The shooters at Brenda Priddy & Co. originally sent over these shots of what they figured to be the U.S. version of the Passat wagon. On closer examination, the pictures are actually of VW's new CrossPassat prototype.
Priddy says that the dead giveaway—higher ground clearance—is something that the team should have noticed from the start. And the prototype is also equipped with Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system.
The front air dam and headlamps appear to be similar to the U.S.-spec Passat sedan and not the European version. Also, when the shooters managed to look inside, they noticed U.S.-style gauges with mph markings.
Priddy expects some cladding on the U.S. version and, from what dealers have told her team, they would not be surprised to see the CrossPassat in dealerships by 2013.
Photo Credit: Brian Williams and Brenda Priddy/Brenda Priddy & Co.