In viewing vehicles at the Anaheim Auto Show October 5-9, 2005, a Volkswagen “feature” was found with the Passat, that at this time is planned for incorporation into future VW vehicles as they are “re-vamped”
If you look closely at the following three photographs, you will notice that there is NO mechanical parking brake connection. The parking brake is the little square electronic button located on the far left side of the dash to the left of the steering wheel.
What is most notable to the reconstructionist is that without power, the brake could not be applied to the vehicles on the show floor. This was tested at the show. The button was pushed, and then the vehicle was pushed. When pushing the vehicle it was able to be ” rocked” through a good 3 inches of travel, with the transmission, not the parking brake, retarding the wheels.