Volkswagen’s Future Products Revealed for 2011, 2012, and Beyond

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[The following must be machine-translated. I don’t know what the originating language is, but this article proves that you can’t leave translation to a machine.

Image via WikipediaI think the post says that the Routan will continue through the model cycle, and that it is doubtful that it will get Stow ‘n Go. VW will not bring the mini-minivans (Sharan and Touran) to the U.S. The Routan will be replaced with something the same size. The new Routan will have more VW characteristics. It won’t be a Microbus (Transporter). The Transporter available in Europe would cost about $60-70,000 here.

Image via WikipediaThis news follows what I have heard or surmised in the past. The current model cycle continues through 2013. I’m curious to see who will build Mark 2, and when the minivan will get a diesel. I’d buy a new one with a diesel in a heartbeat.]

Image via WikipediaRoutan – The Chrysler-sourced minivan will abide through its artefact cycle, and it is absurd that it will anytime get Chrysler’s Stow ‘n Go folding second-row seats. The Routan will be replaced with a similar-size vehicle, not a abate mini-minivan like the European Sharan or Touran, as has been appear elsewhere. VW is absurd to add added minivans to it artefact portfolio in the accountable future.

Microbus – Volkswagen will not acceptation a minivan from Europe to the U.S. The accepted Transporter awash in Europe would amount $60k to $70k if awash in the U.S. That said, VW hints that the abutting adaptation of the Routan—or whatever it’s called—will accept added VW cast characteristics. Like, say, a Microbus badge?

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• Volkswagen Aims at Fast Lane in U.S. (online.wsj.com)

New Volkswagen Sharan minivan gets 42.8 mpg (U.S.)

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by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) on Jul 2nd 2010 at 8:01AM

2011 Volkswagen Sharan – Click above for high-res image gallery
Volkswagen has just launched the third generation of its popular Sharan minivan in Europe, and the new version is the most fuel efficient people mover in its class. The new Sharan has adopted VW's new styling language with a horizontal grille and headlamps that look similar to those found on the Golf, Jetta and Polo.
Under the hood, the Sharan has an all four cylinder lineup with two gas and two diesel engines, all direct injected and turbocharged. The diesels and the 150-hp gas engine all come automatic start-stop systems and brake energy regeneration as standard issue. The 140-hp TDI with a six-speed manual gearbox gets a combined EU rating of 42.8 miles per gallon (U.S.), and even the more powerful 200-hp TSI gas engine is rated at a reasonable 27.4 mpg combined.
At 191 inches long, the Sharan is a bit smaller than most U.S. market minivans, almost exactly matching the Kia Sedona. Volkswagen has not indicated any plans to offer the Sharan here, but with its goal of 800,000 annual sales looming, nothing can be ruled out.

Get It Straight--the Routan Is A Phenomenal Seller

"Image by Getty Images via @daylife"

Volkswagen may or may not discontinue the Routan. For that matter, Chrysler (Fiat) may or may not discontinue the Grand Caravan (GC) and Town & Country (T&C). Understand why before you throw the baby out with the bath water.

Fiat might discontinue or sell off the mini-van line because "that is not the business we are in." That doesn't mean that mini-vans are not profitable or selling well. In fact, the GC and T&C are the best selling mini-vans in the United States.

Why might Volkswagen discontinue the Routan? Corporate management is "less than enthusiastic about it," but why? Is it because VW is about to lose its supplier? If Chrysler/Fiat discontinues-limits-consolidates their mini-van, Volkswagen does not have an American supplier for the Routan. VW doesn't have a viable replacement in their stable. As popular as the Sharan may be outside the U.S., it doesn't have power sliding doors, is smaller than the top 4 mini-vans selling in the U.S., and I suspect hasn't started the lengthy U.S. certification process.

But the Routan is a phenomenal seller. As often as the motor press says otherwise doesn't make it so. There are three solid reasons why the Routan can be considered a great seller.

1. At introduction, VWoA head Stephen Jacoby said management was expecting to capture 3-5% of the U.S. mini-van market. The mini-van market has been hit hard by the Great Recession, but the Routan has captured about 4% of that shrunken U.S. market.
2. Volkswagen has less than 2% of the overall U.S. auto market. The Routan exceeds in its class VW's market share by 100%. Something that sells twice as well is not a bad seller.
3. The Routan has the youngest average ownership of all the mini-vans sold in the U.S. Volkswagen is strongest in the younger market--many of their models have the youngest average ownership in their class. The Routan either draws or feeds the primary market segment of VWs stable.

We also have to take into consideration corporate politics. The Routan was introduced on Jacoby's watch. Jacoby is leaving for Volvo. Whoever takes his place, the Routan will not be "their car." That alone could kill it.

In response to "Volkswagen Routan May Be Dropped From Line-up, Good Idea?"

Image via Wikipedia

Motortrend.com has an article entitled "Volkswagen Routan May Be Dropped From Lineup, Good Idea?" Below is the comment I left on that article.

The Routan has the youngest ownership of all minivans. In fact, there are only a relatively few vehicles that have younger average ownership. The youngest being the Jetta. Routan is positioned right for VW's market.

I suspect that the Phaeton will be positioned as the last car the Baby Boomers buy. We are dying off, and our profit contribution is decreasing for multiple reasons. But VW may be making a demographic play (provide a new luxury sedan that old guys can like because it doesn't look like the car all of their buddies drive.)

