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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Concept Cars , Podcasts , Hybrids/Alternative , Minivans/MPVs , Trucks/Pickups , Crossovers/CUVs , Acura , Chevrolet , Dodge , Ford , GM , Suzuki , Volkswagen , India The Chicago Auto Show wasn't that eventful, but that's what we lead off Autoblog Podcast episode #87 with. The Challenger was the biggest deal, followed by the Denali XT , and then a bunch of inconsequential things. We did find ourselves talking about the Suzuki Equator and the Ford Transit Connect , too. We give you our first up close and personal impressions of the Challenger SRT-8 in this podcast. We also saw the VW Routan , which certainly doesn't conjure warm, fuzzy memories of Type IIs gone by. Chevy's Traverse calls into question the usefulness of Saturn's Outlook in the product lineup. Speaking of GM badge-engineering, we got word this week that Pontiac will not be getting a Trans Am companion to the Camaro, dang. Another disappointment is the rumor that Cerberus...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Minivans/MPVs , Volkswagen click above to view more high-res pics of the VW Routan Fumbling out of the "why bother" category here at the Chicago Auto Show is the 2009 Volkswagen Routan , which is their new minivan based on the Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Caravan platform. Oddly, Volkswagen opened up its presentation by showing pics and videos of its classic vehicles, such as the old Beetle and the old-style rear-engined vans. What's odd is that those classics share absolutely no heritage with the new Chrysler minivan-based Routan. Why conjure up favorable memories of the old VW van before letting us down with this new one? Moving on to better things, the new van does have a pretty attractive face, more attractive than the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country, at least. Standard features are many, including traction and stability controls, a 6-speed automatic transmission and Chrysler's 3.8L V6, though a 4.0L V6 producing...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Minivans/MPVs , Ford click above for a high-res gallery of the Ford Transit Connect Lots of businesses and even regular folk have a need for a vehicle with plenty of space inside to carry stuff that isn't necessarily incredibly heavy. For those applications, something like a full-size van is just overkill and results in higher than necessary operating costs. Over the years, Chevy, Dodge and Ford have all offered cargo van versions of their mini-vans for plumbers, caterers and anyone else that didn't need the extra two rows of seats but wanted more storage space. With the demise of the Windstar/Freestar in late 2006, and new, stricter fuel economy regulations on the horizon, Ford found a new solution in its European lineup. Several years ago it launched the Transit Connect, a smaller, tall roofed front-wheel-drive van. At 6'8" tall, the Transit Connect easily fits in a garage, but the low floor provides lots of room for racks of tools, parts...
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Filed under: Chicago Auto Show , Minivans/MPVs , Volkswagen Click above for high-res gallery of the Volkswagen Routan. var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/autos/Volkswagen_unveils_new_minivan_Snoozing_ensues'; Well, thanks to the German pub Autobild you can now see the collaborative efforts of Chrysler and Volkswagen in the form of the VW Routan. Unfortunately, the V-Dub van hardly harkens back to the time of the mini-bus, as everything between the A- and D-pillar is a dead ringer for the Chrysler/Dodge on which it's built. The new front fascia is attractive enough, with swooping headlamps, well-proportioned air dams and a chrome grille fitted with the VW logo, while the rear benefits from a similar tail lamp design as seen on the Touareg and Golf. Power comes courtesy of a 3.6-liter V6, with 197 hp and 230 lb.-ft. of torque routed through a six-speed automatic transmission. Buyers can upgrade what's under the hood with a 4.0-liter V6 producing 251 hp and 259 lb.-ft. of torque...
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