2003 VW Touran MPV - First Photos

[aphex]

LINK

"Volkswagen has released the first official photo of their Golf V based MPV due to be released next spring. The press release doesn't reveal a lot about the Golf V platform, but it does show a few important things: four-link fully independent rear suspension, electromechanical power steering, six-speed manual standard and a new six-speed automatic/double-clutch sequential transmission in the near future, and new levels of fit and finish (look at those shut lines).

The Touran is an addition to the Sharan lineup of people movers and is not part of the actual Golf V lineup, so don't look to the Touran as any indication of Golf V styling. The Touran is designed to compete with the Renault Scenic and other mini-minivans in the very popular small people-mover segment in Europe. The Touran is almost 8 inches longer, 2.2 inches wider and 7.5 inches taller than the current Golf IV. However it falls 28 inches shorter in length and 5.1 inches shorter in width than a Honda Odyssey, making it a unique vehicle in the U.S. market.

For this reason Volkswagen has no current plans to offer the Touran in North America."

Interesting...

 

[m2kewl]

looks like a big @$$ passat to me :Q

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: m2kewl
looks like a big @$$ passat to me :Q

Kinda remind me of the older passats (B5). I think the Touareg looks more like a HUGE new passat.

 

[RGN]

fugly.

 

[NFS4]

Looks like an ugly POS to me.

 

[tweakmm]

My ass might look nicer than that....

 

[prontospyder]

The Odyssey, Sienna, and new Quest are much better looking minivans.

 

[LuNoTiCK]

Ughhh thats nasty.

 

[aphex]

Haha, the more i look at it, the more ya'll are right. It is kinda nasty isnt it?

Oh well, i'll stick with my phaeton and my touareg (which will hopefully be in my parents driveway sometime next year)

 

[AdamK47]

Only 100 to 136 hp for that type of vehicle is depressing. One more minivan to get angry at when stuck behind it.

 

[yakko]

I kind of like the look. It would never sell over here though because it is way too small to move one soccer mom to work by herself.

 

[Sluggo]

Ahhhh yes, the alluring "bread box" shape.

 

[B00ne]

Hmmm it certainly is not an eye catcher but c'mon ppl what do u expect its a freakin sub-minivan - just looks like all of them. Also dunno what u would need more hp than 100 for in a car like that. With 100 hp it will most likely go 180-190 km/h dunno how u would wanna drive faster than that in a tall, narrow box.

 

[CocaCola5]

Originally posted by: AdamK47 - 3DS
Only 100 to 136 hp for that type of vehicle is depressing. One more minivan to get angry at when stuck behind it.

They did mention these were diesels... As to the car, its alittle bland but imo not any worst than any other, but it is odd since most of VW new models all have pretty bold styling.

 

[Nemesis77]

That car is NOT supposed to look like a gorgerous sports-car! It's an minivan for crying out loud! As to the hp... Why would you need alot of raw hp in a car like this? Put a TDI in there with 100-130hp and it will do just great!

 

[aircooled]

I'm waiting for this ;-)

 

[B00ne]

Originally posted by: aircooled
I'm waiting for this ;-)

yeah that one is cool but it also is in a whole different size and income class than the one that is discussed here...

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Nemesis77
That car is NOT supposed to look like a gorgerous sports-car! It's an minivan for crying out loud! As to the hp... Why would you need alot of raw hp in a car like this? Put a TDI in there with 100-130hp and it will do just great!

1) It doesn't need to look gorgeous, but at the same time it also doesn't need to look like sh!t.
2) 100 - 136 HP ain't gonna cut it for a fully loaded minivan, or even a lightly loaded one (why do you think people buy minivans in the first place?? To haul PEOPLE). The Mazda MPV is a rather "small minivan" and it was downright slug-like with its 170HP 2.5 liter V6. Upgrading to the 3.0 liter 200 HP Duratec made things MUCH more interesting and liveable.

Also remember that every other minivan on the market is available with 200 HP+

Caravan/Town & Country: 215 HP
Sienna: 210HP
Windstar: 200 HP
Odyssey: 240 HP
MPV: 200 HP

Odd man out, Venture/Montana: 185 HP

Now I know that these are all larger vehicles, but I still think that this thing should come with NO LESS than the 180 HP 1.8 liter turbo 4.

 

[Nemesis77]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Nemesis77
That car is NOT supposed to look like a gorgerous sports-car! It's an minivan for crying out loud! As to the hp... Why would you need alot of raw hp in a car like this? Put a TDI in there with 100-130hp and it will do just great!

1) It doesn't need to look gorgeous, but at the same time it also doesn't need to look like sh!t.
2) 100 - 136 HP ain't gonna cut it for a fully loaded minivan, or even a lightly loaded one (why do you think people buy minivans in the first place?? To haul PEOPLE). The Mazda MPV is a rather "small minivan" and it was downright slug-like with its 170HP 2.5 liter V6. Upgrading to the 3.0 liter 200 HP Duratec made things MUCH more interesting and liveable.

Also remember that every other minivan on the market is available with 200 HP+

Caravan/Town & Country: 215 HP
Sienna: 210HP
Windstar: 200 HP
Odyssey: 240 HP
MPV: 200 HP

Odd man out, Venture/Montana: 185 HP

Now I know that these are all larger vehicles, but I still think that this thing should come with NO LESS than the 180 HP 1.8 liter turbo 4.

Well, that MPV is meant for EUROPEAN market! It's competitors are cars like Opel Zafira and Renault Scenic. Engines of the Zafira (in FInland, but I guess rest of the Europe is more or less similar) range from 1.6 liter model to 2.2 liter model. Scenic engine range is from 1.4 liter (90hp) to 2.0 liter (140hp). The 1.6 liter engines takes the Scenic from 0-62mph in 11.2 seconds, and that's fast enough for this kind of car. Europeans simply don't have the need for 200+hp engines and/or V6 engines that americans seem to require.

Besides, I bet that those cars you listed are bigger than Scenic, Zafira or Touran.

EDIT: Yep.

However it falls 28 inches shorter in length and 5.1 inches shorter in width than a Honda Odyssey

You know alot of cars in general, but you have exactly zero knowledge regarding this class of cars in Europe.

 

[iamwiz82]

this won't work in America. Good luck getting up to speed on the freeway with one of those.