Volkswagen Routan

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Not to be confused with Volkswagen Touran.
Volkswagen Routan
Overview
Manufacturer Chrysler Group LLC
Production 2008–2012[1][2]
Model years 2009–2012 (fleet only in 2013)
Assembly Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Body and chassis
Class Minivan
Body style 4-door minivan
Layout FF layout
Platform Chrysler RT platform
Related Chrysler Town & Country
Dodge Grand Caravan
Powertrain
Engine 3.6 L Pentastar V6 (2011-2012)
3.8 L EGH V6
4.0 L EGQ V6
Transmission 62TE 6-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase 121.2 in (3,078 mm)
Length 202.5 in (5,144 mm)
Width 76.9 in (1,953 mm)
Height 68.9 in (1,750 mm)
Chronology
Predecessor Volkswagen Eurovan

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.[3][4][5]

Manufactured alongside the Chrysler and Dodge 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.[6] The Routan's minivan variants include the Dodge Caravan, Ram C/V, Chrysler Town & Country, and Chrysler Grand Voyager (export) — that by 2009 have ranked as the 13th bestselling automotive nameplate worldwide, with over 12 million sold.[7] The Routan's design, styling, and features are very similar to its mechanical twins from Chrysler and Dodge.

Production of the Routan was halted in 2012 due to high inventory levels, and Volkswagen announced the 2013 model year would be reserved for rental car companies and other fleets.[8]

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. The automaker's intent with outsourcing production the Routan to Chrysler was to avoid the signifiant expense of developing its own family-sized minvan.[9]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.[10] The Routan was 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.[11]

As with the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country, 2009 Routan models were recalled in June 2010 for a fire hazard stemming from an improperly routed wire harness.[12]

In 2012, Volkswagen halted production of the Routan at Chrysler's Windsor, Ontario, plant, despite having a production contract that ran through 2014. In January, 2013, Volkswagen announced there would be no 2013 retail model, but held open the possibility that development may resume with a potential 2014 model. The 2013 Routan was reserved for fleet purchasers, and 2,500 were produced by Chrysler during the calendar year.[13]

Automotive industry analysts were not surprised by VW's decision to drop the Routan because buyers had no reason for selecting the Routan over the similar Dodge Grand Caravan or the Chrysler Town & Country, and the Routan's base price of nearly $28,000 was far more than the basic $21,000 Grand Caravan, while the Routan's list of equipment was less than included on the upscale Town & Country.[8]

Features

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, but can be modified to have Stow'n Go or have Swivel'n Go seats installed. Routans as of 2010 offer optional Wi-Fi access, which was also offered in Dodge and Chrysler versions as UConnect Web.

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 (See Ultradrive#62TE).

For 2011, the Routan is available with a new engine from Chrysler, the 3.6 L V6 producing 283 hp (211 kW) and 260 lb·ft (353 N·m) mated to a six-speed automatic from Chrysler.

Displacement
(L)		 Type Valves Power
(HP)		 Torque
(lb-ft)		 HP/Torque
Rated RPM		 Compression
Ratio		 Fuel Economy
(MPG)		 Years
3.6 DOHC 24 283 260 6,350/4,400 10.0:1 17/25 2011–2012
3.8 OHV 12 197 230 5,200/4,000 9.6:1 16/23 2008–2011
4.0 SOHC 24 251 259 6,000/4,100 10.2:1 17/25 2008–2011

Markets

United States

VW of America had projected for the Routan to gain at least five percent of the US minivan market,[14] or 45,000 units of the 700,000 minivans sold currently. In January 2009, VW of America asked Chrysler Canada to stop production of the Routan for the month of February after 29,000 Routans had been shipped to US dealerships. By July 2009, 11,677 units had been sold.[15]

Trims

Trim Engine production
S 3.8L V6 Red XN
SE 3.8L V6 Red XN
SEL 4.0L V6 Red XN
SEL Premium 4.0L V6 Red XN
S 3.6L V6 Red XN
SE 3.6L V6 Red XN
SEL 3.6L V6 Red XN
SEL Premium 3.6L V6 Red XN

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[6] 789[16] 1,324[17] 899[18] 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[19] 503[20] 1,029[21] 2,606[22] 1,390[23] 2,099[24] 1,350[25] 2,098[26] 901[27] 669[28] 540[29] 833[30] 14,681

Mexico

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

Trims

Trim Engine
Prestige 3.8L V6
Exclusive 3.8L V6

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.[31]

