LAUNCH People carrier


Volkswagen has split its Transporter van range from the people-carrying Caravelle, which now goes by the name of Multivan


V


olkswagen Commercial Vehi- cles has launched the Multi- van as a replacement for the current people-carrying Caravelle line- up. Rather confusingly, while the Car- avelle was basically a passenger car version of the Transporter van, the Multivan is no longer based on the LCV model at all. Instead, the new Multivan uses the MQB platform that can be found un- der a range of Volkswagen car mod- els, most notably the latest Golf. The current Transporter carries on un- changed, with the next generation model expected to be built as part of the firm’s cooperation with Ford. The Multivan is offered in two body


lengths, though they share the same wheelbase. It features a 30mm wider track than the old model, though the body itself is 80mm slimmer. The roof- line is lower, creating a wider, lower profile that should prove more aerody- namic. Offered with 19” alloy wheels, it will be offered in Multivan, Life and Style trim levels.


There is a full-width grille at the


front, with a lower bumper treatment similar to the latest Caddy. A panoram- ic glass roof is an option and LED head- lights are standard across the range, though you can upgrade to LED mat- ric lights if preferred. Customers can also order electric rear and sliding side doors, both of which can be operated by gesture-control, or waving a foot be- neath the door.


There is seating for up to seven and all five individual rear seats can be easily removed or relocated, to offer a wide range of layouts. Should you want to use the Multivan as a load-car- rier, removing all five rear seats re- sults in a 3.67m3


er model, rising to just over 4.0m3 the longer van.


There are two petrol engines, a


Multivan boasts the availability of no less


than 34 driver assistance and safety systems


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1.5-litre with 136hp and a 2.0-litre with 204hp. A 150hp diesel engine will join the line-up next year. All drive through a seven-speed DSG automat- ed transmission. In addition, Multivan will be offered with an eHybrid drive- line. This uses a 1.4-litre petrol engine, delivering 150hp, mated to an 85kW electric motor, to produce a combined 218hp. The eHybrid drives through a six-speed DSG box and provides an electric-only driving mode for short- er, urban trips.


There is seating for up to seven and all five individual rear seats can be easily removed or relocated.


load bay on the short- for


Multivan boasts the availability of no less than 34 driver assistance and safety systems. Standard specification includes Front Assist, City Emergen- cy Braking, Dynamic Road Sign Dis- play and Lane Assist. The vehicle also debuts VW’s IQ.DRIVE Travel Assist, allowing semi-autonomous driving by combining predictive Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Assist. The interior is all new, with a 10.25” Digital Cockpit display and a 10” info- tainment screen, plus a head-up dis- play for the first time on a Volkswa- gen Commercial Vehicles model. The vans have an integrated SIM, for VW’s We Connect connectivity package. We Connect Plus is also available free for three years, offering navigation-relat- ed services and connection services for the eHybrid model.


The Multivan will go on sale lat- er this year, with pricing and speci- fications announced nearer the time.


JULY 2021 • VANUSER 13


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