VOLKSWAGEN has separated its next-generation Multivan people-mover from the Transporter van vary as a part of the German large’s world industrial car co-development partnership with Ford.
Promising to ship a extra car-like driving expertise as a result of adoption of Volkswagen Group’s MQB structure, which underpins every kind of fashions from the Polo gentle hatch to the Atlas massive SUV, the brand new Multivan can even convey larger ranges of know-how and electrification.
Unveiled final week in Germany however not but confirmed for Australia, the brand new Multivan can be offered alongside the Transporter 6.1 – which can proceed to type the premise of the California camper van – in addition to each passenger and industrial variations of the all-electric ID.Buzz as soon as they debut subsequent 12 months.
The all-new T7 Transporter co-developed with Ford is slated for a 2023 launch, with each manufacturers’ mannequin strains anticipated to function a number of flavours of electrification to future-proof them for sometimes lengthy industrial car product lifecycles.
Volkswagen Group Australia public relations and model expertise supervisor Kurt McGuinness informed GoAuto the brand new Multivan was “beneath investigation” for import however had not but been given the inexperienced gentle.
He mentioned there was no purpose for the Multivan to not come to Australia and that robust gross sales of the Transporter 6.1 that launched final August meant the corporate “would like to convey one other T-vehicle right here”.
If imported, the Multivan would enter a resurgent people-mover section that has lengthy been dominated by the Kia Carnival – an all-new model of which launched early this 12 months together with a refreshed Honda Odyssey that comes a distant second within the gross sales charts – and can quickly grow to be extra aggressive with the arrival of Hyundai’s futuristic-looking Staria.
Introduced for its world reveal in traditional Kombi-echoing two-tone paint, the brand new Multivan bridges the type hole between Transporter 6.1 and the ID. Buzz EV idea that premiered in 2017, whereas that includes some design particulars from the VW passenger automobile vary in addition to the Caddy small van that launches right here subsequent month.
A most of seven seats are individually adjustable and detachable through a brand new sliding observe system that additionally allows a centre console to be moved from the entrance to the rear, the place it may be folded out right into a picnic desk.
Volkswagen says the Multivan maintains the inside peak of its predecessor, which is even barely elevated when the brand new panoramic glass roof choice is chosen.
Two lengths of Multivan can be provided, the bigger providing as much as 4053 litres of cargo house in line with Volkswagen, which describes the brand new mannequin as designed for “households and energetic sporty folks” but additionally “appropriate as a high-class shuttle”.
A plug-in hybrid drivetrain can be accessible in some markets together with turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel engine choices. Outputs will vary from 100kW for the bottom petrol to 160kW for the plug-in hybrid, with dual-clutch computerized transmissions commonplace on most variants.
Complete security and driver help applied sciences can even be commonplace, together with a Car2X communication system to offer early warning of hazards, highway signal recognition, superior autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep help, swerve help and oncoming car detection for junctions plus adaptive cruise management.
Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit customisable screen-based instrument cluster and related multimedia system with subscription-based apps comparable to satellite tv for pc navigation can be fitted and semi-autonomous driving functionality at speeds of as much as 210km/h is claimed.
Adaptive matrix LED headlights can be an optionally available improve from the usual LED gadgets.
Volkswagen has notched up 489 Multivan gross sales within the first 5 months of this 12 months, up 170.2 per cent to safe a ten.3 per cent share of the sub-$60,000 folks mover section behind the Honda Odyssey (581 items) and dominant Kia Carnival (2871 items).
The corporate additionally offered 39 of the nine-seat Caravelles (up 550%) and 10 California campers.
Transporter van gross sales of 709 items (up 111.6%) earnt Volkswagen sixth place within the 2.5-3.5-tonne light-commercial section with a 6.3 per cent share.