VW was smart to start with the best selling minivan in the US. The Routan has the features that Americans want. It is somewhat differentiated from the Honda and Toyota van that are viewed as practical (read, old fogey). It has an up-market feel compared to the Grand Caravan (GC is plebeian). Chrysler Town & Country is for the pre-boomer who can't get in and out of sedans anymore and who remember when Chrysler meant quality and engineering. (My 75-year old Dad drives a T&C--though he likes my Routan and he says that people who call it a T&C wannabe are idiots.)

The Sharan won't sell here in large quantities. The most mentioned feature by Routan owners is the power sliding side doors. The younger American buyers want power sliding side doors. The Sharan has conventional doors that don't convert well to sliding doors. Some complain that their isn't enough room in the Routan--so how will they feel about even less room of the Sharan.

I hope VW continues to target the younger minivan market. I hope Version 2 is built in Chattanooga on a VW chassis but in the same size configuration. They must add a TDI.

I wouldn't be surprised if Fiat drops the minivan or sells it off with the Ram family. That will end the comparison between the VW minivan and the Chrysler minivan.

Now here's a thought, VW should buy Ram and the mini-van, along with the Windsor plant. Then the Routan won't be like the T&C, but maybe VW will sell T&C units through Fiat/Chrysler. This move would also get VW into the US truck business.

I feel that VW should keep an American minivan that draws a younger market, I have mixed feelings about the Phaeton. While I'm a baby boomer (who started late with babies of his own) who is curious about the Phaeton, I wonder why I would buy one instead of an Audi (it's sister car)?

Touran vs. Sharan vs. Routan

[Note-I updated this post after a reader pointed out that I had mis-identified the vehicles. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. I believe my viewpoint is still valid, however.]

The re-worked 2011 VW Touran was introduced at the Leipzig Auto show this week and is creating quite a stir.

The Sharan is another MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle) available in Europe. Both can seat 7.

People immediately compare these to the Routan, exclaiming that VW would have done much better to have imported the Touran or Sharan to America rather than commission the Routan.

The Touran and Sharan are smaller than the Routan. One of the criticisms of the Routan is that it doesn’t have as much hauling space as the Toyota or Honda. Do you think the mainstream minivan buying public would accept less space?

When you read Routan reviews written by “Minivan Moms,” the one feature they routinely praise is the power side doors and power lift gate. (I really appreciate these features on my Routan—I wish the driver door would power open for me.) The Touran and Sharan don’t offer a power lift gate.  I don’t believe the Touran can offer power side doors.

The rear seat of the Routan is reachable without moving either of the two middle seats. A rear seat passenger can enter or leave without another passenger having to get out of the vehicle. On the Touran and Sharan, however, one of the middle seat passengers has to move for a rear passenger to enter or exit. I see this as a major inconvenience—one of the reasons why I rejected 7-seat SUVs in my vehicle search.

The U.S. minivan market has changed considerably since 2003 when VW stopped importing the EuroVan. It would have been a market-demand mistake to clear the Touran or Sharan for the U.S.—they aren’t big enough or convenient enough. (As a case in point, Toyota stopped importing the Previa—about the same size as the Sharan—and created the Sienna to meet U.S. market demand.)

The one thing the Touran and Sharan have that I wish the Routan had was the TDI Diesel. Volkswagen, among others, has demonstrated that the new-generation diesels are cleaner and more economical than gas, and no longer make the sounds of your father’s diesel.

The European vehicles also come standard with a manual transmission. I would like that option for the Routan. However, many U.S. “Minivan Moms” don’t know how to drive a manual transmission—hence no minivan sold in America has one.

Volkswagen had the option of trying to convert the U.S. minivan market to be more European, or introduce a minivan that was more American but had some VW touches. While critics claim that the Routan isn’t “VW” enough (they don’t know the subtleties of the Routan over the T&C), it is American enough to be accepted with VW embellishments. Trying to change the U.S. taste is why Saab has remained a niche player.

Preview: Mini-Minivans

Motor Talk

Family Fridays – A look at the upcoming Mini-Minivans

It’s no secret that I love the Mazda5 and the concept of Mini-Minivans. The problem is that I might be one of the few that actually does. But, since this is my post, I’ll continue the love fest over Mini-Minivans.

In addition to the 2011 Mazda5 refresh, there are two other Mini-Minivans coming stateside very soon, the Ford Grand C-Max and the VW Sharan.

2011 Mazda5 – Coming later this year

Much has already been written about the 5 here on Motor Talk. See Preview of 2011 Mazda5 and first Used Car Review of 2006 Mazda5.

Like previously mentioned, we are still VERY skeptical of the swoops on the side of the van but, love the blend of value, performance and functionality the 5 brings to the table. Before, the 5 was all by itself, will the new competition raise the bar? (Note to Mazda: Where is the Mazdaspeed version?)

2011 Ford Grand C-Max – Coming 4th quarter 2011

The hits keep coming from Ford. We were surprised when we first heard that the C-Max was coming, and we were really surprised when we found out that the version with proper sliding doors was coming. Don’t have full details yet, but I sure do like the looks. This might be the alternative to those that don’t want those controversial ridges on the 5. (Note to Ford: Where is the RS or SVT version?)

2011 Volkswagen Sharan – Stateside ??? Hopefully 2012 ???

Out of the 3 Mini-Minivans, the VW looks to have the most conservative styling…who knows that might be a good thing (see Accord and Camry). The rumored plans from VW is to replace the Routan with the Sharan. With apologies to Brook Shields…I say, GREAT IDEA! If nothing else, this has a manual gearbox!

Motor Talk Straight Talk – Sliding doors and manual gearboxes = Functionality and Fun!