Tag Archives: Crafter

Volkswagen motors away with super yacht deal

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Sunseeker Volkswagen TransportersVolkswagen Commercial Vehicles has signed a deal with Poole-based super yacht manufacturer, Sunseeker International, to supply eight new vans. The contract includes a mixture of Volkswagen Transporter and Crafter models.

The new vehicles will be used to transport yacht parts and personnel, and will replace Sunseeker’s existing commercial vehicle fleet. The first vehicles were delivered in July.

All eight vehicles have been supplied on a five-year service and maintenance contract hire agreement with Volkswagen Group Leasing, with support from Sunseeker’s local Volkswagen Van Centre, Breeze, located in Poole.

Mark Garside, transport manager at Sunseeker, commented:

“Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is renowned for its efficiency and reliability so the decision on which vehicles to choose was easy. However, selecting a partner to supply and maintain the vehicles while sticking to a budget was harder.  From the start I was aware of the benefits of going with a local Van Centre but the fact they provided a very competitive finance package with aftersales care sealed the deal.”

Volkswagen adds Crafter luton to Engineered-To-Go range

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Volkswagen Crafter LutonVolkswagen has expanded its Crafter large van range with the an all-new Luton model. Introduced as part of the brand’s Engineered-to-Go range of ready-built conversions, it has been designed and developed in partnership with leading British bodybuilder Ingimex.

Based on the adaptable Crafter chassis, the new Luton delivers class-leading payloads and a vast load cube. Constructed using GRP sides and bulkhead and a dip-painted and powder coated bolted frame, the finished bodies come readily modified for the addition of a tail-lift. The load cube has an overall volume of 17m3, while the internal roof height is a healthy 2,120mm.

The new Crafter Luton comes equipped with a host of standard features, including a four-tier load restraint system, a high-strength shutter and rear foot step. Naturally, the bodies are capable of carrying substantial loads and feature a reinforced bottom plank to protect against movement of unsecured loads.

As you would expect, the new Luton conversion meets the latest European standards, and has been designed and engineered to meet Volkswagen’s strict quality and durability controls. The new Luton comes with a three-year warranty that also covers any factory-fitted add-ons.

The Crafter Luton range is offered in long wheelbase and comes with Volkswagen’s 2.0-litre TDI engine with an output of either 136PS or 163PS.

Crafter Luton prices

Crafter Luton range Wheelbase Price (Basic ex. VAT)
CR35 2.0 TDI 136PS LWB £32,470
CR35 2.0 TDI 163PS LWB £33,380

The new Crafter luton is on sale now.

Volkswagen Crafter To Get Euro VI Engines

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Volkswagen Crafter vanThe Volkswagen Crafter will soon be availabe with Euro VI engines, making them some of the cleanest in their class.

The Euro VI standard is the most stringent European standard for exhaust emissions and Volkswagen says that a combination of three systems — Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) systems, and a built-in Diesel Particulate Filter — will be used to stay within the limits imposed by Euro VI.

Volkswagen’s Euro VI range will be available on selected Crafter models with kerbweights between 2,355 kg and 2,815 kg in medium and long wheelbases.  The firm’s Euro VI engine is a 2.0-litre TDI engine with an output of either 163 PS or 114 PS, the latter of which is new to the Crafter range.  The 114 PS EURO VI engine can also be specified with Volkswagen’s BlueMotion Technology, which will provide fuel economy of up to 35.3 mpg (combined) and emissions of just 210 g/km — not bad for a large van.

Crafter Euro VI model prices will start from £28,935 ex. VAT.

Volkswagen Adds Crafter Conversion To UK Dealer Stock

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Volkswagen Crafter Tipper

A Volkswagen Crafter tipper from the ‘Engineered to go’ range, which are available from stock at VW Commercial Vehicle dealers.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has further invested in its Crafter Engineered to go scheme by ensuring available stock across its UK Van Centre network. This means a range of off-the-shelf Crafter dropsides and tippers is now available to drive away from Van Centres.

All Engineered to go bodies are manufactured specifically for Volkswagen by leading bodybuilder Ingimex and are recognised for their quality and durability, benefits that enhance the residual value of the vehicles and are listed within the CAP price guide.

