New Volkswagen CC revealed

This isn't the Volkswagen Passat CC. It is the new Volkswagen CC. And it's still not a convertible.

Volkswagen has revealed the first pics of the facelifted CC, binning the ‘Passat CC' badge and ushering in a raft of standard equipment to better elevate its luxurious pretensions.

See more pics of the new Volkswagen CC

The front and rear of the new non-Passat CC has minor styling tweaks, and VW claims it's now nearer the "automotive luxury class". There's also bi-xenon headlights, static cornering lights and a new LED rear headlight system as standard.

VW has also fitted it with stainless steel sill plates, safety head restraints and - somewhat tellingly - fatigue detection. Can't imagine why...

The petrol engine range carries over from the last model, so you're looking at a 1.8-litre four-pot developing 158bhp, a 2.0-litre turbo developing 207bhp, and the range-topping 3.6-litre V6 with 297bhp and 258lb ft of torque; in the current Passat CC this latter engine accelerates from 0-62mph in 5.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 155mph. That's quick.

Diesel - should you be so persuaded - also remains the same, a 2.0-litre TDI engine putting out 138bhp and 168bhp. Both these variants will come with a stop/start system and battery regeneration mode as standard, that together with a six-speed manual, help the 138bhp diesel achieve 125g/km of CO2.

The new CC will make its public debut at the upcoming Los Angeles motor show, which kicks off 17 November, and go on sale early 2012.

So. Do we like it, or is the whiff of poor-man's-Merc-CLS too strong to stomach? Don't forget, the current car isn't too bad a thing...