Passat CC Awarded for its Outstanding Design

[Tom]

Volkswagen’s recently released Passat CC was recognised with a Design Award for its innovation and design excellence at the 2009 Australian International Design Awards.

The Australian International Design Awards, a division of Standards Australia, is recognised by the Commonwealth Government and the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design as the peak promotional body for the Australian design industry, and for its important role in fostering a culture of design and innovation in Australia.

The Volkswagen Passat CC was awarded for ‘Best Exterior Design’, which is both distinctive and sophisticated. The front end of the Passat CC shows another facet of the Volkswagen brand’s face. More dominant than on any other Volkswagen, the radiator grille with its two cross-struts and centrally placed VW logo spans the area between the headlamps. An indicator of the Passat CC’s excellent overall aerodynamic qualities is its drag coefficient of cw 0.29.

Especially distinctive are the flowing lines of the car’s side profile. The roof sweeps toward the rear with a very flat curve radius, from the A pillars to far beyond the C pillars. The lines of the trunk region even extend into the rear window, as if drawn with a single line.
The rear end of the Passat CC has an unmistakable visual image, day and night, thanks to its large-format dual taillights. A rear spoiler – integrated into the modulation of the boot lid – tames air turbulence and, like its counterpart at the front end, generates greater downforce. The large rear window visually extends far into the short but high-opening tailgate. It is a continuation of the coupé’s roof line.

The Passat CC is a pure four-seater. The coupé philosophy is reflected in the interior with this its front and rear ergonomically designed sport seats.

In a first for Volkswagen, the Passat CC comes standard with so-called self-sealing tyres. The highly flexible rubber mixture inside the tyre encloses foreign bodies, such as a screw or nail, that puncture the tyre and reliably seals the tyre. Even when the foreign body is removed the tyre will remain sealed thanks to the highly viscous polymer coating inside the tyre.

A division of Standard Australia, the 2009 Australian International Design Awards (Australia’s longest standing product design awards program) were announced at a gala dinner event in Melbourne.

[villeneuve]

Originally Posted by Tom

The rear end of the Passat CC has an unmistakable visual image...

[Waterman]

Agreed, there are similarities, however the passat looks like it was designed, rather than just having melted from being left in the sun too long. I like it.

[Hoadie]

Do the Australian Design Awards really mean anything? I seem to remember seeing their stickers on my XD and XF Falcons...

[Ingolstadtter]

it's the god given right of every car to win some sort of award, am sure the Ford Corsair (Australian one) has an award for something.

[mrbmw]

I've seen one of these driving next to me recently, I couldn't stop looking at it, its very eye catching in real life.

[Vinnie]

haha Australian International Design Awards. I am going to start the Vinnie Design Awards - they will probably be just as relevant.

That said, the CC is a VERY attractive car and there is no way in hell it should be compared with a Ford Taurus. E90 BMWs have similar rear ends to Kia Ceratos but you don't hear BMW fanboys mention that, do you?

[Hoadie]

I always thought the X5 looks like a Ssangyong Musso from the rear.

[Tim]

is it more credible if the same car won the award for innovative car body at the Bad Nauheim conference in germany?

Passat CC is a very striking car in person. Although i do agree the rear end isnt a nice as it could have been. The passat certainly puts much more expensive cars to shame.

[villeneuve]

Originally Posted by Vinnie

E90 BMWs have similar rear ends to Kia Ceratos but you don't hear BMW fanboys mention that, do you?

That's because the Kia Cerato was designed after the e90.
The rear of the BMW 1 Series Coupe looks inspired by them old Hyundai Elantras though.

[Vinnie]

Originally Posted by Tim

is it more credible if the same car won the award for innovative car body at the Bad Nauheim conference in germany?

Who?

[barge]

i think the new CC's a hot piece of ass! they shouldnt call it a passat though, they shouldve come up with a new fandangle name like doodab or whatsit

[Tim]

Originally Posted by Vinnie

Who?

beats me!?

[Paul Humpage]

Yeah, i'm a big fan of the CC too. Buggered if i can see the connection with the Taurus.

[Vinnie]

Originally Posted by Tim

beats me!?

LOL!!!

That's my point though - anyone can start an awards program but unless it's a proper industry award, it really means nothing... regardless of whether it's Australian, German or Antarctican.