Auto Channel

Volkswagen is stepping up efforts to create a larger market share in the United States, we have already heard they are considering bringing the Polo over, now the German manufacturer has announced an all new minivan which will be named Routan will debut at the Chicago Motor Show next month.

Routan is a name that indicates a bond between America and Volkswagen, just in case that bond doesn't strike you straight away, here is the explanation. The first part of the word is taken from the English word “route” with the end coming from “an” which we see at the end of VW's European vans – Touran and Sharan.

The Routan is a joint development with Chrysler LLC and will be over 5 metres in length seating up to 7 people. We expect it to be based on the same platform as the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan, with power likely to come from Chrysler's 4.0-liter V-6 and possibly the 3.8-liter V-6.

Production will commence this summer at Chrysler's Canadian factory in Ontario with the first models to hit dealers in the fall.