Photo: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien
Having a motorcycle is all fun and games until you need to transport it to a certain destination and riding it all the way there is not an option. Then, you need a special trailer, lots of straps to hold it in place and a lot of time on your hands.
This limited edition Multivan from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles called PanAmericana offers a very convenient option. It comes with an electric loading ramp and interior mounting hooks which make loading and fastening a motorcycle child's play.
But the PanAmericana is more than just a motorcycle carrier. It comes with Volkswagen's 4MOTION four-wheel drive system for easily crossing rough terrain patches while still offering all the comfort and amenities specific to a Multivan. Loads of space, then, and seating for seven, in case there isn't a motorcycle on board as well.
The PanAmericana is marketed as a globetrotter's weapon of choice, a car that can go anywhere and can carry enough stuff to make a trip around the world a possibility. It should infuse the driver with a sense of freedom that very few vehicles are capable nowadays, giving him the urge to go exploring. We've heard this talk before, but it was usually around an SUV model.
This particular Volkswagen Multivan PanAmericana shown at Frankfurt is aimed at a very picky group of people (if a little rarefied): motorcycle racers who want to have their baby moved from one place to another in perfect safety and no more than one meter away from them.
The same recipe is carried over inside, where the PanAmericana gets decorative strips on the seats in white and carbon look, while the floor is covered in aluminum diamond plate instead of the usual carpet.
The Volkswagen Multivan PanAmericana is powered by a 2.0-liter TDI engine good for 204 hp and 450 Nm of torque (332lb-ft) available between 1,400 and 2,000 rpm. Power is sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed DSG transmission and a permanent all-wheel drive system with a mechanical rear differential lock.
We've included our own live images from the Volkswagen stand in Frankfurt, but also one of the official renderings showcasing PanAmericana's motorcycle-carrying ability.
As a general concept, go-anywhere vans are starting to catch up, as many people like the idea of gathering a larger group of friends and going on a road trip together. Regarded as such, the PanAmericana makes perfect sense. As for the motorcycle part, we'll have to ask one of the racers Volkswagen is talking about, but first we'll have to find him.
But the PanAmericana is more than just a motorcycle carrier. It comes with Volkswagen's 4MOTION four-wheel drive system for easily crossing rough terrain patches while still offering all the comfort and amenities specific to a Multivan. Loads of space, then, and seating for seven, in case there isn't a motorcycle on board as well.
The PanAmericana is marketed as a globetrotter's weapon of choice, a car that can go anywhere and can carry enough stuff to make a trip around the world a possibility. It should infuse the driver with a sense of freedom that very few vehicles are capable nowadays, giving him the urge to go exploring. We've heard this talk before, but it was usually around an SUV model.
This particular Volkswagen Multivan PanAmericana shown at Frankfurt is aimed at a very picky group of people (if a little rarefied): motorcycle racers who want to have their baby moved from one place to another in perfect safety and no more than one meter away from them.
You look familiar
The PanAmericana can be easily identified as such thanks to its PanAmericana badges at the rear and on the B-pillars, the flared side sills with red and black styling line above them, the wheel arch moldings, and the lightweight metal underbody guard. All these make up for a rather confusing mix of elegance and ruggedness.The same recipe is carried over inside, where the PanAmericana gets decorative strips on the seats in white and carbon look, while the floor is covered in aluminum diamond plate instead of the usual carpet.
The Volkswagen Multivan PanAmericana is powered by a 2.0-liter TDI engine good for 204 hp and 450 Nm of torque (332lb-ft) available between 1,400 and 2,000 rpm. Power is sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed DSG transmission and a permanent all-wheel drive system with a mechanical rear differential lock.
We've included our own live images from the Volkswagen stand in Frankfurt, but also one of the official renderings showcasing PanAmericana's motorcycle-carrying ability.
As a general concept, go-anywhere vans are starting to catch up, as many people like the idea of gathering a larger group of friends and going on a road trip together. Regarded as such, the PanAmericana makes perfect sense. As for the motorcycle part, we'll have to ask one of the racers Volkswagen is talking about, but first we'll have to find him.
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