Following an extensive teaser campaign, Volkswagen has finally whipped the wraps off the new Transporter and Caravelle which are based on the Ford Transit Custom. Here’s what you can expect from the seventh generation…
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In standard-wheelbase guise, the new Volkswagen Transporter measures 5 050 mm in length, 2 032 mm in width, and 3 100 mm between the fore and aft axles. Compared to the sixth iteration, VW’s box-fresh Transporter is 146 mm longer nose to tail and 128 mm wider, while the wheelbase has been stretched by 97 mm. Thanks to its increase in size, the load compartment now measures 2 602 mm in length.
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The seventh generation is available with a trio of powertrain options: turbocharged diesel, plug-in hybrid and all-electric. Starting with the internal combustion engine unit, the oil-burner, which can be had with 4Motion all-wheel drive as an option, is available in three states of tune, 81 kW, 110 kW and 125 kW. The latter variant is exclusively equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The plug-in hybrid arrangement produces 171 kW. Incorporating a 64 kWh (net) battery pack, three (rear-wheel-driven) battery-electric derivatives, available in 100 kW, 160 kW and 210 kW, respectively, will “soon” join the range, with an all-paw version scheduled to be introduced at a later stage.
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Stepping inside, a brand-new, 13-inch infotainment display, replete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, takes centre stage. Sited next to the latter, a touch-enabled item and fore the multifunction steering wheel is a 12-inch digital instrument binnacle. A six-speaker sound system is included in the Transporter package, while the Caravelle gains a 10-speaker unit. An array of USB-A and USB-C charging points, and 12 V and 230 V sockets are also present. The Kombi derivative features three seats in the second row, while the Caravelle sports a nine-seat seating arrangement with a removable rear bench.
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