#VolkswagenRoutan

Volkswagen has announced changes heading to its 2015 model lineup.

A lot went down in 2013. It was something of a banner year for the automotive business. Products continued to get better, sales steadily improved and alternative propulsion, whether in the form of electricity or diesel gained significant traction.

The Volkswagen Routan, which is built by Chrysler, will have its production restarted in 2013 despite earlier reports that the minivan is being axed.

Congratulations are in order for Volkswagen. The Routan has just earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick award, making it the ninth Volkswagen vehicle to receive this rating. This also means that Volkswagen has received the highest number of IIHS awards for vehicle safety.

Soccer moms sometimes get a raw deal because of the vehicle of choice. But it’s not like they have much of a choice – a minivan is the best-equipped vehicle to haul their aspiring David Beckhams to games and practices. It’s time to stop mocking the soccer mom, and automakers are setting out to make the minivan cool… but will moms jump on the minivan band wagon?

Volkswagen is recalling its Routan minivan for a wiring defect that could lead to a short circuit and a possible fire.

According to the company, the wiring harness was improperly routed, leading to the possibility of the harness insulation being worn down by repeated contact with the sliding door mechanism. Volkswagen will fix the problem under warranty, and vehicles made from June 1, 2008 to July 30, 2009, are affected.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Hit the jump to see the official press release

Volkswagen‘s compact Touran Minivan (not to be confused with the Routan sold here in North America) has just been launched in its newest incarnation, and the range is being led by a 1.6L BlueMotion diesel that makes 105 horsepower returns a very impressive 51.3 miles per gallon. Also interesting is the tiny 1.2L 4-cylinder gas engine that puts out a respectable 102 horsepower thanks to Volkswagen’s direct injection system, and a small supercharger attached to the engine.

The Touran is based on the Golf, making it a bit small for North American tastes, but perfect for Europe and Asia, where high fuel prices and tight spaces mean that a car like a Dodge Caravan is totally unsuitable, and a smaller footprint is required (Honda even sells a completely different Odyssey in other markets for this reason). If the Ford Focus C-Max is a hit in North America, the Touran might make it over to our shores, but with Chevrolet recently killing the Orlando for the United States (but not Canada), don’t count on it.

Hit the jump to read the press release

Gallery: Volkswagen Touran

[Source: The Truth About Cars]