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Archive for April, 2010

The 2009 Volkswagen Routan is this maker’s first US minivan offering in six years. Co-developed with Chrysler, Routan shares its basic design and powertrains with the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan. The Routan is available in three trim levels: S, SE, and top-line SEL. Standard on S and SE is a 197-hp 3.8-liter V6; a 253-hp 4.0-liter V6 is standard on SEL.

Both engines pair with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, and curtain side airbags. Leather upholstery with heated front seats is standard on the SEL and optional on the SE.

Also available are a navigation system, DVD entertainment, and a version of Chrysler’s uconnect multimedia system called JoyBox, which has a 30-gigabyte hard drive for storing digital music and picture files.

The 2010 Volkswagen Routan is largely unchanged following its introduction for the 2009 model year. Co-developed with Chrysler, Routan shares its basic design and powertrains with the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan. The Routan is available in S, SE, SEL, and SEL Premium trim levels. Standard on S and SE is a 197-horsepower 3.8-liter V6. A 253-horsepower 4.0-liter V6 is standard on SEL and SEL Premium. Both engines pair with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, and curtain-side airbags. A navigation system is standard on SEL and available on SE. DVD entertainment is available on SE and SEL and standard on SEL Premium.

Note that Routan SE and SEL models equipped with navigation and/or DVD entertainment systems are priced as separate models. SE with DVD and SEL models offer a version of Chrysler’s Uconnect multimedia system called JoyBox, which has a 30-gigabyte hard drive for storing digital music and picture files.

The 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit is largely unchanged. This compact hatchback is front-wheel drive and shares its basic design with VW’s Jetta sedan. It’s available with 2 or 4 doors in a single S trim level. The sole engine is a 170-hp 2.5-liter 5-cylinder. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard on 2-door versions. Optional on that body style and standard on 4-door Rabbits is a 6-speed automatic. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags. Rear side airbags are optional on 4-door models. Heated front seats are standard on the 4-door Rabbit and optional on the 2 door.

The 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit continues a long design tradition of two-box functionality in three- or five-door hatchback body styles characterized by a thick, windowless C-pillar. Add emerging VW cues like a bold chrome-accented grille, drooping eyelet headlamps, circular clear-lens tail lamps with red reflective trapezoidal surrounds, and creased body sides, and the 2009 Volkswagen Rabbit gets an uncharacteristic dose of flair. Our spy illustrations show handsome multi-spoke brushed aluminum wheels with distinct Audi flavor, likely sized 16 inches on standard Rabbit 2.5 models and up to 19 inches on the sporty Rabbit GTI.

Since this is a refresh and not a complete redesign, we expect the current Rabbit’s engine lineup to carry over. For America, this means a standard 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine making 150 horsepower, an available TDI turbodiesel capable of getting about 45 mpg on the highway, and a fun turbocharged 2.0-liter good for 200 ponies and a fat wad of torque across a wide rev range. That engine goes into the performance-oriented GTI model, which is expected to continue in three- and five-door format.

The 2009 Volkswagen Passat is no longer offered with a manual transmission, a V6 engine, or all-wheel drive. This front-wheel-drive midsize car comes as a sedan or wagon in a single Komfort trim level. The sole powertrain teams a turbocharged 200-hp 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The VR6 model, which had a V6 engine and available AWD, has been discontinued. Available safety equipment includes ABS, traction control, an antiskid system, front side airbags, rear side airbags, and curtain side airbags. A navigation system is optional, and it includes a hard drive for storing digital music files.

The 2009 Passat is a stylish midsize Sedan offering a finely honed balance of comfort, functionality, and Autobahn-honed vehicle dynamics. Inside and out, the sedan is recognized as being as sophisticated and highly crafted. The sedan and wagon are exceedingly well equipped and offer a full serving of standard equipment.

Under the hood the Passat sedan has Volkswagen’s sophisticated 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that is both efficient and sporty. At 5100 rpm, the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers 200 horsepower. Torque peaks at 207 lbs.-ft. between 1800 and 5000 rpm. With a standard six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic and a final drive ratio of 3.50, zero-to-60 miles per hour is achieved in a very respectable 7.4 seconds. An advanced direct-injection delivery system ensures optimum fuel consumption.

The 2010 Volkswagen Passat gets slightly freshened styling. This front-wheel-drive midsize car comes as a sedan or wagon in a single Komfort trim level. The sole engine offering is a 200-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. The only transmission available is a 6-speed dual-clutch automated manual that behaves much like an automatic. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, an antiskid system, front-side airbags, rear-side airbags, and curtain-side airbags. A navigation system is optional, and it includes a hard drive for storing digital music files.

The Volkswagen Passat CC R-Line comes with a 17-inch R-Line “Mallory” alloy wheels with 235/45 tyres lend a sporty touch to the Passat CC R-Line. The front spoiler and side skirts, each painted in body colour, were also re-styled. In addition, R-Line logos embellish the front side sections.

The Volkswagen Passat CC R-Line interior features include details like four customised tread plates in aluminium and a three-spoke leather-trimmed steering wheel with multifunction keys. The R-Line package has front fog lights and the Park Pilot system.

The R-Line package is available with all Passat CC engines. Prices start at 2,200 Euros for the Passat CC 2.0 TDI (140 PS / 103 kW) with a 6-speed gearbox.

The 2010 Volkswagen New Beetle lineup gains a special-edition trim level for what will likely be its final model year in its current design. This 4-passenger, retro-styled car comes as a 2-door convertible or hatchback (see separate report) in Base and new Final Edition trim levels. The only engine and transmission combination available for the convertible is a 150-horsepower 2.5-liter 5-cylinder paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, and front-side airbags. Convertibles have rollover bars that deploy if sensors detect an imminent tip. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are standard on all.

The Base model offers 17-inch wheels as optional equipment. The New Beetle Final Edition comes with 17-inch wheels, and specific paint, interior, and exterior trim.

The 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle is largely unchanged. This four-passenger, retro-styled car comes as a 2-door hatchback or convertible. Both body styles come in S trim. Blush is a new uplevel trim for the convertible. The only engine is a 150-hp 2.5-liter 5-cylinder.

Manual or automatic transmission is available on the hatchback; the convertible is automatic only. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, and front side airbags.

Convertibles have a power soft top and rollover bars that deploy if sensors detect an imminent tip. Heated front seats are newly standard. A sunroof is optional on the hatchback. Blush models have standard leather upholstery and 17-inch wheels.