The next generation Volkswagen Transporter The Range is due to arrive in Australia next year – and the local division is interested in the all-electric eTransporter variant, which has already been confirmed for overseas markets.
Nathan Johnson, head of marketing and product at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia, said CarExpert The new Transporter – based on a shared platform with the new Ford Transit Custom and Tourneo – will bring Van and Caravelle van variations in the new year, as well as a possible eTransporter EV option.
“We evaluate everything [head office] will provide us with the full range,” Mr Johnson said.
Further details for the Australian market have yet to be communicated, but the new van family will be available with a range of diesel, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains.
Diesel engine power in overseas markets ranges from 81kW to 125kW, while the eHybrid PHEV offers a total power output of 171kW – the electric range of the Transporter eHybrid has not yet been detailed.
Meanwhile, the eTransporter is offered in a range of variants ranging from 85kW to 210kW, with a standard battery size of 83kWh (gross) for all but the base version, which has a smaller 54kWh (gross) battery.
Electric range has not been confirmed using official WLTP specifications, but Volkswagen has confirmed that the eTransporter will feature rear-wheel drive as standard, with dual-motor all-wheel drive planned “for a later date.” The 110 kW TDI diesel offers optional 4Motion all-wheel drive.
Volkswagen has also confirmed a payload of up to 1.3 tonnes (TDI RWD), while towing capacity for the Overseas-spec diesel panel van has increased from 2.5 tonnes to 2.8 tonnes. The dynamic roof load has also increased from 150 kg to 170 kg.
The new Caravelle will differ significantly mechanically from the Multivan for the first time in this generation. The former rides on the commercial Ford-VW platform, while the latter has switched to Volkswagen’s MQB evo passenger platform.
It’s likely the new Caravelle will seat eight or nine, as the current model in Australia seats nine. The related Ford Tourneo is coming to Australia later this year with up to eight seats.
The Transporter/Transit Custom combination is the latest collaboration between Volkswagen and Ford in the commercial vehicle sector. The jointly developed models that have been launched so far include the Ford Ranger-based Volkswagen Amarok and the Volkswagen Caddy-based Ford Transit Connect.
The close relationship between the two companies has also led to Ford using the all-electric MEB architecture as the basis for its Ford Explorer crossover available in Europe, as well as the yet-to-be-unveiled Capri Coupe crossover.
Although these two models are based on the MEB platform, they are built by Ford at its factory in Cologne, Germany, which once produced Fiestas in large quantities.
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