Volkswagen has unveiled its new sixth-generation Transporter, six months after teasing visitors to the Hanover Commercial Vehicle Show with the T6-based Tristar concept vehicle.
Although it is very much an evolution of the outgoing T5, the T6 boasts a new range of Euro 6 engines and a range of improvements that should make it better to drive, safer, more comfortable and more fuel efficient.
Top of the list of changes are the engines: VW says that the T6 will have “a completely new generation” of TDI engines for the Euro 6 market, which have been developed with “longevity and ruggedness” in mind, the firm says.
Interestingly, VW mentioned engine durability ahead of efficiency in the launch press release: is the firm trying to address the reputation of modern diesels, which are becoming known for their complexity and high mid-life repair costs, as much as their performance and efficiency?
Anyway, the new diesel engine is a 2.0-litre unit that’s available in 84PS, 102PS, 150PS and 204PS variants. Happily, there’s also a petrol option, a 2.0-litre engine with a choice of 150 PS or 204 PS power outputs. Volkswagen says that all of the new engines will save 1 litre of fuel per 100km, compared to the previous generation of models. All engines have a stop-start system as standard that can reduce fuel consumption by up to 15%, according to the firm.
Other improvements include the availability (probably as options, in some cases) of a wide range of driver assistance systems, including Automatic Post-Collission Braking System, which is standard, Front Assist, which is a front-facing collision avoidance system, adaptive cruise control, City Emergency Braking and Hill Descent Assist (on 4MOTION all-wheel drive models).
An interesting an upmarket addition is Dynamic Cruise Control, which is a comfort feature that adapts the van’s electrically-adjustable shock absorbers to provide three driving modes, comfort, normal and sport. I suspect this is only really relevant on the passenger-carrying/Caravalle models, however, as it would be odd in a van.
Finally, there’s also a new infotainment system, which is available with a 6.3″ touchscreen, which provides a range of of features depending on how the van has been specified.
The new Transporter will arrive in the UK later this year — further details nearer the time.
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