Photos used with permission from Vortex Media Group

NEW YORK CITY – At the New York International Auto Show, Volkswagen of America, Inc., will feature a Passat equipped with an appearance package inspired by the Passat R GT that was shown at the Specialty Equipment Market Association’s (SEMA) annual exhibition in November 2005. Although the vehicle was a concept, rave reviews from fans prompted Volkswagen to offer the package as an option on new Passats.

The appearance package creates a racy and aggressive look for the Passat with front and rear skirts with color contrasting elements, a honeycomb-designed grille, side sill kit, a harmonically integrated tailgate lip, oval-shaped tail pipe trim and 18-inch titanium colored alloy wheels, wrapped with 235/45R18 high-performance summer Pirelli tires. The vehicle’s stance is also lowered with the addition of performance lowering springs.

Editors Note: The package will be a port installed option. $4,500 seems expensive, but if you add up the cost of a full high quality body kit + suspension + wheels + tires + paint, you will be close to $4,500 in no time. This seems like a hell of a deal, and makes the car look killer. The Body Kit will also be sold seperately, with pricing to be announced at a later date. This package was put together as part of VW’s Moonraker project, a team of VW employees that came here to study US market needs and desires. These are the same people that came up with the Volkswagen GX3, but this time actually came up with something practical. My only fear… VW shows will be flooded with 20 of these cars all lined up, and will lose some of the exclusivity. Either way, its all money in the bank for VW.

See More Photos of the Passat w/ the Appearance Package on The Car Lounge’s NYIAS Photo Gallery.

Photos by Michael Duval

Our 2006 NYIAS gallery is live! Check out real life images of the new Audi TT, the 4-door Wrangler, and the all-new Lexus LS600h L, as well as a ton of other photos. Enjoy!

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NEW YORK, April 13, 2006 – Subaru of America, Inc., America’s All-Wheel Drive leader, today unveiled the 2007 Legacy 2.5 GT spec.B performance sedan at the New York International Auto Show. The introduction spotlights Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-Drive), a key new technology that enhances driving engagement by allowing the driver to select the level of engine performance. Read the rest of this entry »

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An all-new urban-oriented counterpart to the Honda Element will debut this fall with an exclusive sport suspension, larger wheels and tires, unique styling and special features like a carpeted interior and a center console, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today at the 2006 New York International Auto Show. Read the rest of this entry »

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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Audi of America, Inc. announced pricing for the highly anticipated 2007 RS 4 sport sedan today at the New York International Auto Show. Upon its launch in June, the RS 4 will have a base price of $66,000, not including a $720 destination and $2,100 gas-guzzler charge. The RS 4 is a high-performance sport sedan with a long list of premium equipment to go along with its exceptional performance. Read the rest of this entry »

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April 12, 2006 - New York - Scion, from Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., unveiled the all-new FUSE Sports Coupe Concept vehicle at a press conference today at the 2006 New York Auto International Show.

Developed by Calty Design Research, Toyota’s North American design studio located in Newport Beach, Calif. and Scion’s Advanced Product Strategy Team, and built by Five Axis of Huntington Beach, Calif., the all-new FUSE was designed to be the new Scion sports coupe icon. Its goal was to push the limits of a coupe concept by combining entertainment, digital technology, and versatility into one sinister looking package. Most importantly, its styling makes a visual statement about its intention to expand the performance envelope among affordable, entry-level sport coupes. Read the rest of this entry »

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The all-new Infiniti G sedan, which makes its global debut at the 2006 New York International Auto Show, is designed to create a powerful driving sensation – from its rewarding performance and the sophisticated exterior, to the finely crafted interior and intuitive technology. It goes on sale in November 2006. Read the rest of this entry »

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Featuring a one-of-a-kind, four-door open-air design, the all-new 2007 Jeep® Wrangler Unlimited expands the Jeep experience to new dimensions. With room for five adult passengers – a Wrangler first – and the most cargo space ever offered in a Wrangler, the Unlimited combines class-leading off-road capability with everyday practicality.

The all-new 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited grows to mid-size SUV proportions, offering even more comfort and space, even more versatility, even more open-air options, even more off-road capability, even more on-road refinement, even more convenience and safety features, and even more power and fuel efficiency. Read the rest of this entry »

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Dieter and crew made it official today at the New York International Auto Show that the E55 is now dead and gone. Instead of the supercharged V8 goodness, we get 503 normally aspirated ponies out of a 6.3 liter V8. The downside to the 6.3 is that while we gain 34 horsepower, we also lose 51lb/ft of precious torque over the previous generation. The sacrifices we make, right? All I know is that I can’t wait till one of these bad boys is in the press fleet

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The Acura “MD-X Concept” luxury performance SUV made its world debut today at the 2006 New York International Auto Show featuring bold, sleek exterior styling indicative of the next generation MDX production model.

“Every aspect of the MD-X Concept design conveys performance while still retaining SUV functionality,” said John Mendel, senior vice president, auto operations. “The styling signifies a bold direction for the next generation MDX, both in appearance and substance.” Read the rest of this entry »