Volkswagen Microbus reborn--again--at Geneva auto show - AutoWeek Magazine

Volkswagen Microbus reborn--again--at Geneva auto show - AutoWeek Magazine

By DALE JEWETT on 3/01/2011

Volkswagen Microbus (Bulli).
Ten years after Volkswagen hinted at a return of the iconic Microbus, only to cancel the project, it" again.
A new Microbus concept--with an electric drivetrain and seating for six--makes its debut at the Geneva motor show.
VW says this Microbus--known as the Bulli in Europe--has a range of 186 miles on its 40-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. The battery pack is sandwiched in the floor of the van and could be recharged in less than an hour, VW says, at an "electric refueling station" designed for EVs.
Unlike the original Microbus, the concept's electric motor is positioned in front of the vehicle and drives the front wheels. The 114-hp motor delivers 199 lb-ft of torque. VW says the concept would run from 0 to 62 mph in 11.5 seconds. Top speed is limited to 87 mph.
The engine compartment could also hold a small gasoline or diesel engine, VW says.
The concept makes use of heritage design cues, starting with a large, round, chrome VW emblem on its nose.
But, compared with the original from 1950, this Microbus is a bit shorter and wider and doesn't stand as tall. The concept measures 156 inches long with a 102-inch wheelbase, stands 66 inches tall and is 68.4 inches wide.
There is a two-tone paint scheme that breaks at the character line running down the van's side. Also, there are no sliding doors, the concept has two conventional rear doors.
Inside, the Microbus concept seats six people with two bench seats. The front bench seat is split so that the center and passenger positions can fold flat. And the rear bench seat can be folded and stowed to increase cargo room. Or the bench seats can be flattened to create a bed.
A docking station in the center of the instrument panel holds an iPad, which communicates with the steering-wheel controls and gauges. There is no gear shift--a rotary knob selects park, reverse, neutral and drive. Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110301/GENEVA/110229923#ixzz1FNS9cnR4

Volkswagen Plans For World Domination

Motor Trend

…How will VW do it? Unless it quickly develops a $30,000 Honda Pilot competitor off the new Passat's platform, plus perhaps a new Microbus-style minivan to replace the Chrysler-based Routan -- two models that combined could add more than 200,000 units to annual sales -- the Passat and Jetta will have to become best-sellers in their segments with sales topping 300,000 per year each. Should total U.S. sales volume not reach 17 million, the 200,000 range is more likely, competitive with Hyundai Sonata, Ford Fusion, and Chevrolet Malibu. That's about 400,000 for Jetta and Passat, just half the '18 goal.



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Golf-based Scirocco
Hackenberg and Browning emphasize efforts to improve quality scores in the U.S., long a major problem for the brand. They say much of VW's quality problems relate to design features that confuse and annoy Americans -- an explanation (or excuse) several competitors also use. While they talk about biting into Toyota and Honda sales, they don't mention Hyundai, which expects to sell 590,000 in the U.S. this year, or Kia.
"German engineering still has a very good image in the USA." Hackenberg says. "It is our job, and the job of Mr. Browning, to bring that to the customer."
VW has tried competitive pricing with Japanese brands and "affordable German engineering" in its marketing before, though not both at the same time. A mix of big, low-priced German sedans for the American market, and more interesting cars like the GTI and CC, might work this time. Until it does though, we don't envy Mr. Browning his task.

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New Volkswagen Routan Embraces and Enhances Role of Minivan

