Volkswagen Routan

Volkswagen’s latest Minivan (formerly known as a People carrier), the Routan, is designed to fit perfectly into the European car market in terms of quality, design and technology. It will, however, only be available in the Americas and will be made in a Chrysler factory in Windsor Canada.
Volkswagen are determined to keep the Routan as a real, European VW even if it will never cross the Atlantic (officially anyway).
A quick glance at the specification of the Routan and it becomes clear that Volkswagen have worked very hard at making their Minivan totally different from anything similar that will be leaving the Chrysler factory. Features include:~ 12V power outlets, ABS, air conditioning, auto-dip interior rear view mirror, Bluetooth connectivity, ESP, heated seats, hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA), keyless entry with remote start, multi-function steering wheel, power lift tailgate, rear park assist, rear seat entertainment system (which includes a hard-drive based music centre, MP3 and USB connectivity, SIRIUS® Satellite Radio, a DVD player and up to two nine inch roof mounted flat screen monitors capable of independent operation!), touch screen Sat Nav, under floor storage and xenon headlamps.
The Routan is no shrinking violet; it is 5.14m long, 1.95m wide and 1.75m tall and comes with a choice of 2 V6 petrol motors ~ either 3.8 or 4 litre. Neither of these engines nor the 6 speed automatic transmission are Volkswagen units and this seems very strange indeed. For a company that produces excellent TDI engines and DSG transmissions it seems a little strange to be trusting reliability and economy to Chrysler.
Internally there is no doubt that the Routan is a European creation (well a creation of a European company at least), externally it is a similar story, mechanically it is different and this may make-or-break Volkswagen’s first minivan in America and Canada foray for years.
With pricing expected to start at under US$25,000 there is good scope for typical Volkswagen sales figures but one does wonder how well received the T5 would be ~ especially with the wide selection of engines and transmissions it offers. The Routan may be a tow-in-the-water before a truly European Minivan appears in Volkswagen dealerships on the other side of the Atlantic.

AC Schnitzer ACS5 Sport Touring

German BMW tuning specialist AC Schnitzer are held in high regard worldwide for their impressive ability to improve and uprate standard BMWs. Their latest 5 series creation, the ACS5 is a perfect example of their craft; offering those who demand more from their standard M5 Estate exactly that: a lot more!
The impressive BMW V10 engine in the ACS5 is tuned and tweaked to produce and exemplary 552PS instead of the standard 507PS. The increase in power is found by fitting an improved exhaust system (including new manifolds) as well as some clever alterations to the engine mapping ~ which also includes removal of the top speed limiter too. Top speed is approximately 198mph which is quick for a sports car, stunning for a practical Estate car!
As a tyre company once mentioned, power is nothing without control and the ACS5 benefits from testing at the local racetrack, not just any racetrack though! Schnitzer undertake all their suspension testing at the Nürburgring.
AC Schnitzer have improved and upgraded the ACS5 to cope with not only the extra power but extra speed too. Forged 20 inch wheels cover 8 pot front callipers that give truly remarkable braking capabilities. The suspension benefits from new springs and an aluminium strut brace, keep all things handling firm and business like.
An appealing and subtle styling package compliments the extra power supplied by the monstrous V10, small carbon lower front spoilers help guide extra air into the intercoolers and radiator. The rear diffuser helps keep airflow smooth from the rear of the car, as does an unobtrusive roof spoiler lip.

Just when we said "we're back".....

.... we weren't.

Medical issues laid the blogging staff low, very low indeed but now we're nearly all up and about again and searching for interesting stories and sitting in interesting cars.
We'll try and catch up with articles that never quite made it through cyberspace for the rest of this week then German Cars Blog will be back on track publishing posts about everything car related that's German, or nearly German at least!

We hope to have this blog back to its fast and informative best by the end of the week. Thanks for visiting, we hope you found it informative and quick to read.