The first Passat, introduced in 1974, marked a radical departure for Volkswagen: it was a front-wheel-drive sedan powered by a water-cooled engine. Another radical departure took place for the 1998 model year with a completely new Passat. The Passat (which refers to a European wind) is slightly larger than its predecessor, and features stylish eye-catching lines. Since its redesign, Passat sales have climbed more than 150 percent.