Volkswagen Routan
The Volkswagen Routan is a re-labeled variant of the Chrysler RT platform (seven-seat minivan); The design and style underwent an extensive review to distinguish it from its sister platform: the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country. Volkswagen began marketing in September 2008 in the U.S. market only.
While Volkswagen has been aiming to triple its U.S. sales by 2018, did not have a proper minivan for the U.S. and Canadian markets, as the Volkswagen Sharan (which is a purely European concept minivan), it would the expected success in these markets. Therefore, Volkswagen formed a partnership in 2005 with the Chrysler Group, then as part of DaimlerChrysler, to market the first minivan brand in the United States and Canada since the T4 EuroVan was discontinued in these markets in 2002.
Although the name sounds similar to the European Volkswagen Touran, the Routan has nothing to do with this minivan size much smaller. Brooke Shields has been the face of their advertising campaign in the United States.
The Routan has a redesigned interior and a specific suspension set-up. No Chrysler systems ‘Swivel-n-go’ or ‘Stow-n-go’, however, share powertrains with vehicles Chrysler RT platform.
Engines available were originally two source V6 Chrysler: A V6 3.8 L 197hp (147 kW) and maximum torque of 312 Nm (230 lb-ft), and 4.0 L V6 engine 251hp (187 kW) and maximum torque of 351 Nm (259 lb-ft). Both engines are supplemented box Chrysler 62TE automatic transmission 6-speed Autostick (sequential shift capability). Volkswagen planned to adapt its engine V6 3.6 L 15 ° V6 engine to replace the 3.8 L Chrysler for 2010 without however included the Pentastar 3.6 L 288hp (215 kW) engine and 265 lb · ft (359 N · m) of torque, origin Chrysler in 2011.
The Routan is produced in the plant assemblage of Chrysler in Windsor (Ontario, Canada), in line with the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country. His presentation was worldwide in the Chicago Auto Show on February 6, 2008.
Volkswagen Group of America made some statements that says the purpose of the sale of the Routan is to win at least a share of five per cent, which means some thirty-five thousand units of the seven hundred thousand units of minivans sold in the United States in December 2008. Their strongest competitors in that market are such as the Honda Odyssey, Hyundai Entourage, the Toyota Sienna, and Nissan Quest.
The Routan is available in three different versions for the U.S. market:
Volkswagen sells the Routan Mexico with the T5 Transporter, replacing the European Volkswagen Sharan in November 2008.
The Routan is available in two different versions for the Mexican market:
Volkswagen Canada began marketing the Routan during the fourth quarter of 2008.
The Routan is available in four different versions for the Canadian market:
On the occasion of Motor New York, Volkswagen Routan Volkswagen has announced that it will no longer continue in production due to poor sales.
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