By Nina Russin
Vans for Work and Play
A new Volkswagen minivan called the Routan combines the automaker's “fun to drive” attitude with a configurable interior geared towards active lifestyles. Volkswagen is using its microbus heritage to appeal to boomers who want the practicality of a minivan, but not its soccer mom image.
“The Routan meets our (customer's) functional and emotional needs,” said Stephan Jacoby, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of North America. The van's Euro-style exterior and two rows of leather captain's chairs give it an upscale appearance, while features such as a rear seat entertainment system, touch screen navigation, power folding third-row seats and power tailgate appeal to urban commuters who play hard on the weekend.
The base model runs on a 197 horsepower V6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission. Buyers can upgrade to a four-liter V6 rated at 251 horsepower, with 259 foot-pounds of torque. Standard safety features include all-season tires, traction control and electronic stability program. Pricing begins under $25,000.
The Routan is part of the automaker's effort to move from a niche player to a major supplier here in the states. Volkswagen hopes to sell 800,000 cars a year in the United States by 2018.
Ford is bringing the Transit Connect, a small commercial van currently sold in Europe stateside. First introduced in 2003, the Transit Connect has the ride and handling of a passenger car, but enough cargo space to move goods for small businesses. With a 6'8” clearance height, it fits in a parking garage, and the wheelbase is small enough to fit into the average parking spot.
Sliding doors on both sides, and rear doors that open 270 degrees on the XLT model make the car exceptionally easy to load and unload. To demonstrate, Ford invited My Chef Catering of Naperville, Illinois, a wine distributor, and blues musician Eddie Shaw to load up models and bring them onto the convention floor. The My Chef was able to load in enough food to feed a pack of several hundred journalists, while Eddie Shaw, brought in his band, the Wolf Gang, and all of their gear.
Fuel economy averages 22 miles per gallon for city and highway driving.
Suzuki Mid-sized Pickup
Suzuki is shifting gears from small cars to mid-sized trucks, hoping to attract motorcycle and ATV owners who need vehicles to haul their toys. The production four-wheel drive Equator rolls out this fall. In the meantime, Suzuki unveiled three concepts: the Equator RMZ, Equator Quad, and Equator Quay.
The Equator RMZ is a high-performance desert-runner with a custom-built bike mount and off-road lighting package. The Equator Quad is a cross-country vehicle with an optional long bed for ATVs or motorcycles, safari-style front bumpers and all-terrain tires. The Equator Quay has a 6500 pound towing capacity for hauling boats, navigation system, and Windows media input.
“The Equator is a truck entry to support the Suzuki way of life,” said Gene Brown, vice-president of marketing and public relations for Suzuki North America. “In the United States, Suzuki has an eighty percent brand awareness for its motorcycles.” The Equator is a response to the opportunity dealers see for outfitting Suzuki motorcycle owners with four-by-four pickups.
Pet-friendly Cars
Volvo, a company known for its innovative safety engineering, is partnering with Bark Buckle UP: a San Diego based educational initiative that promotes pet safety in cars. Spokesperson Christina Seltzer explained that it's important to properly restrain animals in cars to prevent secondary accidents after a collision.
“EMTs were telling us that one of their biggest problems is dogs jumping out of vehicles after a collision,” she said. The dogs run into traffic where they may be hit, causing a second accident, and often causing more injury to themselves. In addition, a frightened dog may attack strangers, including EMTs who are trying to help the accident victims.
Many states, including California, will cite drivers who have unrestrained animals in the car. In an accident, an unrestrained animal can injure other passengers. A sixty pound dog can cause an impact of 1200 pounds. Bark Buckle UP recommends using a carrier for smaller dogs and cats, and a kennel or crate for larger dogs.
The Volvo 240 wagon was the first car with an integrated dog cage. The current XC90 sport-utility vehicle has crates that integrate into the cargo area to hold logs in place. For more information on pet safety, log onto www.BarkBuckleUP.com.
Ultimate Sport-utility Vehicle
Class eight trucks aren't typically described as lifestyle vehicles, but that may change, thanks to the new Lonestar from Navistar International. The manufacturer that produced the first school bus and one of the first sport-utility vehicles, the International Scout, unveiled a class eight tractor that's a living room on wheels.
The Lonestar tractor runs on a new diesel engine for maximum fuel efficiency. Navistar is offering forty-two factory accessories, so the truck driver can customize his cab, much as a biker customizes his Harley.
The average truck driver puts about 100,000 miles per year on his rig: it's a home away from home. The Lonestar has a cockpit reminiscent of a Lexus, with cushy leather upholstery and steering wheel mounted controls. In back, the galley area has a couch, television, refrigerator option, sleeper berth and wood floor.
Game day
Bridgestone, the official tire of the NFL, wrapped up media days with an appearance by Tennessee Titan, Eddie George, and the introduction of two new Potenza high-performance tires.
Bridgestone collaborated with Eddie George on two Eddie George Experience projects: Tour de Nash- a competitive walk and ride across his home town of Nashville, Tennessee, and a weight loss program for NFL moms.
The Chicago Auto show celebrates its hundredth anniversary this year, occupying 1.3 million square feet at the McCormick Place convention center. The show opens to the public on Saturday February 10 and runs through February 17. Show hours are 10 a.m. till 10 p.m. daily through February 16, and 10 a.m. till 8 p.m. on the 17th: admission is ten dollars for adults, five dollars for kids 7-12 and seniors 62 and older. Kids six and under get in free.
For more information, log onto http://www.chicagoautoshow.com.