Image via Wikipedia New Volkswagen Routan Embraces and Enhances Role of Minivan

• by Cambridge PR Group

BRAINTREE, MA (02/28/2011)(readMedia)-- When it comes to questions of what and whom should be brought along on family road trips, the new 2011 Volkswagen Routan answers with a confident "Yes" to everything and anyone. Now available at Greater Boston Volkswagen dealers, the latest Routan offers the space and towing capacity for up to seven adults and their cargo while keeping children, or any adults with similar attention spans, occupied with an abundance of entertainment features.
A virtual home theater system in motion, the 2011 Volkswagen Routan features an available six-disc DVD changer and two nine-inch LCD screens in the second and third rows. An available package offers a second DVD player, so that separate movies can be played to appease the varying tastes of brothers and sisters. For essential road devices such as phones, MP3 players and game consoles, the VW minivan includes 12V power outlets and an available 115 AC outlet to ensure that charging is never an issue.
Every 2011 Routan features a new 3.6-liter engine connected to a 6-speed automatic transmission that provides an efficient 25 mpg on the highway. For added fuel efficiency, the driver can activate a new ECO mode fuel optimization switch that modifies shift patterns.
Meanwhile, the 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque offered by the Volkswagen Routan deliver a smooth, effortless ride no matter how many in-laws or uncles tag along. Or, if drivers just need storage space for groceries, the Routan can provide 144 cubic feet of space with the second row removed and the third row stowed.
"The Routan is not afraid to fully embrace what a minivan can do when it comes to size and function, and it showcases Volkswagen's signature engineering and style," said Jason Thompson, general manager of Massachusetts VW dealer Quirk Volkswagen. "When it comes down to it, most families want as much space and entertainment as possible in their vehicles, but they need a vehicle that's practical and cost-efficient to own. The 2011 Routan satisfies all of those needs."
Since safety remains a particular priority for families, the 2011 Routan now features standard front-row side airbags, a standard knee airbag for drivers and newly designed head restraints for all seats. The Routan's Engine Braking Control, Tire Pressure Monitoring System and Electronic Stability Control all supplement its Antilock Braking System to adjust speed, improve traction and reduce the chance of accidents.
The VW Routan's ability to combine function and form helped it to earn the number-one spot in the minivan segment of the recently released Strategic Vision Total Value Index for 2010. The index honors those vehicles that scored the highest based on the opinions of 111,212 people who bought vehicles between September 2009 and June 2010 and who measured their vehicles' perceived value against their purchase prices. With the Golf and CC also leading their segments, Volkswagen was the index's overall leader in total value for the second year in a row.
"No one understands the importance of value more than parents paying for diapers, toys and flu shots, and the Routan provides it to them in so many ways, from pricing and power to reliability, space and entertainment," Thompson added. "The Routan has been a success as a minivan because of its value to families, and the fact that it has been honored by Strategic Vision alongside VW mainstays like the Golf and CC is proof."
About Quirk Volkswagen:
Quirk Volkswagen is the premier Greater Boston Volkswagen dealer. Massachusetts Volkswagen customers choose Quirk for the great service and pricing on new and used VW cars. A dedicated and knowledgeable staff is on hand to show you their extensive selection, with Volkswagen models ranging from the Jetta to the Touareg. You can preview their inventory online at www.quirkvw.com, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/QuirkCars, reach them by phone at (877) 624-0143 or visit their dealership showroom at 20 Granite Street in Braintree, Massachusetts.

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VW ROUTAN vs DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

SEE ALSO: Volkswagen Buyers Guide
SEE ALSO: Dodge Buyers Guide

The Auto Channel site
HEELS ON WHEELS
By Katrina Ramser
San Francisco Bureau
The Auto Channel
INTRO TO THE ROUTAN AND CARAVAN VEHICLES
One well-known minivan – the Dodge Grand Caravan – gets pitted against a relatively newcomer to the family driving market, the Volkswagen Routan. Will German engineering beat American-made machinery? Or will the Routan be revealed as a clone or “Mini-Me” to the Caravan?

Image via CrunchBaseI drove a 2010 VW Routan with a 197-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission. Available in S, SE, SEL and Premium trims; my SE test drive featured a healthy list of standards for a step above base including an 8-way adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, 17-inch alloy wheels, power-sliding rear doors, tri-zone manual climate control, removable second-row captain's chairs, the upgraded V-tex upholstery, Bluetooth and an upgraded audio system with a 6-CD changer. The addition of the RSE (rear seat entertainment) brought a DVD player, a power liftgate and satellite radio. Total vehicle price came to $33,500. There were no add-on packages to configure.

