Volkswagen gives the Transporter and Multivan, Caravelle and Multivan a new lease of life with engine tweaks, exterior redesigns and additional comfort equipment.
Utility doesn’t have to be utilitarian. Volkswagen seems to have adopted this motto when it introduced the new, redesigned and repackaged Transporter and Multivan utility vehicles, California, Caravelle, and California. They will all be on display at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, and they will go on sale within weeks.
These vehicles’ front ends have been reshaped in keeping with the VW brand’s new design DNA. They are now designed to look like current Polos or Golfs. The radiator grille’s ribs are now black and the rear fog lights will act as static cornering light. Some models have black high gloss ribs that are highlighted with chrome stripes. The headlights also got a facelift.
Four-cylinder turbo diesel engines are now available with common rail technology. 2.0 TDI can produce power figures of 62 kW (85.4PS), 75kW (102.2PS), 103kW (1140PS), or 132kW (182PS). The 132kW version has a bi-turbocharging technology and a two-stage charger. Maximum torque figures range from 220Nm at 1250rpm to 250Nm at 1500rpm to 340Nm at 1750rpm to 400Nm at 1500rpm. Each engine has a particle filter.
VW claims that the entire range has seen a 10% improvement in fuel consumption and C02 emissions. The 132kW motor, when coupled with the 7-speed dual clutch gearbox, can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 1.9 litres over the 6-speed manual gearbox.
The exterior equipment includes Side Assist, Side Assist Lane Change Assistant to monitor blind spots, and exterior mirrors that now house the antenna system. The 4Motion AWD VW system will come with the DSG transmission. Safety tools include airbags and ESP, hill-start assist, and hazard lights warning during emergency brakes.
You can specify the interior with a Dynaudio sound and system, touch screen satellite navigation, a USB interface, fully-automatic air conditioning, and the new three-spoke steering wheel.