Volkswagen Routan

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Volkswagen Routan
2009 Volkswagen Routan SE
Manufacturer Chrysler LLC
Parent company Volkswagen Group
Production 2008–present
Assembly Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Predecessor Volkswagen Eurovan
Class Minivan
Body style(s) 4-door minivan
Layout FF layout
Platform Chrysler RT platform
Engine(s) 3.8L V6
4.0L V6
Transmission(s) 6-speed automatic
Wheelbase 121.2 in (3078 mm)
Length 202.5 in (5144 mm)
Width 76.9 in (1953 mm)
Height 68.9 in (1750 mm)
Related Chrysler Town and Country
Dodge Caravan

The Volkswagen Routan is a seven-seat minivan and rebadged variant of the Chrysler RT platform, with revised styling, content features, and suspension tuning from the fifth-generation Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country.[1][2][3][4][5]

Manufactured alongside the Chrysler minivans at Windsor Assembly and marketed in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the Routan debuted at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show and went on sale in the United States in September 2008.

The Routan's minivan nameplate variants — including the Plymouth and Chrysler Voyager along with the currently marketed Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country — have ranked as the 13th bestselling automotive nameplate worldwide, with over 12 million sold.[6]

Contents

[edit] History

The Routan resulted from a 2005 partnership between Volkswagen and DaimlerChrysler. Prior to the agreement, Volkswagen had no minivan model for the United States or Canadian markets. VW announced in an early 2008 projection that the company intended for the Routan and other models to help achieve significant expansion of U.S. sales.[7] The Routan is Volkswagen's first van offered in North America since discontinuation of the Volkswagen Eurovan in 2003, and is not related to the European-market Volkswagen Touran.[8]

[edit] Features

[edit] Interior

The Routan features a rebranded version of Chrysler's hard drive-based audio and navigation system — marketed by Chrysler as the MyGig system and by Volkswagen as the Joybox, but has neither Chrysler's Stow'n Go nor Swivel'n Go seating systems. Instead, the second row seats in the Routan feature the Easy Out Roller Seat system.

[edit] Engine

The Routan is available with the Chrysler 3.8 L V6 producing 197 hp (147 kW) and 230 lb·ft (312 N·m), and the 4.0 L V6 producing 251 hp (187 kW) and 259 lb·ft (351 N·m) — with either engine mated to Chrysler's 62TE six-speed automatic transaxle with manual shift capability.

Displacement
(L)		 Type Valves Power
(HP)		 Torque
(lb-ft)		 HP/Torque
Rated RPM		 Compression
Ratio		 Fuel Economy
(MPG)
3.8 OHV 12 197 230 5,200/4,000 9.6:1 16/23
4.0 SOHC 24 251 259 6,000/4,100 10.2:1 17/25

[edit] Markets

[edit] United States

VW of America had projected for the Routan to gain at least five percent of the US minivan market,[9] or forty five thousand units of the seven hundred thousand minivans sold currently. In January 2009, it was reported that VW of America had asked Chrysler Canada to stop production of the Routan for the month of February. By this time, 29,000 Routans had been shipped to dealerships across America, but only a small fraction of that had been sold. This decision was made to help the supply overage. [10]

[edit] Trims

Trim Engine MSRP (USD)
S 3.8L V6 $24,700
SE 3.8L V6 $29,600
SEL 4.0L V6 $33,200

[edit] Sales

Jan 2008 Feb 2008 Mar 2008 Apr 2008 May 2008 Jun 2008 Jul 2008 Aug 2008 Sep 2008 Oct 2008 Nov 2008 Dec 2008 Total 2008
— — — — — — — — 375[11] 789[12] 1,324[13] 899[14] 3,387
Jan 2009 Feb 2009 Mar 2009 Apr 2009 May 2009 Jun 2009 Jul 2009 Aug 2009 Sep 2009 Oct 2009 Nov 2009 Dec 2009 Total 2009
663[15] 663

[edit] Mexico

Volkswagen de México markets the Routan alongside the Transporter (marketed locally as the Eurovan), replacing the European-built Volkswagen Sharan minivan in the autumn of 2008.

