For an even better description of some of these vehicles, without the somtimes awkward Dutch to English translation, visit http://www.volkswagen.com.au/LifeTour/default.asp. The 4-Motion would be of particular interest to us syncro owners; for the front/rear power transfer it utilizes a Haldex clutch, this being the current technology performing the function handled by the viscous coupling in the syncro. The European and Australia/New Zealand are getting these vehicles for the simple reason that they buy them. Americans, with our relatively inexpensive gasoline (yes, that's right, it's still cheap by world standards), still subscribe to the "bigger-is-better" philosophy, thus the "houses" on wheels you see everywhere. Consequently, you're unlikey to see such modest vehicles as these VW vans offered in the U.S. Maybe when gasoline costs $5-6 per gallon, and the big rigs become as extinct as the dinosaurs, these vans will have a market here. I'm not advocating more- expensive gas, believe me, I'm just offering an opinion as to why the vans many of us admire so much are not available in the U.S. |
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