VW Routan Minivan (by Chrysler)

[rickaren]

To fill the people-mover void in its lineup, Volkswagen will add a minivan sourced from Chrysler. The VW Routan is basically a Chrysler Town & Country/Dodge Grand Caravan clone wearing unique Volkswagen design treatments in front and back.

For the interior, the Routan does not get Chrysler's heralded Sto ‘N Go seating, but instead will equip all Routans with second-row captain’s chairs. Available features include a rear-seat entertainment system with two nine-inch screens, navigation system, power liftgate and dual power sliding doors.

Two engines are offered--a standard 3.8-liter V6 with 197 hp and 230 lb-ft of torque, or an optional 4.0-liter V6 with 251 hp and 259 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard on both engines. Traction and stability control are included as standard features.

Suspension tuning was done by Volkswagen in Germany. Traction and stability control are among the standard safety features.

Official price information has not been released, but Volkswagen says the Routan will start at less than $25,000 and be sold exclusively in North America.

LINK w/ picture
VW turns to Chrysler for minivan fix - AutoWeek Magazine