The Original CUV?

"VW Max" (vw-max) 12/22/2016 at 23:02 • Filed to: Volkswagen, VW

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Was the VW Kommandeurwagen the original CUV? Like the Crosstrek, Trax, and HRV, it is a standard compact car, but lifted and with four-wheel-drive.

Your boy, BJR > VW Max 12/22/2016 at 23:13

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It’s a goddamn Nazi sled. The original crossovers were cars like the model T. Not quite a car, not quite a truck. Served the purpose of both well.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Your boy, BJR 12/23/2016 at 01:31

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But they’re not unibody.

AuthiCooper1300 > VW Max 12/23/2016 at 03:23

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If I remember correctly, you could only engage the drive to the front axle in first gear or reverse. And it made a hell of a racket.

If anything it would be like one of the smallish Japanese hatchbacks with 4WD, such as the early Subaru Justy.

Early (pre-war) saloon cars with a higher chassis and 4WD were also the Mitsubishi PX33 (just a few prototypes) and the Kurogane Type 94. Both were developed for the army.

bhtooefr > VW Max 12/23/2016 at 06:16

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So, a CUV is lifted, usually wagon-bodied (except for the new compact CUVs, based on subcompact and compact cars), and on a car platform. I’m leaving off the requirement for AWD - there are now some FWD-only crossovers. (The Kia Niro and the US-market Toyota C-HR come to mind.)

Now, when the original Chevrolet Carryall Suburban came out, the Chevy trucks were themselves on a beefed up version of the car platform... so I’m going to say that the 1935 Suburban was an earlier crossover. (Not the first crossover, just a crossover.) No AWD, but 4WD wasn’t exactly common on trucks in that era.

Of course, when you’re getting into that era of automotive development, the term “crossover” really loses meaning - get much further back, and all cars were expected to operate in terrible road conditions (including nonexistent roads), all cars were tall, and all cars had lots of ground clearance. Arguably, all cars were crossovers until the first round of mainstream streamlining of the mid 1930s...

BobintheMtns > VW Max 12/23/2016 at 09:15

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Neat!

Die-Trying > VW Max 12/23/2016 at 16:36

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i would think more along the lines of the schwimmwagen............

Jobjoris > gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee 12/24/2016 at 04:49

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I’m not entirely sure on the unibody definition but can one do this with one?

I suppose the Beetle isn’t either?

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Jobjoris 12/24/2016 at 12:52

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Unibody means the frame/chassis is part of the body. So the answer is yes, the body can be removed from the frame without cutting welds.