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We’ve already reported that Volkswagen has plans to become the world’s largest automaker by 2018. To help it achieve that goal, the German giant is revamping its U.S. lineup. We hear that the Phaeton will be making a comeback and there will be a new midsize sedan specifically for the U.S., but it’s uncertain if the Routan minivan will remain.
“No decisions have been made regarding the Routan,” VW spokesperson Jill Bratina told Dow Jones Newswire. She said the minivan segment had been “significantly impacted by the economic downturn and has not fully recovered.”
Despite uncertainty and slow sales, there is hope for fans of quasi-German minivans. Bratina said the Routan’s market share has remained a steady 4 percent during the downturn. She added that the company sees potential to increase the Routan’s market share as awareness of the vehicle increases.
Although it wears a VW badge, the Routan is produced by Chrysler alongside the Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans. The Routan was one of the final projects of former CEO Wolfgang Bernhard, who also pulled the plug on North American sales of the VW Phaeton. Current CEO Martin Winterkorn is trying to bring the luxury car back, arguing the decision to remove the Phaeton from the U.S. lineup was “short-winded,” and that “to establish a newcomer in the luxury segment you need more patience.”
What do you think? Is it a good decision let the Routan wither and revive the Phaeton? Let us know in the comments below.
Source: Wall Street Journal
I leased a 2005 V8 Phaeton. When the lease ended, I missed the car so much that I found a very low mileage 2006 W12. It is simply one of the best cars on the road that hardly anyone knows about. Although it shares very little with the Audi A8, it is essentially a tuned down Bentley. I get asked about the car almost daily. I would buy another one without hesitation.
I’ve always sort of liked the Phaeton, even though it was entirely out of my price range. It was a hansome car. A full sized luxury VW should be priced like a mid-sized BMW, Audi, or Mercedes. In reality , people do pay extra for those brands just to have those brands. VW, I love you but you’re not one of those brands.The Routan—terrible. Actually, an insult to our intelligence. An overpriced Town and Country was better for us than an over-priced new microbus?
The Routan should go away and be replaced with a real VW van. Minivans sell well when they are engineered well (As the new Sienna proves).The Phaeton is an interesting story, however, since it provides the bones for the Audi A8 and the Bentley Continentals. Interesting that a $100,000 VW doesn’t fly with a VW badge, but it does with different badges. The Phaeton probably needs a complete restyling and a new name to work here. Before brining back the Phaeton, however, VW should warm us up to the idea of a $100K VW with a knock-out $35K car like the Genesis first.
Agreed with tirefriar. Let the Routan go away and, if they really really want, bring back the real VW van. But please, don’t bring back the Phaeton. Uninspired and entirely unnecessary. If I want a $100,000 car, I might as get a luxury brand car and get that extra panache.
this routan should go away. its a chrysler, for petes sake. it’d be rather great to see a vw original design. if i wanted a chrysler mini van then i’d be going to a chrysler dealer.