264bhp Volkswagen Passat R-Line Edition revealed at Geneva

Volkswagen has unveiled the Passat R-Line, topping the brand’s estate range with R-styling, 264bhp and plenty of tech as standard.

It might not be a full-fat R variant, but with tinted rear lights and gloss black 19-inch Pretoria wheels usually only found on R cars, it’s not far off. Power also comes from the same 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder EA888 power plant found in the Golf R, albeit in a more relaxed state of tune. The car is equipped with Volkswagen’s latest DCC adaptive damper control system, too, and full ESC deactivation is available should you want to take your Passat to the track.

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Almost all exterior trim components are also finished in gloss black to match the black wheels, contrasting to the ‘Moonstone Grey’ exterior paint. The roof, wing mirror caps, window frames, rear diffuser and headlight trims are finished in the shade. R-Line sports seats with Nappa leather inserts and ‘carbon leather’ side bolsters are also included, alongside R-Line branded side sills and stainless steel pedals.

Limited to just 2000 units, the all-wheel-drive estate comes with buckets of tech as standard, helping it earn its place as the top-of-the-range model. A new ambient lighting system creates an enhanced sense of space, while the brand’s Digital Cockpit feature (similar to Audi’s Virtual Cockpit) allows the driver to choose what information is shown on the dash. A 9.2-inch infotainment screen, the brand’s first capacitive touch steering wheel, IQ.Light LED Matrix headlight system and a 360 degree camera system can also be found. Perhaps the most impressive feature is Travel Assist, which allows the car to brake, steer and accelerate automatically at up to 130mph – the package also includes a front-facing camera, pedestrian monitoring system, park assist, lane changing system and automatic distance control. All of these features come as standard.

Order books for the Passat R-Line Edition in Europe will open in May. No pricing information has been announced.