Hi list Volks,

Marc Magee and Randy Newell are perfectly allright - the 4x4 Mercedes Van is 
pretty expensive, because the conversion is beeing done aftermarket not at VW 
/ MB. (Iglhaut GmbH, Wuerzburg, Germany). So a James Cook Camper 4x4 as shown 
will be about 120 000 DM. 

But as you know from the customer survey about 4x4 already mentioned on the 
list a few weeks before, VW is thinking about a new off-road vehicle too.

Last week brought some clarification about that project: AUDI are planning on 
an off-road version. It looks like something in between A6 Avant quattro and a 
Jeep Cherokee. They say that it has not been finally decided if it will go 
into production (survey !!) but if so it would be available in late 1999 with 
the new V6 TDI or a V6 gas or even the V8 from the A8. They estimate figures 
of some 10 000 a year and see market chances especially in the US market (!!) 
and in alpine countries. 

This is good news because according to the platform strategy the next 
Transporter - which is due to be presented by the turn of the millenium - will 
probably share drivetrain componenets and engines with the AUDI A4 / A6. Just 
like the first VW Buses did with the beetle and the Eurovan does with the last 
Passat models. So probability is high that it will no longer have a 
transversal engine but a longitudinal one (tech. term ??). So there might be a 
nice combination between the A6 4x4 componenets and a future Transporter.

All we have to do is demand it :-) (And hope for the best)

Comments on the customer survey were forwarded to the VW customer mag - who 
were very astonished to recive letters from the US, Canada and Australia.

In case you are interested in further press info about the AUDI projects:

responsable person at AUDI AG press dept. in Ingolstadt

Frau Margit Kronthaler
Tel. +49 - 841 - 89 - 38 69
Fax:+49 - 841 - 89 - 28 17
email: margit.kronthaler@AUDI.de

some links:
MB / WESTFALIA CAMPERS:
http://members.aol.com/johnbmtl/Bros.html

MB 4x4 VANS:
http://www.sofcom.com.au/4WD/Mercedes/Mercedes.html 

For further info about the MB Sprinter or VW LT see :
http://www.vw-nutzfahrzeuge.de (in german) 
http://www.mercedes-benz.com/e/01.htm 
http://www.mercedes-benz.com/e/news/2801.htm

in case you which to comment on the VW Van products:
http://www.vw-nutzfahrzeuge.de/com/mailer/mail.htm

If threre is some reaction by the customers about a 4x4 Transporter now maybe 
we can buy one in a few years

Whish we already could do so, right now !!

Tom Niksch
german syncro association
Ig 16''

=====
you originally wrote:
<On that note, I've seen two GMC Safari AWD running around (very nice
<looking truck, for a domestic). Looks like the domestic market is seeing
<that even van people like AWD too! Maybe VW will follow?????
<Randy Newell
<rnewell@epower.net

----------
> From: Mark B. Magee <condor2@flash.net>
> To: Multiple recipients of list <vanagon@lenti.med.umn.edu>
> Subject: Synchronauts: Alert: Son of Synchro Lurks! MB/VW Hybrid
> Date: Wednesday, July 09, 1997 10:50 PM
> 
> 4WD Volks,
> To see the Son of Synchro, look at:
> http://www.sofcom.com.au/4WD/News/1997/970520.MB.html
> This Mercedes Benz/VW project looks very interesting (and exceedingly
> expensive).
> Mark B. Magee
> 87GL 83K 
> Kemah TX

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