And I drove a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan also with a 197-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission. Available in a base van, SE, Hero and SXT trims; my Hero test drive featured a trip computer, heated exterior mirrors, third-row power ventilated windows, 3-zone temperature control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifting knob and a 6-speaker audio system with SIRIUS satellite radio. Optional packages included a $1,495 Popular Equipment Group (remote start, power liftgate, passenger-side power sliding doors), a $1,875 Single Screen DVD Entertainment System (6.5-inch touch-screen display, 30GB hard drive for storing songs, backup camera) and a $220 special sliding front console with cup holders. Total vehicle price came to $29,490.
Don’t let the Routan’s slightly different looks fool you: If you haven’t figured it out yet based on engine stats, the minivan is essentially a rebadged of the Caravan. Both feature the … third-row Stow ‘n Go seating system, and identical safety features and results.
HEELS ON WHEELS REVIEW CRITERIA
Stylish But Comfortable Results: Two major interior differences were apparent: The Routan had a nicer or “leatherette” seating material and a navigation system, whereas the Caravan had cloth seating material and no navigation. The dash build inside the Routan is a little larger or expansive, which give a sense of more frontal space. [The Caravan has] the standard Stow 'n Go setup, which consists of a pair of second-row captain's chairs that disappear into the floor along with the third-row bench for a flat floor featuring 140 cubic feet of cargo room. Unfortunately, Stow 'n Go seatbacks aren't as comfortable as larger seats.
Reliability & Safety Factor: Safety features are the same – but I find it odd the Caravan charges for anti-lock brakes (ABS) in their Power Equipment Group. Powertrain and basic warranties are the same. Both feature “Good” rating for frontal and side impact crash tests with the IIHS. But the only minivan on the 2010 IIHS Top Safety Pick is the Toyota Sienna.
Cost Issues: Base price for the Routan starts at $ while base price for the Grand Caravan begins at $21,800. Look into current Dodge incentives. The most surprising thing about the Routan is how affordable VW allowed this minivan to be.
Activity & Performance Ability: The driving experiences of the V6 engines are identical – swift, responsive and quiet. The difference is in the seating. Do you want to sit up high, like a bus driver? Choose the Caravan. The Routan’s driver seat tends to cradle the body more. It has been slighted repeatedly by critics both vehicles cannot compare to the performance of the Honda Odyssey in regards to handling refinement.
The Green Concern: Both vehicles retain 16-city/23-highway driving mpg for an average of 18 mpg – to be expected with a V6 engine. The smaller 4-cylinder found inside the Toyota Sienna can get you 19-city/24-highway driving mpg for about a 2-mpg improvement.
FINAL PARTING WORDS
The Grand Caravan feels a little bland next to the VW Routan’s special German genes that make an un-cool car like a minivan into something sleek and desirable. Furthermore, consumers should not have to pay extra for some of the Caravan’s optional features like a power liftgate, remote start and special cup holders; I also l appreciated how the Routan doesn’t offer such traditional packages but just well-equipped trims. And prices are the same when you consider my Routan test drive was equipped with a touch-screen navigation system and the Caravan test drive was not.
©2010 Katrina Ramser

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Volkswagen Routan – Totally Family Friendly

The Routan is perfect for the kids and even for those who are still kids at heart

PasadenaNow.com
By CANDICE MERRILL with VANESSA TABORA
Published: Friday, January 14, 2011 | 12:30 PM

If you want an minivan that has a great combination of features, then it’s the 2010 Volkswagen Routan SE  you’re looking for. It has an interior look similar to that of the Chrysler Town & Country with an exterior that is truly Volkswagen.  Upon first impression it offers an amazing commanding view of the road.
The Routan is perfect for the kids and even for those who are still kids at heart. This is because of its rear seat entertainment with DVD screens offered in the second and third rows of the SUV. You can plug in any video game system and it even has a JoyBox hard drive radio feature that is unique to Volkswagen. It carries a capacity of 30 gigabytes which can store thousands of music and image files.
With its third-row stowing seats this minivan has plenty of room to move stuff. The second row seats are also removable if you need to move a whole lot of stuff. It also has plenty of hidden compartments to stow expensive stuff!

