Following closely in the footsteps of the Golf 7, both in terms of styling and mechanical hardware, the eighth generation of Volkswagen’s European Passat (codenamed B8) is edging closer to its world premiere that could happen as early as this fall at the Paris Motor Show.

It’s an all-new model that rides on an extended version of VW’s modular MQB platform and will be offered with a similar powertrain lineup to the Golf, including an assortment of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines, as well as hybrid and possibly plug-in hybrid variants.

This is not a sure thing yet, but just last month, Chinese media leaked undisguised pictures of the next iteration of the local market Magotan, which in its current form, is based on the existing European Passat B7, leading us to believe that it may very well preview the looks of the Euro Passat B8.

In the spy video below, courtesy of French magazine L’Automobile, you can catch a glimpse of the Passat B8 sedan and Variant (station wagon) prototypes.

By John Halas

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