SPY PHOTOS: New Volkswagen Sharan

A bit late ...

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 bestseller. 4-motion will also be available as an option.