Last Auto news - VW Sharan

Last Auto news - VW Sharan Long-running MPV gets a practical update, inside and out.

Volkswagen’s Sharan is bulking up! To keep up with competitors like the Ford S-Max, VW’s MPV will be larger in all dimensions allowing for a third row of seats to make an appearance for the first time.

The large rear window, flat roofline and short bonnet of previous incarnations all find their way back onto the latest model. Styling updates are likely to come from a Golf-like front fascia and a set of rear sliding doors should add to practicality.

Under the bonnet a line up of petrol engines ranging from 115-200bhp and diesels up to 160bhp are the most probable powertrains for the next-gen people carrier.

Sources have claimed that the new model will be priced higher than the current Sharan, partly to cover higher building costs and partly to separate the two models within the range. It is thought that Volkswagen will offer both models simultaneously for a year or two until the first generation Sharan is discontinued.

The new Sharan will make its debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

Last Auto news - VW Sharan

Last Auto news - VW Sharan Latest spy shots of updated VW Sharan

It looks like the VW Sharan, introduced in 1995, is finally due for an update. Our photographers have captured some shots of a heavily disguised next-generation Sharan undergoing hot weather testing at Death Valley, California.

To keep up with competitors from Ford, Renault and Vauxhall the new Sharan will be larger in all dimensions. However, unlike its competitors, Volkswagen’s new MPV will have two sliding rear doors for easy access to the back seats.

The new Sharan is likely to take its styling cues from Volkswagen’s new front grille and headlights seen on the latest incarnation of the Golf. The overall look isn’t expected to change much, but a more modern looking MPV than the current model is likely. A line up of petrol engines ranging from 115-200bhp and diesels up to 160bhp are the most probable powertrains for the next-gen people carrier.

Sources have claimed that the new model will be priced higher than the current Sharan, partly to cover higher building costs and partly to separate the two models within the range. It is thought that Volkswagen will offer both models simultaneously for a year or two until the first generation Sharan is discontinued.

The new Sharan will make its debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

Last Auto news - VW Sharan

Last Auto news - VW Sharan Volkswagen has taken the first Sharan mules out on the open roads…

Based on a longer platform of the current Passat, the new Sharan will be out by the end of 2008. It will have a difficult task of getting the customers back to VW due to Ford’s great success with the S-Max and the new Galaxy. While Ford already has these MPVs out on the market, VW totally overslept the market and will have to struggle with the old Sharan for some more years. The first generation of Sharan and Galaxy were built in co-operation between Volkswagen and Ford in Portugal, but now Ford has its own Ford-built Galaxy out on the market.

According to SEAT’s President Andreas Schleef, there will again be a SEAT version of the new Sharan, likely to be called the Alhambra again.

Practically a ‘must have’ feature these days, a third seat row can be stored completely in the floor, like in the Opel Zafira. All engines will come from the Passat line-up with the 140-bhp TDI probably as the best seller. 4-motion will also be available as an option.