Volkswagen Teases All-New Transporter With Electric, Plug-In Hybrid, And Diesel Powertrains

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has released an early teaser image of its new Transporter van. It will be based on the new Ford Transit Custom and offered with ICE, PHEV, and EV drivetrains. Due to replace the T6.1, the newcomer will boast styling inspired by VW vans of the past. The front fascia has hints of the T6.1 in the headlights, while the radiator grille takes inspiration from the T5. “The front design of our seventh Transporter immediately makes it clear that it is a member of the Bulli family and complements the Multivan and ID. Buzz duo,” said Chief Designer Albert Kirzinger.

Depending on the configuration, the new Transporter measures between 198.1 and 214.5 inches long. Customers can choose between 16-, 17-, and 19-inch wheels, the largest of which gets a sporty diamond-cut finish. The styling of the rear fascia varies depending on customer needs. Winged doors will be offered alongside a traditional tailgate with detailed C-shaped LED taillights.

Plenty Of Body Styles To Choose From

Per Autocar, the new Transporter will be offered in several body styles, including a nine-seater, a panel van, a two-row ‘Kombi,’ and a tipper-style pickup truck. A Sportline variant is also expected, but Volkswagen has yet to confirm this. For the first time, the Transporter will not form the basis of the new Camper van, with the German brand deciding to develop an entirely new Multivan model. Volkswagen also had plans to build a camper version of the ID. Buzz but is in no rush to do so due to low EV demand.

As mentioned, the Transporter will be available with multiple drivetrains. “We can’t afford to build another platform [for the same vehicle]. It’s just too expensive. This is a vehicle that, unlike the California, doesn’t give you the highest margin per sale,” said Carsten Intra, CEO of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. Whereas the ID. Buzz is all-electric, and the Multivan uses ICE and PHEV engines, the new Transporter will be able to cater to various customers with just a single platform.

Electric, Plug-In Hybrid, Or Combustion – Buyer’s Choice

Like the Transit, the electric Transporter should have a range of around 236 miles (on the ambitious WLTP cycle) and offer between 134 and 215 horsepower. The plug-in hybrid version is expected to have as much as 222 hp, while the diesels will have up to 148 horses, paired with a manual transmission. An automatic, paired with AWD, will likely be offered. Of course, there’s a possibility VW may offer different configurations or states of tune compared to the Transit’s outputs mentioned above, but that may increase those pesky costs that a commercial vehicle must shy away from.

Related

Volkswagen ID. Buzz Coming To The US With Three Trims, Countless Color Options And Interior Finishes, Up To 335 HP

Finally, Volkswagen has confirmed the specification of the ID. Buzz, but pricing still remains a mystery.

This isn’t the first time Ford and VW have co-developed vehicles to cut costs. The Ranger, for example, shares its underpinnings with the new Volkswagen Amarok, while the ID.4 has donated its bones to the all-new Explorer EV. “Although they are similar, we have a different car to [Ford]. We will let you be the judge, but we think ours is better. It has been judged internally too, even at Ford, and everyone has judged it as better,” boasted Intra. That being said, it is expected to be more expensive than the £33,000 ($42,000) MSRP of the Blue Oval product, with an estimated starting price of more than £35,000 ($44,600).

Source: Autocar