The next-generation Volkswagen Transporter range is due to arrive in Australia next year – and the local division is keen on the all-electric eTransporter variant already confirmed for overseas markets.
Nathan Johnson, head of marketing and product for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia, told CarExpert the new Transporter – which is based on a shared platform with the new Ford Transit Custom and Tourneo – will bring van and Caravelle people mover variations in the new year, as well as a possible eTransporter EV option.
“We’re assessing everything that [head office] will make available to us across the range,” Mr Johnson said.
Further details for the Australian market are yet to be communicated, but the new Transporter family will be available with a range of diesel, plug-in hybrid, and electric powertrains.
The diesels in overseas markets range from 81kW to 125kW in outputs, while the eHybrid PHEV offers a total of 171kW – electric driving range for the Transporter eHybrid hasn’t been detailed as yet.
Meanwhile, the eTransporter will be offered with a range of variants, ranging from 85kW to 210kW, with a standard battery size of 83kWh (gross) for all but the base version, which gets a smaller 54kWh (gross) battery.
Electric range hasn’t been confirmed against official WLTP specs, but Volkswagen has confirmed the eTransporter will be rear-drive as standard with dual-motor AWD planned “for a later date”. The 110kW 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 risen from 2.5t to 2.8t. Dynamic roof load has also risen from 150kg to 170kg.
The new Caravelle will be properly distinguished mechanically from the Multivan for the first time in this generation. The former rides on the commercial Ford-VW platform, while the latter has moved to Volkswagen’s MQB evo passenger platform.
It’s likely the new Caravelle will offer eight or nine seats, given the current model offers seating for nine in Australia. The related Ford Tourneo is coming to Australia later this year with up to eight seats.
The Transporter/Transit Custom pairing is the latest collaboration between Volkswagen and Ford in commercial vehicles. Co-developed models launched so far include the Ford Ranger-based Volkswagen Amarok, and the Volkswagen Caddy-based Ford Transit Connect.
The close ties between the two firms have also seen Ford use the MEB all-electric architecture as the basis for its Europe-only Ford Explorer crossover, as well as the yet-to-be-revealed Capri coupe crossover.
While both these models use the MEB platform, they will be built by Ford at its factory in Cologne, Germany, which once pumped out Fiestas by the bucketload.
MORE: Everything Volkswagen Caravelle
MORE: Everything Volkswagen Transporter
