Volkswagen · 1981–2013

Volkswagen Passat B2

The Volkswagen Passat (B2) is an automobile produced by German manufacturer Volkswagen from 1981 to 1988. It was the second generation of the Volkswagen Passat, the platform of which was slightly longer than that of the preceding Passat (B1). As with the previous generation, it was based on the platform of the Audi 80; the corresponding B2 version of which had already been launched in 1978. The Santana was also manufactured in China, Brazil, Mexico (as the Corsar, from 1984 and 1988) and Argentina (as the Carat between 1987 and 1991). In Brazil, the Santana station wagon was sold as the Quantum. In the United States, both the Santana sedan and station wagon were sold as the Quantum. The Passat saloon and estate were produced in South Africa for their local market until 1987. The production of Passat B2 in China ended in January 2013.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Volkswagen Passat B1 · Successor: Volkswagen Passat B3

All Volkswagen Passat B2 data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

History

The body configurations for the Passat B2 included hatchback, Variant (estate/wagon), and a three-box saloon which, until the 1985 facelift, was marketed as the Volkswagen Santana in Europe. In most markets, the equipment levels were renamed from L/LS/GLS to CL/GL/CD. The four-wheel drive Syncro Variant was introduced in April 1984, initially only with the 2-litre five-cylinder engine. In August, the more powerful 2.2-litre option was added. Like the previous generation, the B2 Passat was mainly sold with four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. Unlike its predecessor, however, top-of the line versions received five-cylinder Audi or VW engines of 1.9–2.2 litres. In addition to four- and five-speed manuals and three-speed automatic gearboxes, the Passat/Santana was also available with Volkswagen's interesting 4+E transmission. This, also called the "Formel E", had an overdrive fourth and an even taller fifth gear, which combined with a freewheeling mechanism to provide better gas mileage but less impressive performance. Originally, this was the only five-speed transmission offered with the Passat B2. An automatic stop/start was also available in some markets. The four-wheel drive system used in the Passat Variant Syncro shared the mechanics of the Audi 80 quattro rather than the Volkswagen Golf Syncro. When first shown, at the 1983 Frankfurt Motor Show, the car was meant to be called the "Passat Tetra". The Syncro's bottom plate was almost entirely different, requiring a transmission tunnel, a relocated gas tank, and no spare tire well (to make room for the complex rear axle assembly). Unlike the related Audi 80 quattro which used a reversed front wheel setup, the rear-axle was an adapted Volkswagen Transporter unit which enabled retaining a flat loading floor. Only the

Quantum (United States)

In the United States (this generation was not sold in Canada), the Passat/Santana was marketed as the Volkswagen Quantum beginning with the 1982 model year. The federalized model was, as is typical, fitted with much larger bumpers and sealed beam headlights as well as side marker lights. Various emission controls also added to the cars' overall weight. The add-ons increased the Quantum's wind resistance to drag coefficient of Cd=0.41. The Quantum was available in three-door hatchback (marketed as a "Coupe" and accordingly fitted with a rear spoiler), four-door Sedan, and Wagon forms. The five-door hatchback was never marketed in the US and the three-door hatchback was dropped after less than two years. There was a standard model and an available GL option, which added power windows, locks, and mirrors, as well as rear headrests, cruise control, and other extras. The 2.1-liter five-cylinder engine was introduced for 1983 as the Quantum GL-5. The Syncro station wagon was only offered with this engine. The original engine used in the Quantum was the 1.7-liter inline-four also used in many other Volkswagen and Audi vehicles (as well as the Dodge Omni/Plymouth Horizon); there was no diesel option at first. The fuel injected 1.7 produces 74 hp (55 kW) at 5,000 rpm and was coupled to the high-geared 4+E transmission or to a three-speed automatic. While extremely fuel-efficient at steady highway speeds, the tall gearing meant the somewhat underpowered engine had to work hard in most American conditions and real world fuel economy was not impressive in period tests. This changed with the 1983 model year, when the 2.1-liter, five-cylinder GL-5 version was added to the lineup (displacing 2144 cc, this was usually referred to as a "2.2" in Volkswagen's promotional material). The tu

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Specifications

name: Volkswagen Passat (B2)
aka: Volkswagen Carat (Argentina), Volkswagen Corsar (Mexico), Volkswagen Quantum (US, Brazil), Volkswagen Santana (China, Brazil, Japan)
Production: 1981–1988, 1983–1985 (China; CKD), 1985–2013 (China; full production)
Assembly: Germany: Emden, Belgium: Brussels, Spain: Barcelona, Zona Franca, Brazil: São Bernardo do Campo, Mexico: Puebla, China: Shanghai, Japan: Zama (Nissan), South Africa: Uitenhage
Predecessor: Volkswagen Passat (B1)
Successor: Volkswagen Passat (B3)
Class: Mid-size car / Large family car (D)
Body style: 2-door saloon/sedan (Latin America), 3/5-door fastback/hatchback, 4-door saloon/sedan (Santana), 5-door estate/wagon
Layout: Longitudinal front engine, front-wheel drive or, four-wheel drive
Designer: Luca Rezzonico
Platform: Volkswagen Group B2
Engine: Petrol engines:, 1.3 L I4, 1.5 L I4, 1.6 L I4, 1.7 L I4 (1982–83 Quantum), 1.8 L I4, 1.9 L I5, 2.0 L I4 (Latin America), 2.1 L I5, 2.2 L I5, Diesel engines:, 1.6 L I4, 1.6 L TD I4
Transmission: 4/5-speed manual, 3-speed automatic
Wheelbase: 2550 mm
Length: 3/5d: 4435 mm , Variant: 4540 mm , Santana: 4545 mm
Width: 1685 mm , Santana: 1695 mm , facelifted Santana: 1710 mm
Height: 1385 mm , Santana: 1400 mm , 54.8 in (GL), 58 in (GL Syncro) , facelifted Santana: 1427 mm
Related: Audi 80 (B2), Ford Versailles, Ford Royale, Volkswagen Quantum, Volkswagen Santana
sp: uk