Usually I ding manufacturers for switching to stupid alphanumeric model names at the expense of memorable word names (Legend became the RL? Seville became the STS? What happened to the Continental?). But Volkswagen is doing their best to make anonymous letter/number combinations look more appealing by choosing the most unpronounceable names they can find/devise. First, we had the Touareg ("twa-reg"), which is embarrassing no matter how you say it (especially to the eponymous semi-nomadic tribe who didn't get a dime from the deal). Then VW unleashed the Tiguan ("tig-wan"), a cute-ute (their tails are made of rubber, their backs are made of springs). Yesterday, VW attempted to top both of those– and the Nissan Qashqai (don't ask me)– by calling their rebadged and slightly reworked Chrysler minivan the Routan. Route-tan? Rootin'? With apologies to Sid and Nancy, I'm going with "Rowten." Or not, as the case may be.
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It sounds like a mutant monster from a 1950’s-era Japanese science fiction movie.
Sounds too sinister for a van this cute. At least they’re not calling it a Microbus.
quasimondo
Sounds too sinister for a van this cute. At least they’re not calling it a Microbus.
The van in the picture is the VW Microbus (yes, Microbus) concept from a few years back. The Routan will be based on the Chrysler minivan, but is supposed to have totally different sheetmetal and interior. We tried to find a picture of it but couldn’t locate one.
I don’t get it. The Sex Pistols’ lead singer was Johnny Rotten, not Sid Vicious.
Ugh. A badge engineered VW… From Chrysler no less. Why not bring the Touran here? Zzzzz.
VWoA makes it harder and harder to be a brand apologist with each passing day.
Routan? Makes about as much sense as Vanagon.
Given that so many of VW’s names come from winds (Golf, Jetta, etc.) and the fact that the new van will have Chrysler DNA, perhaps they should just call it the VW Fart.
My vote on TTAC lamest caption title . A bit less cutsey name play and bit more on actual facts about the vehicle please.
don’t forget the ridiculously named Touran as well. And the Golf Plus. It’s like… PLUS!
I’m still trying to figure out how VW is still in business, but then at least a few people bought the last Studebakers and there are still a few folks handing over their hard-earned cash to their local Dodge dealer.
To this day, my juvenile brother-in-law yells “here comes a Scirocco” when he passes gas. It was sort of funny when they still made the car…but alas saying “Corrado” never cut the mustard when cutting the cheese.
what a cool lookin van. I want one.
Cars don’t get much more ugly than that!
Hey, they could call it “Fahrt” which is the German verb that means “drive.”
Maybe a Neil Young inspired musical ad?
“The King is gone, but he’s not forgotten/
This is the story of Johnny Routan…”
People wanted the Microbus, but I have not ever heard a request for a reworked chrysler. Oh well.
Such a shame. They could be the Apple of the automotive world, but they seem intent to be Saturn instead.
It’s their revenge for our defeating Germany in the World Wars.
Sounds like it was named after a private-space-industry pioneer.
Funny, my first thought was Rutan, the aircraft designer, so I wondered if it would have a canard wing.
There’s been a slew of shitty car names lately. One of my favorites; the Kia Borrego. I heard that it was called the Mohave in Korea. What’s wrong with Mohave aside from correct spelling? I hate these car names that only Californians can “get”.
Dam you VW you should have produced the Microbus!!!!!!!!
Instead you give us a Chrysler, (ugh) I don’t see how this is going to help VW reputation!!
BTW, VW mini van is what a decade too late.
My hope is Porsche will make some changes to VW product planning. The Passat Coupe looks great well like a VW “Mercedes”
but nethertheless they should equip it with only a 300hp DFI V6, DSG, and Torsen AWD not that “poser” Haldex crap.