This Routan delivers nothing less than the smoothest of rides possible. It handles the bumps well without making the passengers feel a single jolt. The wide turning radius could be a problem in tight quarters, but on the open road the Routan maneuvers adequately.
A nice addition to the SE are the power-sliding rear doors which can be activated by the key fob or interior of the  minivan.  It seems a bit indulgent but when you need to load groceries in the driving rain you’ll appreciate them.
With a V6, 4.0-liter engine you can expect to reach 60 mph in about 8 seconds. The mileage isn’t bad either for a minivan of it’s size: 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway.
If you want a vehicle that will cruise quietly without all the noise that tires and wind can make, the 2010 Volkswagen Routan SE is worth a look-see. This minivan is totally family friendly and has higher quality interiors than its competition. Its price can be compared to the top of line vehicles in the market today and you can enjoy the 3-year, 36,000 mile free maintenance from Volkswagen.

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Volkswagen Routan Back for 2011

Family Car Guide Blog
By Marty Padgett Editorial Director January 21st, 2011

2009 Volkswagen Routan
Defying some predictions from the rumor mill, the Volkswagen Routan minivan is coming back for the 2011 model year.
Since it shares running gear with the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan, the 2011 Routan gets similar updates, starting with the upgraded powertrain. This year, the offering is a 3.8-liter Pentastar V-6, teamed up with a six-speed automatic. The Routan's 283 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque are delivered to the front wheels.
The usual front, side and curtain airbags are fitted, with anti-lock brakes and stability control.
The Routan's been praised as a higher-quality version of the Chrysler minivans, but with the improvements to those vans, we're eager to see photos of the Routan. (The 2009 model is pictured here.) VW promises they're coming soon--but in the meantime, pricing has also been revealed:
Routan S: $26,930
Standard features include manual sliding side doors, cruise control, ambient lighting, AM/FM/CD with auxiliary audio jack, power windows/locks/mirrors, and cloth seats. In this edition, the second and third-row seats fold, and the second row captain's chairs are removable. Again this year, the Routan omits Chrysler's Stow 'N Go fold-away seating system, but the storage tubs that would contain seats in the Chryslers are fitted to the Routan's floor.
Routan SE: $31,770
Adds power sliding side doors, a power driver seat, heated mirrors, 17-inch wheels, power-adjustable pedals, a CD changer and Bluetooth, front heated seats, and vinyl upholstery.
Routan SE w/ RSE: $33,790
Adds on a rearview camera, a touchscreen-driven audio system with satellite radio, hard-drive storage and a USB port. The RSE stands for "rear-seat entertainment"--which means twin LCD screens and a back-seat DVD entertainment system with gaming ports.
Routan SE w/RSE and Nav: $34,750
Incorporates a navigation system.
Routan SEL: $37,390
Tops off other editions with a standard sunroof, automatic climate control, navigation system, satellite radio, USB port and real-time traffic. There's no DVD system, but leather upholstery applies to the first two rows of seats, and the rear end gets a load-leveling suspension.
Routan SEL w/RSE: $39,390
Adds back in the DVD entertainment system.
Routan SEL Premium: $43,240
Comes with a premium sound system, a 115-volt power outlet, memory for the power-adjustable pedals, and dual front power seats

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December 2020 YTD Sales Figures

Volkswagen of America, Inc. today reported that December 2010 marked a 17 percent increase over prior year sales for the entire line of vehicles. In addition, 2010 achieved a 20 percent increase over 2009 total year sales. Increased sales numbers resulted in best annual sales since 2003 and best December sales since 2005.


With the growing popularity of Volkswagen's SUV models, the Tiguan achieved its best month ever, selling 2,551 vehicles, a 42 percent increase from the same month last year. Bolstered by the all-new model, the Volkswagen Touareg ended the year positively with a 68 percent increase compared to 2009. Other top selling vehicles included the Jetta with a 34 percent increase, Golf with a 72 percent increase and Routan with a 50 percent increase compared to December 2009.

PRNewswire published the December and YTD sales figures of the auto-makers who sell in the U.S. From these reports, we glean the following data:

Brand YTD -  12/10


Chrysler   112,275

Dodge      103,323

Honda      108,182

Kia         21,823

Mazda       15,683

Nissan         177 (discontinued)


Toyota      98,337

Volkswagen  15,961



Total      475,761
Volkswagen's market share of van sales is 3.35%, in the target range declared when the Routan was introduced.

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