Paladin
KC Hill
Craig Hill
Oracle of DelphiVW Passat CC
February 11th 2009 10:43
A car that parks itself, will survive most punctures and avoid rear-ender crashes is now available in Australia.
The VW Passat CC features self-parking and the accident avoidance radar as options, but is the first car in Australia to be fitted standard with Continental’s new ContiSeal tyre which seals itself if it runs over a sharp object no wider than 5mm.
The tyres cost $550, which is $50 more than the standard tyre, and are available in limited sizes for fitting to vehicles other than the Passat CC.
Volkswagen Group Australia service general manager Phil Murray yesterday demonstrated the tyre’s abilities to withstand a puncture by drilling into a standard tyre with a 5mm drill bit, then into the ContiSeal.
The ContiSeal failed to deflate.
The tyre is coated inside with a polymer coating which is a tacky tar-like material.
“This is not a run-flat tyre,” Murray said.
“Its performance is the same as the standard high-performance (Continental ContiSport).
“You don’t have the harshness of a run flat tyre.
“Änd in the unlikely case you have to change a tyre there is still an alloy full-size spare wheel.”
The ContiSeals do not weigh extra like run flats and they are not restricted to distance and speed when punctured.
Continental has warned that because the motorist won't notice when their tyre has been punctured, they should regularly examine the tyre for nails or screws.
The Passat CC arrives with a two-litre diesel engine at $54,990 or with a 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine at $65,990.
Courier-Mail
The VW Passat CC features self-parking and the accident avoidance radar as options, but is the first car in Australia to be fitted standard with Continental’s new ContiSeal tyre which seals itself if it runs over a sharp object no wider than 5mm.
The tyres cost $550, which is $50 more than the standard tyre, and are available in limited sizes for fitting to vehicles other than the Passat CC.
Volkswagen Group Australia service general manager Phil Murray yesterday demonstrated the tyre’s abilities to withstand a puncture by drilling into a standard tyre with a 5mm drill bit, then into the ContiSeal.
The ContiSeal failed to deflate.
The tyre is coated inside with a polymer coating which is a tacky tar-like material.
“This is not a run-flat tyre,” Murray said.
“Its performance is the same as the standard high-performance (Continental ContiSport).
“You don’t have the harshness of a run flat tyre.
“Änd in the unlikely case you have to change a tyre there is still an alloy full-size spare wheel.”
The ContiSeals do not weigh extra like run flats and they are not restricted to distance and speed when punctured.
Continental has warned that because the motorist won't notice when their tyre has been punctured, they should regularly examine the tyre for nails or screws.
The Passat CC arrives with a two-litre diesel engine at $54,990 or with a 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine at $65,990.
Courier-Mail
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