The Volkswagen Routan resulted from a 2005 partnership between Volkswagen and DaimlerChrysler. Prior to the agreement, Volkswagen had no minivan model for the United States or Canadian markets. VW announced in an early 2008 projection that the company intended for the Routan and other models to help achieve significant expansion of U.S. sales.[7] The Routan is Volkswagen's first van offered in North America since discontinuation of the Volkswagen Eurovan in 2003, and is not related to the European-market Volkswagen Touran.
The Volkswagen Routan is powered with the Chrysler 3.8 L V6 producing 197 hp (147 kW) and 230 lb·ft (312 N·m), and the 4.0 L V6 producing 251 hp (187 kW) and 259 lb·ft (351 N·m) — with either engine mated to Chrysler's 62TE six-speed automatic transaxle with manual shift capability.