[edit] Trims

Trim Engine MSRP (MXP)
Prestige 3.8L V6 $362,700
Exclusive 3.8L V6 $403,970

[edit] Canada

Volkswagen Canada began selling the Routan during the autumn of 2008. Like its United States counterpart, VW Canada had not featured a minivan in its vehicle lineup since the discontinuation of the Eurovan. For the four months that the Routan minivan was on sale in Canada in 2008 (September through December), the company sold 335 units.[16]

[edit] Trims

Trim Engine MSRP (CAD)
Trendline 4.0L V6 $27,975
Comfortline 4.0L V6 $33,975
Highline 4.0L V6 $39,975
Execline 4.0L V6 $59,975

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Chicago 2008: Volkswagen unveils the newish Routan minivan". Autoblog.com, Jeremy Korzeniewski, Feb 6 2008. http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/06/chicago-2008-volkswagen-unveils-the-newish-routan-minivan. 
  2. ^ "2009 Volkswagen Routan Minivan - - What's New for 2009". About.com, Jeff James. http://minivans.about.com/od/manufacturer/a/09VWminivan.htm. 
  3. ^ "2009 Volkswagen Routan". Motor Trend, Bob Nagy. http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/minivans-vans/112_0811_2009_volkswagen_routan_first_drive/index.html. 
  4. ^ "2009 Volkswagen Routan". Road and Track. http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=15&article_id=6436. 
  5. ^ "2009 Volkswagen Routan SE: The best Chrysler minivan wears a VW Routan badge". Myride.com. http://www.myride.com/review/2009_volkswagen_routan-review-4292-page1.html. 
  6. ^ "Chrysler LLC Celebrates 25th Anniversary of the Minivan". Autonew24h.com. http://www.autonews24h.com/Auto-Industry/Chrysler/2885.html. 
  7. ^ "VW Plans to Triple U.S. Vehicle Sales". Car & Driver. September 2007. http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car_news/vw_plans_to_triple_u_s_vehicle_sales_car_news. Retrieved on 5 January 2009. 
  8. ^ Vander Doelen, Chris (22 January 2008). "VW's Routan to roll off Windsor Assembly". Windsor Star. http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/business/story.html?id=c728f842-dbdf-4a17-a637-88c7b33b8610. Retrieved on 5 January 2009. 
  9. ^ "Chrysler-built Routan has VW look". St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Christopher Boyce, 2/07/2008. http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/story/2E990D46B69D9EAE862573E8000F5CD5?OpenDocument. 
  10. ^ "Routan Bust? VW asks Chrysler to stop building minivans for February". Autoblog.com Chris Paukert Jan 30, 2009. http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/30/routan-bust-vw-asks-chrysler-to-stop-building-minivans-for-febr/. 
  11. ^ "Volkswagen Reports September 2008 Sales". Volkswagen Press Release, October 1, 2008. http://www.media.vw.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=10400. 
  12. ^ "Volkswagen Reports October 2008 Sales". Volkswagen Press Release, November 3, 2008. http://www.media.vw.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=10414. 
  13. ^ "Volkswagen Reports November 2008 Sales". Volkswagen Press Release, December 2, 2008. http://www.media.vw.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=10433. 
  14. ^ "Volkswagen Reports December 2008 Sales". Volkswagen Press Release, January 5, 2009. http://www.media.vw.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=10434. 
  15. ^ "Volkswagen Reports January 2009 Sales". Volkswagen Press Release, February 3, 2009. http://www.media.vw.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=10442. 
  16. ^ "Volkswagen Canada December 2008 and full-year 2008 sales". VW Press Release, Canadian Newswire, Jan. 5 2009. http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2009/05/c5215.html?view=print. 

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