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Volkswagen's Next Van Could Preview Future Product For United States
by
Derek Kreindler
(IC: employee)
Published: March 20th, 2015
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Well, this ought to erase memories of the Routan.
Hot on the heels of news that VW may bring a van or a pickup to America comes a preview for their new van, dubbed the T6. Ubiquitous in world markets, the VW vans don’t follow the traditional American minivan formula, but are available in endless configurations for personal or commercial use. With the rise of the Ram ProMaster, Ford Transit and Mercedes Metris, perhaps there’s a case to be made for European-style vans from VW?
Derek Kreindler
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Published March 20th, 2015 1:08 PM
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Wow, a featureless box with preposterously oversized wheels. Who is the customer for this?
Where's the 3-row crossover? Where's the significantly refreshed Jetta? Where's the retro-inspired Microbus? No, let's keep talking up the Phaeton, niche pickups that are in high demand (on Craigslist in 8 years with 80k miles), and whatever the hell this is. Let's give that low-margin urban cargo/passenger van market a run for its money! And let's do it with Volkswagen, a brand renowned for its stout build construction, high-mileage 24/7 dependability, and impeccable dealer service. Whatever. Just keep pumpin'-and-dumpin' Jetta SE leases. I like being able to (in all likelihood) carry similar margins to a new VW store selling VW Credit turn-ins.
Lots of nostalgia here. Just put an engine in it that will go up a hill at the posted speed limit. That's all I ask.
It's a pity VW can't import some to test the waters. The inability to put a vehicle that attracts the chicken tax in the US makes it hard for manufacturers. If the market was big enough VW would know and they then could build a plant to manufacture them. Maybe they can do as Ford had done with the Transit Connects and risk fines for circumventing the Chicken Tax. Well, I hope there is a big enough market for the VW vans and the Amarok.