That’s not all; all bodies are supplied with European whole vehicle type approval. All bodies come with three years manufacturer warranty offering customers complete piece of mind.

Each body is made using a galvanised steel sub-frame, resin-coated birch plywood decks and anodised aluminium side and tail panels. The Crafter range includes panel vans with load volumes of up to 17m3 and window vans with up to eight passenger seats.

As part of its on-going commitment to working with its partners, Volkswagen has launched a Bodybuilder Database to the UK conversion market. The database, which was launched in early November, provides Bodybuilders with a direct link to the factory enabling access to technical guidelines, information and CAD drawings helping them to design and develop their own products.

Andrew Waite, Head of Sales Operations for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, commented: ‘The Crafter chassis has always offered the ideal blend of big payloads and customisation options but – for some of our customers – an off-the-shelf model suits their business needs perfectly.

“Driving off the forecourt with one of our Engineered to go™ Crafters means customers can swiftly get the vehicles they need with the additional peace-of-mind that the accompanying body is hard-wearing, corrosion-resistant and recognised for its quality and durability.

“All of which not only enhances the day-to-day experience of using the vehicles, but also boosts their resale values, too.”

Full details of the Engineered to go™ scheme are available at www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk,or by calling 0800 717131.

NCH Chooses Volkswagen Crafter Luton Conversions

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NCH Volkswagen Crafter luton

The Crafter with Luton body conversion

Industrial maintenance provider NCH (UK) has taken delivery of 10 Volkswagen Crafter Luton-bodied vans for its Pure Solve division.

The Crafter Luton vans is a bespoke solution that’s one of a range of conversions available from Volkswagen’s ‘Engineered for You’ programme, which enables customers to order a range of van conversions directly from their main dealer.

NCH, which is based at Bilston, near Wolverhampton, said that residual values, reliability and fuel economy all played a role in the choice — Matt Rivers, operations manager at NCH (UK) said:

“We wanted to acquire a fleet with an outstanding all-around performance, great residual values, but above all excellent fuel economy.

It’s absolutely vital that we have a fleet of vehicles which can meet the high standards of reliability to enable us to provide our services.  The Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles range meets those needs and stands out as an excellent investment.”

The Volkswagen Crafter range includes panel vans, crew-cabbed vans and window vanss with up to eight passenger seats, as well as chassis cab modesl and the ‘engineered to go’ range of dropside and tipper conversions. Volkswagen is currently offering a finance deals for contract hire and finance lease from £299 a month (plus VAT and initial rental), including a £1,000 deposit contribution and four free services.  Alternatively, if financed with lease purchase or hire purchase, a £2,000 deposit contribution is available.

Volkswagen Crafter Gets £700 Kit Boost

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Volkswagen Crafter panel vanVolkswagen aims to boost sales of its Crafter van, which shares its platform with the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, by adding more than £700 of extras to the large van’s standard specification.

In the cab, the added specification includes Bluetooth, a multi-function steering wheel (also adjustable for reach and rake), armrests for the driver’s seat, electrically operated and heated door mirrors and cruise control.  The load area now has a wooden floor as standard, plus an entry handle and 270 degree-opening rear doors.

Prices for the Crafter range start from £21,050, but Volkswagen is currently offering a range of finance deals for new buyers:

  • Contract hire and finance lease rates from £299 a month (plus VAT and initial rental), including a £1,000 initial rental contribution and four free services.
  • Alternatively, if financed with lease purchase or hire purchase, a £2,000 deposit contribution is available.

Commenting on the upgraded Crafter, Mark Hopkins, Head of Marketing, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said:

“With its higher specification, economical BlueMotion engines, affordable finance and impressive residual values, the Crafter is an extremely competitive proposition in the large van market. We have already seen a significant increase in Crafter sales this year, and as the new models offer even better value, we expect to see it become even more popular now.”

The Crafter range includes panel vans with load volumes of up to 17m3, window vans with up to eight passenger seats, single- and double-chassis cabs, plus tipper and dropside ‘Engineered to go’ conversions. The Crafter vans are popular with certain large van rental companies, and do seem to be gaining ground in the competitive large van market, where the Sprinter and Ford Transit have traditionally dominated in the UK.

Full details are available at www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk.

