V-Dub's vans may be missing Swivel 'n Go
When two manufacturers share the development costs of a vehicle, you'd expect each to benefit from some of the more talked about features. This won't be the case when Volkswagen releases its Chrysler group-engineered minivan in 2008.
The killer app of the new Chrysler Town & Country is its "Stow 'n Go" seating and highly publicized "Swivel 'n Go" second-row captain's chairs. But VW's van won't be getting either one, according to Frank Klegon, the executive president of product development over at Chrysler. To quote the man, "I think you will see that it remains exclusive to us."
Since both vehicles will likely share a similar price point, we'd expect that the only thing that may sway buyers towards the VW would be its totally unshared sheet metal and its "People's Car" heritage.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Piter 9:48AM (1/15/2007)
Why would you think that DC and VW versions would share the same price point?
Most of DC sales are the bargin basement end of the spectrum.. Honda and Toyota basically own the upper tier of the market. The VW version will be competing with the Hondas and Toyotas; they're not interesting in being a mass market minivan seller. Stow and swivel is a gimmick that has less influence in people looking at high-end minivans.
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JC 10:19AM (1/15/2007)
As someone who has researched high end minivans, I can tell you that Stow and Go is an INCREDIBLY valuable feature. The reason the Honda Odyssey does so well is because it's rear seats can fold flat. After the 2001 Honda came out, all the other manufacturers (Chrysler included) scrambled to get fold flat seats into their minivan. The convenience factor is so great that my guess is the VW will be crippled by a lack of fold flat rear seats.
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ramsport47 10:46AM (1/15/2007)
I think #1 doesn't really follow the minivan market...Chrysler and Dodge own the whole minivan market..Including the high end. I don't know about his part of the country, but Town and Country Limiteds and Grand Caravan high ends are everywhere here in Cleveland
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Mike from Scarborough 11:11AM (1/15/2007)
Honda and Toyota upper end of minivans??Don't think so, the Town and country has way better interior materials than either of the 2.The Current "High end" minivan is the original Minivan the VW Eurovan wich is aboot 6 gees more than the others.I don't know were people come out with their information,but the reason VW wants in, is because they would like to sell affordable Minivans in numbers again IE:like Chrysler,Toyota,Honda.
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MCS05 11:09AM (1/15/2007)
I am not sure I follow #1's comment. Why wouldn't a high end van purchaser like features that make the vehicle easier to use and more functional? Why pay more and get less?
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Braden 11:01AM (1/15/2007)
ramsport47 (#3) ++
I too am in cleveland... so maybe that skews data some?
but the Town & Country is basically a luxury minivan. For those who don't want the high center of gravity that a Lexus RX entails, the TC is just as nice, interior-wise. My mother moved from a Town & Country (1997) to an RX330 (2003) and I honestly haven't been impressed with the overblown Camry-SUV (that's all an RX is).
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Richard Warren 12:08PM (1/15/2007)
Ever think they might choose a different seating and folding arrangement entirely that might work just as well? Maybe VW has totally different market in mind.
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Hank 11:24AM (1/15/2007)
Strange. Since VW vans have had rear facing seats for decades, I actually figured the Swivel & Go feature was because of the VW/DCR alliance and would most definitely be a VW feature.
http://www6.autonet.ca/Spotlight/UsedModels/story.cfm?story=/Spotlight/UsedModels/2001/05/30/529011.html
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Mike Homeniuk 3:34PM (1/15/2007)
Yeah........swivel n' go is not exactly innovative. Any number of home market (JDM) Japanese vans have had rear-facing seats for years, in addition to VW.
BTW, if the VW-DCX van doesn't get swivel or sto 'n go(and it's an either/or feature with the DCX), I think they're just referring to the 2nd row and imagine the 3rd row will still stow.
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Damon Lavrinc 12:06PM (1/15/2007)
Piter - That's what we've been led to believe. That, and the Town & Country which I was referring to in the article is at the high-end of DCX's minivan offerings.
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steve 9:35PM (1/15/2007)
The few people who bought the eurovan probably bought it for its cool features like the camper and weekender packages-ie features that made the van fun and flexible. If VW sells a basic minivan that only moves people from A to B without anything interesting thrown in forget about it. The 4x4 westphalia camper is spinning in its grave.
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whofan 4:13PM (1/15/2007)
I think DCX would want to have swivel n stow exclusivly for themselves, since its new.
I don`t care what anyone says about Toyota or Honda.
Chrysler is the best minivan.
Looks like they will be going to the goofy gear selector like the Japanese vans have.
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