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.
The new Volkswagen Transporter T6
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.
The Transporter T6 alongside an original T1, a model first introduced 60 years ago. The model on the right is the retro-style Generation Six special edition, which VW has recently confirmed will be available in the UK.
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.
The view inside the cab will be familiar to anyone who has driven a T5, but why mess too much with something so good?
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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