Volkswagen and SAIC debut their new large minivan for China, the Viloran. In contrast with the rest of the world, minivans are still popular in China, including those of the luxury kind. VW’s lineup lacked such a model as the Sharan could not compete with much bigger and more upscale offerings from Lexus and Buick. That changes with the all-new Viloran, which debuted yesterday as the largest model of the SAIC Volkswagen joint venture.
It’s a massive thing, the Viloran, measuring 5.3 meters in length, just under 2,000 mm in width, and sporting a wheelbase of 3,180 mm. Built on the MQB modular platform, the Viloran is half a meter longer than the Sharan.
Obviously, this makes it very roomy, with the Viloran offering acres of space for seven passengers arranged in a 2+2+3 layout. We can see that the second row is the place to be in the Viloran thanks to the two reclining captain’s chairs offering high levels of comfort and legroom. The big VW minivan also offers a panoramic roof, all-round cameras, adaptive cruise control, and traffic jam assistant, among other things.
There’s no official information on powertrains at the moment but the 2020 VW Viloran is expected to pack a 2.0-liter TSI turbo-four from the EA888 series rated at 220 PS and 350 Nm of torque. The standard transmission is reportedly a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch driving the front wheels. There’s no information about possible AWD variants.
Styling-wise, the Viloran adopts VW’s familiar corporate face with a big chromed grille intertwined with the LED headlights. The front reminds of the new VW Touareg, as do the creases on the sides – particularly on the rear fenders. The side is dominated by the massive sliding rear doors while at the rear the highlights are the sleek LED taillights connected by a chrome strip and the fake exhaust trims.
The Viloran is also the first SAIC Volkswagen model to adopt the German automaker’s new brand logo. Sales of the VW Viloran begin in the first half of 2020 in China. There’s no information regarding the model’s availability in other markets.
