Volkswagen of America's President and CEO Stefan Jacoby announced that the Windy City was an appropriate place for the 2009 VW Routan debut as there is a "fresh wind" at VW. Perhaps "winds of change" may have been a more appropriate translation.
Either way, with "Come and Get Your Love" playing in the background, Jacoby and Volkswagen R&D Chief Ulrich Hackenburg posed happily for a photo op with their, er, Chrysler's baby, the Routan minivan.
We say Chrysler's baby, because underneath its shiny VW sheet metal, the Routan is really a Dodge Caravan without the benefit of Chrysler's handy Stow 'n Go seat option... What it does have, however, is a more Euro-style exterior.
VW's new tagline says, "Prepare to Get Happy." We'd have been happier with a real VW. -- Kelly Toepke, News Editor
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Didn't Routan fight Godzilla at some point?
Remember when they had that really cool VW Microbus concept making the rounds? When the New Beetle was all the rage? So they scrapped that, brought out the Phaeton and now this Chrysler minivan. People who want minivans want all the conveniences; Chrysler's 'stow an' go' is great. Why pick the VW over the Chrysler?
What they need to do:
Bring in a great quality subcompact to go against cars like the Fit. Something like the Lupo/Polo or whatever it is that they are pushing in Europe.
Really improve the quality of the Rabbit/Golf.
Really improve the quality of the Jetta.
Forget about the expensive versions of the Passat, the new 4 door coupe (just buy an Audi), the Tourag.
Do NOT make a pick up. Do not (according to rumours) bring back the Phaeton.
Improve the dealer service experience.
Go back to being the People's Car.
Routan....hahahahahahahaha...hahahaha...
Routan, Touareg, Tiguan, and Rabbit? OK, one out of four I understand, what the heck is wrong with VW's marketing people?
I was extremely disappointed when news of VW rebadging a Chrysler surfaced, now it's starting to make a lot of sense to me. Caravelle would cost too much to import and likely would not appeal to US buyers as much as the Routan will.
Hopefully VW adds a micro van like the Space UP! to it's line-up slotted below the Routan.
Check out the Kombi "50 Years" site.
http://www.vw.com.br/kombi50anos/
Kombi is VW's "real" van.
Some how, this is the best looking of the trio. But where is VW's German reputation? Can VW finally get serious in North America?
Bring back the Microbus concept.
Get the Dodge - it has the lifetime powertrain warranty.
VW could have at least used their VR6 or 4Motion, something different.
The front end is nicer than the other two but there really doesn't seem to be a whole lot of difference. Not to mention the VW will most likely cost more than the Dodge and Chrysler. It makes sense that VW would do a rebadge instead of a more expensive all new design in a vehicle segment that seems to be shrinking every year.
I'm thinking, Honda would have made a better partner here. Either way this is not a real volkwagon. Hopefully, it was the right gamble. But, I've seen new Chryslers and Dodges out there and they're pretty forgettable.