Volkswagen Sharan
Encyclopedia : V : VO : VOL : Volkswagen Sharan
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| Volkswagen Sharan | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Volkswagen |
| Production: | 1995–present |
| Car class: | Large MPV |
| Body Styles: | FF van |
| Predecessors: | None |
| Successors: | still in production |
| Competitors: | Chrysler Voyager Citroën C8 Renault Espace Peugeot 807 |
| Built in: | Palmela, Portugal |
The VW Sharan is a large MPV sold by Volkswagen in Europe. Produced in a joint venture with Ford, it sells a version of the same model as the Ford Galaxy, and VW's Spanish subsidiary SEAT sells another version, known as the Alhambra. All three models are built in Palmela, Portugal.
History
The name Sharan is derived from a Persian word meaning "Carrier of Kings".The VW Sharan/Ford Galaxy joint venture project started in the 1991 as both VW and Ford did not have a MPV in the B Segment (Passat Sized class) in Europe.
In late 1994 VW and Ford revealed there new MPV Twins, production started early in 1995. VW later on rebadged there VW version and sold it as the SEAT Alhambra in 1996 all vehicles were built at the Joint Venture plant Autoeuropa Pt. which VW has since taken over.
Annual production figures for the VW Sharan are in the 50,000 unit region.
The Sharan is sold in Europe,South Africa and some Asia-Pacific & South American countries.
The Sharan was not sold in the US due to VW signing an agreement with Ford, thereby leaving the market for Ford's Aerostar minivan.
The Sharan/Galaxy & Alhambra received a major facelift in 2000 with each having there own designs.
Mk 1
Released in 1995 It came with 4 engine choices:
- 2.0 L 85 kW - 4 cylinder petrol
- 1.8 turbo L 110 kW - 4 cylinder petrol
- 1.9 L 81 kW TDI
- 2.8 V6 L 128 kW - 6 cylinder petrol
Dimensions:
- Length: 4620 mm
- Width: 2150 mm (with wing mirrors)
- Height: 1762 mm
- Wheelbase: 2835 mm
1999 Auto Express New Car Honours - Best MPV
1998 Top Gear Magazine Top Cars - Best People Carrier (Joint Winner)
1996 What Car Awards - Best People Carrier (Joint Winner)
1996 Auto Express Awards - Best People Carrier (Joint Winner)
Mk 1.5 Facelift
The Sharan has received one major facelift in 2000 which extended the wheelbase and gave it the VW family look of the time. A minor cosmetic facelift was done in 2003. It comes with 5 engine choices:
- 2.0 L 85 kW - 4 cylinder petrol
- 1.8 turbo L 110 kW - 4 cylinder petrol
- 2.8 V6 150 kW - 6 cylinder petrol
- 1.9 L 85 kW TDI
- 1.9 L 96 kW TDI
Dimensions:
- Length: 4634 mm
- Width: 1810 mm (without wing mirrors)
- Height: 1730 mm (1759 mm with roof rails)
- Wheelbase: 2841 mm
2000 Auto Express New Car Honours - Best MPV
Gallery
Image:Sharan_Mk1_1.8T_20v_1997.jpg |Sharan 1995-2001MY 1 Image:Sharan_Mk1_VR6_Syncro_1996.jpg |Sharan 1995-2001MY 2 Image:Sharanmk1.jpg |Sharan 1995-2001MY 3 Image:Sharan_2000MY_1.jpg |Sharan 2000-2002MY 1 Image:Sharan_2000MY_2.jpg |Sharan 2000-2002MY 2 Image:Sharan_2003MY_1.jpg |Sharan 2003MY-Present 1 Image:Sharan_2003MY_2.jpg |Sharan 2003MY-Present 2 Image:Sharan_2003MY_3.jpg |Sharan 2003MY-Present 3
LPG Sharan
The Sharan in 2006 was released with a Bi-Fuel 2.0L 85kW engine taking both Petrol and Gas.Technically the Sharan LPG is a vehicle with a bi-fuel drive system. The approx. 60 litre capacity liquid gas tank has been built into the spare wheel well, so as not to compromise the size of the car's interior. As a result, the Sharan receives an additional range of up to 450 km, because it of course retains its 70 litre capacity, enough to cover 730 km at an average fuel consumption of 9.6 litres per 100km.
last paragraph contains excerpts from Volkswagen AG PR on Sharan LPG
Criticism
The Sharan has been criticised by mechanics due to its awkward placing of the pollen filter. To get to it, one must first remove the windscreen wiper blades and the protective cover - a laborious task, even for the most skilled mechanics.External links
| Volkswagen car timeline, European market, 1980s-present - [http://encycl.opentopia.com/ edit] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| City car | Lupo | Fox | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supermini | Polo I | Polo II | Polo III | Polo IV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Small hatch | Golf I | Golf II | Golf III | Golf IV | Golf V | Golf VI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Small family car | Jetta I | Jetta II | Vento | Bora | Jetta V | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large family car | Passat II | Passat III | Passat IV | Passat VI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Executive car | Phaeton | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coupé | Scirocco II | Corrado | New Beetle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Van | Caddy Type 14 | Caddy Type 9U & Type 9K | Caddy Type 2K | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type 2 (T3) | Caravelle/Multivan (T4) | Caravelle/Multivan (T5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact MPV | Golf Plus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Touran | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large MPV | Sharan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4x4 | Beduin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Touareg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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