Good point.  The VW Up! was going to be a rear-engine vehicle until VW
bean counters won the argument with engineers.  Now it will be a
front-engine FWD car.

2008/10/31 Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@mac.com>:
> Technically no. Practically, yes. In order to meet safety requirements
> which usually is covered by crumple zones in the front, which also
> happens to conveniently leave a spot that an engine can fit in, car
> manufacturers really don't have a tremendous incentive to be creative
> in car design with a rear engined vehicle. You can probably name the
> manufacturers in one hand that continue to offer a vehicle which
> doesn't have the engine up front: Porsche, Lotus, Ferrari,
> Lamborghini... are you seeing a trend here?
>
>
> On Oct 31, 2008, at 1:36 PM, Stuart Jeff wrote:
>
>> Pardon my ignorance but is there anything legally that prevents
>> automakers from producing a new rear engine vehicle in the US?
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----
>> From: honemastert <honemastert@GMAIL.COM>
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 10:40:50 AM
>> Subject: Re: Mention of the Possible New MicroBus
>>
>> **  B Feddish <bfeddish@NETREACH.NET> wrote: **
>>
>>>> I did not know that. I knew that VW had "Tuned" the suspension for
>>>> a more
>>>> European ride but I was not aware that it was completely different.
>>
>> I guess I'd really have to see one for myself and crawl under it.
>> Still a Chrysler product IMHO.  Those Brooke Shields ad's are
>> making me ill.  German Engineering.. I want to punch the television
>> everytime I see one! :-)
>>
>>>> Hmmm, I thought VW just put all their $40K versions on the lot.
>>
>> A sad testament.. the other day.. driving by the local Berge dealer
>> in Mesa/Gilbert AZ.  Sales guy is out standing in the lot.. by
>> himself,
>> next to the new 'Routan'  looked pretty darn lonely!
>>
>> I should offer to 'rent' them the syncro westy during the week. .. :-)
>> They can park it propped up on 2/3 wheels like the GoWesty
>> guys do out in front of their shop.
>>
>> Think about the business it would bring in!?    Only then to
>> be disappointed that their only choice is a Chrysler Town and
>> County. DOH!
>>
>> I'm sorry, but I'm not cutting VW any slack on this one.  They
>> should have brought the retro microbus back like they originally
>> planned, or at least sell the current T5 here stateside, the current
>> van is lame.
>>
>> -tim
>>
>> 90 syncro westy
>> gilbert, az
>>
>> Blog:    http://www.timschneider.org
>> Photos: http://www.flickr.com/honemastert
>> Video:  http://www.youtube.com/honemastert
>>
>

--
Chris S.
Disclaimer: "Death and serious injury may occur"