Supertrucks 7 Day Fleet Deal Showcases Lightweight Glass Racking

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7 Day Windows Volkswagen Crafter

Volkswagen Crafter fitted with Supertrucks racking for 7 Day Windows

Hot on the heels of its German export success, racking specialist Supertrucks has delivered six vans to window company 7 Day Windows, on hire from commercial truck and van hire firm Burnt Tree Group.

The six VW Crafter vans have been fitted with full interior and exterior glass racking from Supertrucks‘ lightweight, all-alloy range, and are designed to provide maximum operational versatility for 7 Day Windows, as they can carry double-glazed windows, doors and sheet glass.

Externally the Crafters have an off-side mounted, all-alloy 4250mm long x 2540mm high rack, which is equipped with three System 1 retaining poles.  These external racks, like most Supertrucks racks, are installed without the need to drill the side panels of the van.  Also the vans are fitted with full length, all-alloy, roof racks.

Supertrucks’ latest light-weight, all-alloy glass racks fitted to the 7 Day Windows Crafters incorporate a unique range of standard features, including:

  • rubber base blocks, incorporating side reflectors, to provide better in-transit load protection and improve vehicle visibility
  • reflective white safety markers, to effectively define the rack edges front and rear in poor visibility

Inside the vans are fitted with the company’s latest, light-weight twin, all-alloy racks, with retaining poles. All the racking comes with Supertrucks’ standard 3 year/100,000 mile warranty, which should allay any fears about the quality of the kit.

Peter Wright, Supertrucks chairman, explains:

“This latest fleet order demonstrates Supertrucks’ ability to meet both customer requirements and those of contract hire and leasing companies.  Unlike many other racking companies’ products our racks have been extensively tested and have industry-leading warranties.

In addition most Supertrucks external racks are installed without the need to drill the van’s side panels – a feature that has significant value to customers wishing to maximise residual values at the end of a three or four year operational life.”

Speaking as someone who has bought used vans with screw holes from previous racking fittings, I certainly agree with the last point!

Fife Council Buys 30 Volkswagen Crafter Vans for Grounds Fleet

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Volkswagen Crafter panel vanFife Council has purchased a further 30 Volkswagen Crafter large vans, as part of its vehicle replacement programme.

Andrew Salmond, Fife Council’s Fleet Officer, cited the Crafter’s quality, towing ability and size as key factors in the decision to buy the vans, which will be used by the Council’s Parks and Countryside department as part of its ground maintenance fleet:

“The capacity and reliability of the vehicles was instrumental in the procurement process.  We have a number of vehicles in use across the region and have always been pleased with the performance of the Crafter.”

The Crafter is the largest model in the Volkswagen van range, offering load volumes from 7.5 m3 to 17 m3, payloads from 1,544 kg to 2,693 kg, and efficient BlueMotion and BlueMotion Technology engines delivering combined fuel consumption of up to 39.8 mpg and a potential range of over 650 miles.

One of Kirkcaldy-based Fife Council’s requirements is that it is suitable for towing — presumably small plant trailers and the like. As a rear-wheel drive model (it’s based on the Sprinter platform), the Crafter should perform well as a towing vehicle, offering superior traction and stability when compared to front-wheel drive models.

Retail prices for the Crafter range start from £21,050 (plus VAT), or from £309 a month (plus VAT and initial rental) with the current contract hire and finance lease offer, including a £1,000 initial rental contribution from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Finance.  The Crafter range includes panel and window vans, single or double chassis cabs, and tipper or dropside bodies.

Van News: FN50 Most Reliable Vans & ACFO Van Awards

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Volkswagen Vans - group shot of Caddy, Crafter and Transporter

Volkswagen was voted overall most reliable van manufacturer - its Caddy and Transporter vans were in the top five, while the Crafter placed sixth.

Mercedes & Volkswagen Win Van Reliability Awards

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter was voted Britain’s most reliable van in the latest Fleet News FN50 reliability survey, taking top spot from last year’s winner, the Ford Transit.

The FN50 reliability survey polls the UK’s top 50 leasing companies by fleet size to find out their views on manufacturer and model reliability.

