New VW Transporter and Caravelle range include PHEVs

The seventh-generation Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Transporter and Caravelle (nine-seat bus) had their world premiere at IAA Transportation 2024 (September 17-22) in Hannover, Germany.

They offer more space, more payload, increased maximum trailer weight, and a range of powertrains such as turbodiesel vehicles with front-wheel and all-wheel drive supplemented by plug-in hybrids and electric drives, says VW, adding Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles completes the Bulli family with the new Transporter and Caravelle.

The latest assist systems ensure greater safety, while well thought-out cockpit and control elements make everyday work easier in both vehicles, says VW.

Both multi-function vehicles will also be available with a plug-in hybrid drive and electric drives as an alternative to the range of turbocharged diesel engines.

The 2024 Bulli range comprises the new Transporter, the Multivan and the ID. Buzz.

The Transporter product line comprises pure commercial vehicles and the Caravelle series. The Multivan is the family’s recreational and business van and has also just launched as a redesigned California camper van.

The ID. Buzz and the ID. Buzz Cargo commercial vehicle version are the first electric mobility icons, says VW.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles offers the new Transporter as a panel van (focused on goods transport), a panel van “Plus” (load compartment, seats in the second row, various partitions), crew bus (focused on passenger transport) and as a double cab with platform body and long wheelbase. The crew bus and panel van versions are optionally available with a high roof and an extended wheelbase.

The nine-seater Caravelle is designed for commercial passenger transport. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is offering the independent Caravelle as an entry-level version, with a mid-range Life equipment specification, and as a top-of-the-line Style version.

The Caravelle is also available with an extended wheelbase.

Both the Transporter as a panel van and the Caravelle are also available in the PanAmericana all-terrain version, says VW.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles combines the digital world of displays and controls with robust hard keys, ensuring the vehicle’s control centre is easy and safe for professionals to use in any situation, it says. This also includes the integration of various USB and 12V sockets as well as the option to add one or, in the case of the PHEV and electric models, up to three 230V sockets.

The stowage volume in the panel-van Transporter with a normal wheelbase and roof has increased by more than 10% to 5.8 cubic metres. With a long wheelbase and high roof, the panel van’s stowage volume increases to nine cubic metres.

The maximum payload of up to 1.33 tonnes (an extra 0.13T) corresponds to the higher load volume, says VW, adding it has also increased the maximum trailer weight by 0.3T, which now reaches up to 2.8T (braked, with 12% gradient).

Seven drive versions will be available upon market launch, says VW.

These include three turbocharged diesel engines (TDI), a plug-in hybrid drive (eHybrid) and three electric drives (e-Transporter and e-Caravelle).

The TDI engines deliver 81kW, 110kW and 125kW – the latter combined with an eight-speed automatic gearbox, optionally available for the 110kW TDI as an alternative to the six-speed manual gearbox.

The TDI models from 110kW can be ordered with 4MOTION all-wheel drive.

A system power of 171kW characterises the PHEV drive combined with an automatic gearbox (eHybrid).

The e-Transporter and e-Caravelle launch with 100kW, 160kW and 210kW, and a 64kWh (net) battery capacity.