2010 Volkswagen Routan left side 300x187 imageThe news shouldn’t come as too much of a shocker, especially after it was reported the Canadian plant that produces the Chrysler-based Vee-Dub minivan had not built any Routans so far this year. With only 665 examples sold through March, demand for the minivan is far below competitors including the Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, and of course its platform mates, the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan. It’s been a rather bumpy road for the Routan since it was first launched in 2008, as the vehicle never experienced any real success in the market from the outset. Sagging sales reportedly discouraged VW from pursuing a second-generation model.

While a direct replacement hasn’t been announced, it’s expected that a production version of Volkwagen’s recently revealed CrossBlue concept, which seats as many as seven passengers, will fill the gap left by the Routan. The brand’s current SUV offerings in the U.S., the compact Tiguan and upscale Touareg, are low-volume niche models priced higher than their competitors. Talk of a midsize, three-row SUV offering from VW has been simmering for several years now, and with the Routan out of the picture, expect to see a vehicle based on the CrossBlue sooner rather than later.

2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited rear three quarters 21 300x187 imageManley is confident in the new Cherokee’s capability and technology, but he understands that the only way to completely convince Cherokee loyalists of the all-new model’s off-road capabilities is for them to experience it for themselves — then they can decide whether they are happy with the new model.

When asked about the controversial new styling, Manley said, “I think, like any forward looking design, that’s new into the market, you’re going to get reactions to it. That’s the wonderful thing about styling and design; it evokes different emotions from different people.” Manley continued, “It’s one of those designs that the initial reaction is kind of polarizing. People fall into one camp or another.”

2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited side1 300x187 imageWhile Manley acknowledges the new design is polarizing, he said the feedback since the official images were released is “beginning to shift over to the positive side.” To get a real understanding of the car’s design, Manly says the 2014 Cherokee must be seen in person, and we’d agree. Manley also told us that rumors that the Cherokee’s styling started out as an older Fiat design were “absolutely and completely wrong.”

Could a diesel engine be in the Cherokee’s future? It’s possible, but first the brand will be watching the sales performance of the Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel, which Motor Trend just tested. Manley tells us that the a diesel engine for the Cherokee would likely “be some variant of a European diesel that we have for this vehicle, probably a 2.2-liter [I-4] or something like that, rather than a V-6 like we have in the Grand Cherokee due to packaging” differences. Ultimately, if a 2014 Cherokee EcoDiesel model arrives in the U.S. at all, it isn’t likely to arrive for at least a couple years.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel front2 300x187 imageA greater priority for Jeep might be the upcoming launch of a three-row Grand Wagoneer. Manley says that there is room above the Grand Cherokee Summit for the three-row Grand Wagoneer. That model will share the Dodge Durango’s chassis, while being “a completely different vehicle.” Manley said that they have “talked about bringing the Grand Wagoneer sometime in 2015.”

The Grand Wagoneer might even appear in China, which has become Jeep’s second largest market outside of the U.S. With a three-row SUV on the way and a new compact, entry-level model coming too, Jeep may be set to become an increasingly important part of Chrysler’s future.