Trims

Trim Engine production
Trendline, S 4.0L V6 Red XN
Comfortline, SE 4.0L V6 Red XN
Highline, SE w/ RSE 4.0L V6 Red XN
Execline, SEL 4.0L V6 Red XN
Trendline 3.6L V6 Red XN
Comfortline 3.6L V6 Red XN
Highline 3.6L V6 Red XN

Replacement

At the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, Volkswagen revealed the Volkswagen Crossblue Concept SUV. The automaker is considering a seven-passenger SUV based on the show car as a replacement for the Routan.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Routan Customer Announcement" (Press release). January 4, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2013. 
  2. ↑ Nelson, Gabriel (December 17, 2012). "VW says it will resume Routan production in 2013". Automotive News. Retrieved December 23, 2012. 
  3. ↑ Korzeniewski, Jeremy (February 6, 2008). "Chicago 2008: Volkswagen unveils the newish Routan minivan". Autoblog.com. Retrieved January 28, 2014. 
  4. ↑ Nagy, Bob (November 2008). "2009 Volkswagen Routan". Motor Trend. Retrieved January 28, 2014. 
  5. ↑ Bailey, Shaun (February 7, 2008). "2009 Volkswagen RoutanA price-conscious decision over the less practical Touareg". Road and Track. Retrieved January 28, 2014. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Volkswagen Reports September 2008 Sales" (Press release). Volkswagen. October 1, 2008. 
  7. ↑ Stern, Daniel (2009). "25th Anniversary of the Chrysler Minivan at the Windsor Assembly Plant". allparcom. Retrieved 28 January 2014. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "2013 VW Routan Canceled". autotrader. Retrieved 28 January 2014. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Healey, James R. (September 23, 2013). "VW axes Routan van, mulls 7-passenger SUV replacement". USA Today. Retrieved January 28, 2014. 
  10. ↑ "VW Plans to Triple U.S. Vehicle Sales". Car & Driver. September 2007. Retrieved 2009-01-05. 
  11. ↑ Vander Doelen, Chris (2008-01-22). "VW's Routan to roll off Windsor Assembly". Windsor Star. Retrieved 2009-01-05. 
  12. ↑ Kleis, Mark (June 11, 2010). "Volkswagen Routan added to recall list over fire risk". Leftlanenews.com. 
  13. ↑ "Chrysler Group LLC December 2013 Production Data". Chrysler Group LLC. January 17, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2014. 
  14. ↑ Boyce, Christopher (2/07/2008). "Chrysler-built Routan has VW look". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 
  15. ↑ Paukert, Chris (January 30, 2009). "Routan Bust? VW asks Chrysler to stop building minivans for February". Autoblog.com. 
  16. ↑ "Volkswagen Reports October 2008 Sales" (Press release). Volkswagen. November 3, 2008. 
  17. ↑ "Volkswagen Reports November 2008 Sales" (Press release). Volkswagen. December 2, 2008. 
  18. ↑ "Volkswagen Reports December 2008 Sales" (Press release). Volkswagen. January 5, 2009. 
  19. ↑ "Volkswagen Reports January 2009 Sales" (Press release). Volkswagen. February 3, 2009. 
  20. ↑ "Volkswagen Reports February 2009 Sales" (Press release). Volkswagen. March 3, 2009. 
  21. ↑ "Volkswagen Reports March 2009 Sales" (Press release). Volkswagen. April 1, 2009. 
  22. ↑ "Volkswagen Reports April 2009 Sales" (Press release). Volkswagen. May 1, 2009. 
  23. ↑ "Volkswagen Reports May 2009 Sales" (Press release). Volkswagen. June 2, 2009. 
  24. ↑ "Volkswagen Reports June 2009 Sales" (Press release). Volkswagen. July 1, 2009. 
  25. ↑ "Volkswagen Reports Jul 2009 Sales" (Press release). Volkswagen. Aug 3, 2009. 
  26. ↑ "Volkswagen Reports Aug 2009 Sales" (Press release). Volkswagen. Sep 1, 2009. 
  27. ↑ "Volkswagen Announces September Sales Totals" (Press release). Volkswagen. Oct 1, 2009. 
  28. ↑ "Volkswagen of America Announces October Sales" (Press release). Volkswagen. Nov 3, 2009. 
  29. ↑ "Volkswagen of America Announces November Sales" (Press release). Volkswagen. Dec 1, 2009. 
  30. ↑ "Volkswagen of America Announces December Sales" (Press release). Volkswagen. Jan 5, 2010. 
  31. ↑ "Volkswagen Canada December 2008 and full-year 2008 sales" (Press release). Volkswagen via Canadian Newswire. January 5, 2009. 

External links

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