It is interesting to see that we now have three European designed alternatives in the large van category:
Mercedes sprinterFiat Boxer / Dodge RAMFord Transit
So for $30-40k one can get a large van that gets 15-20mpg, where previoulsy domestic options did 10-15mpg.
One might wonder what it would take to make a success of the VW T5/6, that I think does as good as 6-7l/100km (about 30mpg). That's comparable to compact cars! 

     On Tuesday, June 16, 2015 10:11 AM, "jondvo@GMAIL.COM" <jondvo@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
   

 Ford now offers the full size transit, which appears similar to the Spinter

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 15, 2015, at 10:19 AM, Raimund Feussner <ray@V6BUS.DE> wrote:
> 
> Oh, it´s the Transit "connect" you are probably referring to...
> 
>> Am 15.06.2015 um 16:13 schrieb Raimund Feussner:
>> The Transit (RWD, Sprinter class) is built in Ford Kansas City plant,
>> Missouri.
>> It is not imported to the US unless it is the small "Transit Custom" FWD
>> version.
>> 
>> Raimund
>> 
>>> Am 15.06.2015 um 06:49 schrieb Old Volks Home:
>>> The tax is on Commercial Vans (Chicken Tax), not passenger vans.  That's
>>> why Ford imports the Transit from Turkey with seats and windows to get
>>> around that.  When they get here, Ford throws away the seats and
>>> glass and
>>> installs panels in the window openings on the side to make it a
>>> commercial
>>> van - still cheaper than paying the tax.
>>> 
>>> Jim Thompson
>>> 84 GL 1.9 "Gloria"
>>> 84 Westfalia 2.1 "Ole Putt"
>>> Full Timing From March 1999 To January 2012
>>> oldvolkshome@gmail.com
>>> http://www.oldvolkshome.com
>>> Find me on Facebook:
>>> http://www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Thompson/100000710343835
>>> ***********************************
>>> 
>>>> On Sun, Jun 14, 2015 at 6:51 PM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Help me remember all the reasons that VW doesn't sell these in the
>>>> U.S.  I
>>>> know one claimed reason is that we have a tax on imported passenger
>>>> vans.
>>>> Other makers build vehicles here.  Why not VW?
>>>> ---- Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
>>>>>  First I've seen of this one.  Be nice if we got it but we all
>>>>> know the
>>>> chances of that.
>>>>> http://www.autoblog.com/2015/06/13/vw-california-t6-camper-van-official/
>>>>> 
>>>>> Stephen
>>>> --
>>>> David McNeely
>>>>