The next-generation Volkswagen Transporter van is set to be unveiled at the IAA Transportation show in Hanover, Germany, in September. Priced from €36,780 (£31,200), the new design aims to maintain the iconic look of the Transporter while incorporating modern updates. The front end features a large grille and redesigned headlights, bringing it in line with other VW models like the ID Buzz and Multivan. The length of the Transporter will range from 5050mm to 5450mm, making it longer than both the ID Buzz and Multivan. At the rear, the van will have redesigned C-shaped LED lights and horizontal character lines on the tailgate to emphasize width. The Transporter will also come with various wheel options, including 16in, 17in, and 19in wheels, making it the first time the van offers 19in alloys.
The chief designer for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Albert Kirzinger, highlights that the new design of the seventh-generation Transporter pays homage to its predecessors while giving them a modern interpretation. This design approach has been a tradition for the Transporter line, keeping it updated and successful for over eight decades.
One significant change for the new Transporter is that it will no longer serve as the basis for the California camper van. Instead, VW will derive the California model from the MQB-based Multivan MPV. VWCV boss Carsten Intra explains that this decision was made to differentiate the Transporter from the more upscale Multivan. He emphasizes that the Transporter will be the brand’s only multi-traction vehicle and will provide customers with a range of powertrain options, including diesel, petrol-plug-in hybrid, and battery-electric options.
The Transporter will be built at the Ford Otosan factory in Turkey and will use Ford’s batteries, electric motors, engines, gearboxes, and chassis structures across its lineup. This collaboration with Ford allows the Transporter to be available as an electric vehicle (EV) for the first time. The EV version, known as the E-Transporter, is expected to have a range of 236 miles and offer rear-axle-mounted motors with 134bhp or 215bhp.
In terms of design, VW promises that the new Transporter will have a distinctive look that sets it apart from the Ford Transit Custom. VWCV boss Carsten Intra confidently states that the Transporter has been judged internally and even by Ford executives as a better design. Inside, the new Transporter will take cues from the more upscale Multivan.
Overall, the next-generation Volkswagen Transporter van offers a balance between maintaining the iconic design of the Transporter line while incorporating modern updates and differentiating itself from the Multivan. With a range of powertrain options and a partnership with Ford for EV technology, the Transporter aims to meet the diverse needs of its customers.