Three on Passat CC

Further blurring the lines between the regular Passat and its sportier CC sibling, Volkswagen has now added an optional new rear bench for the Passat CC that turns the four-seater model into a five-seater. Available in Europe as an option for €100 or about US$140, the new rear bench gets a third head restraint and three-point seat belt at the center position while the folding backrest is asymmetrically split.

Hit the jump to check out the rear passenger area of both the four- and five-seat versions of the Passat CC.

Maserati and Abarth by Appointing Common CEO

Italy's Fiat Group, which recently bought a 20 per cent stake in Chrysler, is continuing to shake up its executive and business structure. Today, the company's boss, Sergio Marchionne revealed plans to create a new group for the sporty Alfa Romeo, Maserati and Abarth brands that will be headed by Harald J. Wester, born in Linz am Rhein, Germany, on 26 February 1958.

As part of these plans, the 52-year-old former VW and Audi executive was appointed today CEO of Alfa Romeo automobiles replacing Sergio Cravero, who will assume responsibility for Product Portfolio Planning & Product Concept of Fiat Group Automobiles.