Date: Sat, 30 Nov 2002 09:03:08 -0500
Reply-To: "G.M.Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "G.M.Bulley" <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Organization: Bulley-Hewlett
Subject: Re: New generation of vw busses (T5 photos)
In-Reply-To: <20021130063545.75473.qmail@web14507.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
VW is tuned in to the "mass market" channel again... I think it is
smart.
This van will get a VW van into LOTS of people's hands that wouldn't buy
any retro-hippy-van Bus redeux. It is attractive to exactly the market
segment that typically buys vans, and the multiple offerings (the truck,
window van, etc.) is brilliant. This could be a florist van, a Guido
van, a soccer-mom van, nearly anything that current US vans do.
Though it isn't the Microbus, it builds market share for a product
segment in which VW currently has zero presence; seriously, who the h*ll
has a Vanagon or a Eurovan compared to an Astro, Aerostar, ChevyVan,
etc.? Once VW has that market share, they can more credibly intro the
retro van because people trust their products in that segment. Same
thing they did with the Jetta/Golf during the 1980's/90's, then the
Beetle was a natural, and the mass market flocked because they trusted
VW's build of small mid-market modern cars.
For those diesel-heads in the crowd (count me), this platform *could*
make it possible to see the wider range of TDI motors here in the USA in
the Passat, Golf, Jetta, or Bettle. Since they would have to train the
dealer mechanics, and the parts would have to come over to service the
Van, the whole bevy of TDI options could appear stateside. That'd be
cool.
Bringing ideas to life,
G. Matthew Bulley
Bulley-Hewlett
www.bulley-hewlett.com
AIM = IExplain4u
+1.919.658.1278
"Fax mentis incendium gloria culpum"
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
Of H R
Sent: Saturday, November 30, 2002 1:36 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: New generation of vw busses (T5 photos)
Those vans look like Eurovans, but actually the new T5 is a totally
redesigned van.
As I read in a German Auto Zeitung:
With the new T5, Volkswagen returns to rear-wheel drive!!
For pricing reasons, VW decided with the fifth-generation Transporter to
return to rear-wheel drive, according to Auto Zeitung.
A 4-wheel drive version will also be available.
The new concept also has two drawbacks:
Those are reduced traction if the van is empty, and the additional
effort
in constructing to make space for the differential, driveshaft, and
transmission.
Also there will be some loss of interior space/height, and the max
carrying capacity, because of the new drivetrain.
Otherwise, the new drivetrain design will make it possible to have more
daring proportions and make the vehicle's appearance more attractive.
The T5 will have a classical short hood, which in the profile reminds
one
of a full-size American van.
With the new T5, according to Auto Zeitung, VW wants to expand the
availability of interesting models. There will be a pickup, a window
bus,
a double cab (doka), a ladder truck (pritschenwagen), and a box truck.
The unusually wide engine choices include 4 to 12 cylinder engines.
The lower end will probably be a 2 liter engine,
but the thirsty 2.4 liter inline 5 cylinder with 115 hp will be
replaced with a v-5 motor with up to 170 hp.
Harald
'90 westy
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