(January 10, 2011) DETROIT — Volkswagen unveiled the midsize sedan here Sunday night that it hopes will make it a mainstream American brand and help it become the world's largest automaker.

Called simply the Passat — the same name as the smaller midsize sedan VW has struggled to sell in America — the new car will roll out of a $1billion assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. Sales are to begin in September.

VW "lost its way" and "became a marginal brand" in America, VW-U.S. chief Jonathan Browning said.

The new Passat was developed specifically to appeal to American tastes. That means it's a bit bigger than the version VW will sell in the rest of the world. At 191.7 inches long, the new Passat is 1.1 inches longer than a Ford Fusion and 4.1 inches longer than the 2010 Passat.

Final pricing will be announced in the spring, but the Passat will start at around $20,000 when it arrives in dealer showrooms later this year. It will come with premium standard features that include automatic climate control and Bluetooth connectivity.

The all-new Passat offers three drivetrain options: a 2.5-liter gasoline engine, an eco-friendly 2.0-liter TDI Clean Diesel and a powerful 3.6-liter VR6.

The 2.5-liter five cylinder engine (170 horsepower/177 pound-feet), which is being offered in the Passat for the first time, will be mated to a standard 5 speed manual transmission. The engine will also be paired with a 6-speed automatic.

The four cylinder 2.0-liter TDI Clean Diesel (140 horsepower/236 lb.-ft.) has the power of a six cylinder gasoline engine and the fuel economy of a hybrid. The Passat TDI is expected to deliver 43 miles per gallon on the highway, with a range of approximately 800 miles. Volkswagen's TDI clean diesel engines, which come with a NOx storage catalytic converter, are among the cleanest engines in the world, fulfilling emissions requirements in all 50 states.

Optional on the Passat TDI will be Volkswagen's 6-speed DSG transmission.

The 3.6 liter VR6 (280 horsepower/258 lb.-ft.) makes the new Passat a top-flight sport sedan. It offers power and luxury-class driving comfort, with European-type restraint in its fuel consumption  estimated at 28 mpg on the highway.

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