• Analogue clock in dashboard
• Auto-dimming interior mirror
• Brushed dark aluminium decorative inserts for centre console
• ‘Climatic’ air conditioning system with 2-zone temperature control
• Comfort start function ‘Press & Drive’
• Cruise control
• Driver’s seat with memory
• Electronic parking brake with auto-hold function
• Electrically adjustable front seats
• Electrically operated roll-up sunshade on rear window
• Leather gearshift knob
• MEDIA-IN multimedia interface for USB drive and AUX-IN
• Multi-function display ‘Plus’
• ‘Nappa’ leather seat upholstery
• Ornamental wood ‘Ebony’ decorative inserts for dashboard and door trim panels
• ‘RCD510’ touch screen 6 CD changer radio with CD/MP3/WMA replay function, 8 speakers
• Stainless steel scuff plates in front and rear, with ‘CC’ nameplate

Exterior

• Bi-xenon headlights with dynamic headlight range adjustment, dynamic bending light and LED daytime running lights
• Exterior mirrors, electric adjustable and foldable, heated, auto-dimming and memory on driver’s side
• Front fog light
• Front windshield wiper with intermittent control and rain sensor
• ‘Phoenix’ 8J x 17″ alloy wheels with self-sealing tyres 235/45 R17
• LED tail lights
• Park distance control PDC for front and rear

Safety

• 3-point seat belts with height adjustment and seat belt tensioners in front
• Anti-lock braking system ABS with brake assist BA
• Curtain airbag system for front and rear passengers
• Dual front airbags with front passenger airbag deactivation
• Electronic differential lock EDL
• ESP
• Electronic vehicle immobilisation device
• Hill-hold control
• ISOFIX preparation for child seats
• ‘Rest Assist’ drowsiness detection system
• Side airbags for front occupants
• Tyre pressure monitoring system
• Wheel locks with extended anti-theft protection

 

CC Sport variant

• Brushed dark aluminium decorative inserts for dashboard and door trim panels
• DYNAUDIO ‘Confidence’ 10 speakers, 600W premium sound system
• ‘Interlagos’ 8J x 18″ allow wheels with self-sealing tyres 235/40/ R18
• ‘KESSY’ keyless entry and starting system
• Panoramic tilting glass roof
• ‘Rear Assist’ rear view camera

 

 

And the price has been revealed to be around RM227k for the Standard (EXCLUDING insurance) and the Sport around RM245k (again, excluding insurance). I can’t help but wonder if VW is being overtly ambitious by offering something that has a little more gadgets, better driving dynamics and a lot more style than the same-engined/tranny Passat sedan and asking you to fork out some RM60 grand more for it. Well, as they say … value is in the eye of the beholder

 

Editor’s notes:

 

A subsequent write up was done after being given a media unit to drive around. You can read about it HERE