A 4WD version of Volkswagen's Passat will be available in Ireland from around the end of March, at a price premium in the region of €3,500.
It will initially be available only with VW's 2-litre 140bhp diesel, but later in the year a 1.9-litre diesel version will arrive.
The car uses the 4Motion drive system automatically chooses the best transmission characteristics for the prevailing road and weather conditions, apportioning exactly the right amount of power to the wheels.
Brian Byrne.