Volkswagen has unveiled the new Sharan at the Geneva Motor Show. They claim that it is all-new, with new parts all round.
The exterior has received Volkswagen’s latest design language, which I think looks rather good, even if every single car does look almost exactly the same from the front end. It will be the first Sharan ever with sliding doors at the rear. As with many cars recently, it will also get LED daytime running lights.
The car will be available with a range of gasoline and diesel engines, although very little details are disclosed on them. Their power will range from 138 hp to 197 hp. One of these engines will be a 2.0L TDI. This engine will make the Sharan the most efficient MPV in the world, getting 54.1 imperial mpg. These engines can be hooked up to an option DSG transmission, but specifics on the DSG or any other transmission haven’t been released. When equipped with the 2.0L TDI engine, the Sharan can be ordered with four-wheel-drive.
Being an MPV, it comes with Volkswagen’s EasyFold seating system, which makes all seven seats adjustable. It’s also supposed to be very safe, with seven airbags. There are plenty of other clever features, including Light Assist automatic main bean control, adaptive chassis control, and three-zone climate control. Even the base model will come standard with semi-automatic air-conditioning, called Climatic, and Volkswagen’s RCD 210 radio/CD system. Speaking of models, it will come in three trims: Trendline, Comfortline and Highline.
You can read a bit more about the new Sharan in the press release below, or you can have a look at more pictures.
Press Release
World premiere of the new Sharan in Geneva
The new Volkswagen is the most frugal MPV of its class in the world
Wolfsburg / Geneva, 02 March 2010 – With over 600,000 units sold, Volkswagen’s Sharan is the favourite vehicle of countless families all over Europe. Coming now, with a world premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show (4th to 14th March), is a completely new generation of this best seller. Equipped for the first time with sliding doors in the back, the 2010 Sharan has been enhanced in every area. Every screw, every exterior and interior part and all of the technology, including the TDI and TSI engines (103kW / 140PS to 147kW / 200PS) and transmission systems (DSG optional) – is new. Sharan is offering world-record performance in fuel efficiency: at 5.3 litres per 100km (51,4 mpg), the 140PS Sharan 2.0 TDI achieves lower fuel consumption than any other MPV in this class.
The hallmark of the new Sharan is a complete design concept that includes the extremely flexible EasyFold seating system (up to seven easily adjustable seats), high-end quality, uncompromising safety (seven airbags, Light Assist automatic main beam control, bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running and position light) and numerous clever details. Also new to this generation of Sharan are adaptive chassis control (DCC) and a level regulating system. This comfortable multi-purpose vehicle in the upper B segment of the market has been tailored to families with two or more children and high-mileage business users with a need for extra space.The new Sharan’s drive and handling matches the levels of comfort and dynamic response provided by the excellent Passat. Cutting edge entertainment systems, a huge, electrically operated panoramic sliding roof and a powerful 3-zone climate control system guarantee great travelling conditions at any time of the year. Available in Trendline, Comfortline and Highline versions, even the base model of the Sharan is supplied with features such as semi-automatic air-conditioning (‘Climatic’) and radio/CD system (‘RCD 210’). As the only vehicle of its class to offer this, the third generation of this MPV will again be available with four-wheel drive (Sharan 2.0 TDI 4Motion with 140PS). In the first markets where it is available orders for the new Volkswagen can be placed from as early as the end of March.
Source: Volkswagen