However, Volkswagen was voted the most reliable van manufacturer overall – two of its models (Caddy and Transporter) were in the top five, with the Crafter coming close behind in sixth place. Only one Mercedes-Benz model – the Sprinter – was in the top five; the other two places were occupied by the Ford Transit and Transit Connect.

Although some Transit models are built in the UK (in Southampton), no other British-built vans came close to winning an award – Vauxhall, which builds its popular Vivaro van in Luton, did not even feature in the top five most reliable van manufacturers.

Two British-built cars, the Nissan Qashqai ( built in Sunderland) and the Toyota Avensis (built in Burnaston, near Derby) did make it into the top ten most reliable cars, ranking sixth and fifth respectively.

Ford Transit Triumphs at ACFO Awards

Ford won both the Large Van and Small Van awards at this year’s Association of Car Fleet Operators Awards (ACFO). The Transit managed to displace last year’s winner in the Large Van of the Year category, the Mercedes Sprinter, and return to top position for the 15th time in this history of the awards.

The Transit Connect won the Small Van category for the ninth consecutive year – rounding out an impressive night for Ford, in which they won four out of the seven available awards. In addition to the Small and Large Van Awards, the Focus won the Fleet Car of the Year and was also awarded the Fleet Safety Initiative of the Year award for its Ford Focus Driver Assistance Pack option, which is a £750 option on the Focus and includes an impressive range of safety features:

Traffic sign recognition, which uses a forward-facing camera behind the rear view mirror to scan
the roadside for speed limit signs and flashes up helpful reminders on the dash so drivers always
know the speed limit; lane keeping aid; lane departure warning; auto high beam; blind spot alert;
driver alert if sensors detect erratic driving; and Active City Stop, which monitors the road ahead
and brakes the car automatically if a collision is imminent.

Awards also went to BMW (Environmental Initiative of the Year – BMW Efficient Dynamics) and Volkswagen (Green Car of the Year – VW Golf BlueMotion).

Volkswagen Launches New Crafter Van

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Volkswagen Crafter vanVolkswagen has just launched the new version of its Crafter van. The Crafter is VW’s largest van and has never been as popular in the UK as the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, despite the two vans being built in the same factory and being very nearly identical, except for having different engines.

The engine appears to be the biggest difference again – VW has replaced the 2.5TDi engine that was previously used in the Crafter with the same 2.0l, 4-cylinder engine that is used in the VW Transporter.

VW says that the engine has been retuned for use in the Crafter so that it provides more torque at lower engine speeds, reducing wear and tear and improving the driving experience. The new engine will be available with approximately the same power levels as the 2.5l unit it replaces – 109PS, 136PS, 143PS and 163PS.

Despite this, the engine will meet not just Euro V emissions standards but the EEV (Enhanced Environmentall Friendly Vehicles) standard, which is something of a halfway house between Euro V and Euro VI. VW says that in Bluemotion trim, the Crafter’s CO2 emissions will start from just 199g/km, very impressive for a large van.

Fleet News was impressed with the new Crafter when they drove it recently and it will be interesting to see if it makes any further headway against the Sprinter, especially in the van rental market.

VW’s official fuel consumption figures look impressive; the 109PS engine is expected to be the most popular and should provide an 11% improvement in fuel consumption on the outgoing model, according to VW’s figures for the combined cycle. Whether it will gain market share against the Sprinter and Iveco Daily is another question.

Volkswagen Crafter cab interior

The new Crafter's cab - a very nice place to spend time

Mercedes has a powerful brand advantage – the Sprinter’s reputation is legendary, as is the mileage some Sprinter engines reach. One concrete advantage the Sprinter has always had has been its low maintenance chain cam engine.

VW has always favoured a cambelt-driven engines meaning that the belt requires periodic replacement, as with most car engines. However, maintenance intervals keep getting longer on all vehicles and VW says that owners can opt to run the new Crafter on LongLife oil – meaning service intervals of up to 25,000 miles or 24 months, depending on how the van is used.

Update: In what is perhaps a deliberate move to try and break into the 3.5t fleet market currently dominated by the Sprinter, VW has announced that it will be making 80 Crafters available to large fleet customers for an extended six-month ‘try before you buy’ demo period. These vehicles will be in addition to VW dealer’s regular demo vans. Full details on Fleet News.