- Volkswagen Transporter (T5)
The T5 is the fifth generation of
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles medium sized commercial Transporter and people mover Caravelle/Multivan ranges which is sold on everycontinent exceptAntarctica .T5 series was launched in
2003 and replaced the fourth generation T4 Transporter series. [http://www.volkswagen-commercial-vehicles.com/vwcms_publish/vwcms/master_public/virtualmaster/en_vwn/unternehmen/chronikuebersicht/2001-heute.html Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles - Company - Chronicle - 2001-today > Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles - Company - Chronicle > Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles - Company > Volkswage... ] ]Transporter
The Transporter is the the commercial workhorse in the T5 range, it is available in many over 100 combinations such as short, medium or long wheelbases, low, medium or high roof lengths and it is available as a van, minibus, single or double cab dropside or chassis truck.
A brief view of the range:
*Delivery van without side windows or rear seats (Panel Van)
*Delivery van with raised roof (Highroof Panel Van; there's also a third roof height available with the T5, between the two traditional ones)
*Van with side windows only in the front half of the cargo area, and only one row of removable rear seats (Half-panel)
*Flatbed truck (Pick-up), also available with wider load bed
*Flatbed truck with double cab and two rows of seats (Crewcab Pick-up, in German Doppelkabiene)
*Cab Chassis (both single and crewcab), for Coachbuilders to build special bodies onto
*Van with side windows and removable rear seats (Kombi, from German "Kombinationskraftwagen" (combination vehicle), i.e. both a passenger and a cargo vehicle combined. Also available with heightened roof)
*Shuttle 9 seater minibus
*Taxi, Police, Fire and Ambulance fit outs are made by VW through Special Order although this option is not available in all marketsApart from these factory variants, there are a multitude of third-party conversions available, some of which are offered through the VW dealer organization. They include refrigerated vans, ambulances, police vans, fire engines, ladder trucks, and so on.
The full cargo payload potential of the Transporter is between 800kg to 1.4 tonnes and load compartment volumes range from 5.8 m³ to 9.3 m³.
In Mexico the T5 Transporter range is marketed under the Eurovan nameplate.
People Movers - Kombi to Multivan
The T5 is also available in 6 to 9 seater people movers called Shuttle, Kombi, Caravelle and Multivan.
The entry level people mover in the Transporter range is the Kombi. It is available with every engine in the T5 range and is available in all roof heights and wheelbases. It can seat four to nine people. The Kombi is equipped with very basic features such as rubber flooring, heater for driver's compartment, and side panel trim and headlining in the driver's compartment. Optional features include central locking, air conditioning for front and rear compartments, electrically controlled & heated mirrors, sliding windows, ESP, side and curtain airbags, cruise control, electric windows, sunroof, and an electric sliding door.
The Shuttle, the next level up, is only available in SWB and LWB with the full engine range but is limited to the normal roof height. The Shuttle is able to seat seven to nine passengers. Standard features are moulded trim, a second heater, sunblinds for the passenger compartment, and a sliding window on the left hand side only. Optional extras over the Kombi include carpeting and an Appearance Package which includes colour coded bumpers, double folding rear 3 seater bench seat, and a luggage compartment light.
The Caravelle includes most of the Kombi and Shuttle features already standard plus ESP, ABS, Anti Slip Regulation (ASR), passengers seat with adjustable lumber support, air conditioning, electrically adjustable & heated mirrors, armrests for front seat passenger and driver. Optional features include Automatic Tailgate Power Closing system, and CD stackers. The Caravelle is only available in SWB or LWB with seven to nine seats.
The Multivan is the top of the line people mover based on the T5 platform. Available as a six or seven seater, it has a unique rail feature in which seats can slide forward and backward into any configuration. Accessories are available like tables and refrigerators which fit into the rails to be secured or movable if necessary. The Multivan has all safety features as standard such as ABS, ESP, ASR, and front, side and curtain airbags. The Multivan is sold under the Caravelle nameplate in the UK.
California
The T5 Kombi/Multivan Beach and California are
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles first inhouse designed and builtmotorhome range.The Kombi Beach comes with just a fold-up bed, whereas the California is a fully equipped camper with beds, sinks, and fold up seat and tables.
T5 Engines
TDI
*1.9L 4 cylinder TDI producing 62kW / 84 bhp @ 200Nm of torque.
*1.9L 4 cylinder TDI producing 75kW / 102 bhp @ 250Nm of torque.*2.5L 5 cylinder TDI producing 96kW / 130 bhp @ 340Nm of torque.
*2.5L 5 cylinder TDI producing 128kW / 174 bhp @ 400Nm of torque.
Petrol
*2.0L 4 cylinder producing 85kW / 115 bhp @ 170Nm of torque.
*3.2L 6 cylinder producing 173kW / 235bhp @ 315Nm of torque.
Awards
*The T5 in
2008 was awarded a 4-star crash safety rating from the European New Car Assessment Program. [ [http://www.euroncap.com/tests/VW_T5_2008/326.aspx Euro NCAP - For safer cars | VW T5 ] ]*In the
UK the popular commercial vehicle publication What Van ? awarded the T5 range the2003 What Van? Van of the Year award.*In 2004 the T5 range won the prestigous International Van of the Year which is voted by the top Editors & Journalists from fleet, van and truck publications.
In
Australia the T5 has been awarded three awards from the Delivery Magazine publication:
*Delivery Magazine's Medium Van of the Year for2005 .*Delivery Magazine's Medium Van of the Year for
2006 .*Delivery Magazine's Cab Chassis of the Year for
2006 .In the home market in
Germany the T5 Series has won numerous awards by respected publications and votes by the public. [www.volkswagen-media-service.com]*Lastauto Omnibus Van of the Year
2003 *transaktuell Van of the Year
2003 *Auto Motor und Sport - Multivan Best in Class
2005 *Auto Motor und Sport - Multivan Best in Class
2007 *Auto Motor und Sport - Multivan Best in Class
2008 *Auto Zeitung - Auto Trophy for the Multivan in the 'Vans' Class
2006 Gallery
References
External links
"official sites"
* [http://www.volkswagen-commercial-vehicles.com/vwcms_publish/vwcms/master_public/virtualmaster/en_vwn/models/transporter.html Global VW T5 Transporter Site]
* [http://www.volkswagen.com.au/california/default.asp VW Australia's California Website]
* [http://www.volkswagen.com.au/kombibeach/default.asp VW Australia's Kombi Beach Website]
* [http://www.volkswagen.com.au/kombi/default.asp VW Australia's Kombi Website]
* [http://www.volkswagen.com.au/multivan/default.asp VW Australia's Multivan Website]
* [http://www.volkswagen.com.au/transporter/default.asp VW Australia's Transporter Website]
* [http://www.newcaravelle.co.uk/ VW UK's Caravelle Website]
* [http://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/newtransportershowroom VW UK's Transporter Website]"unaffiliated independent sites"
* [http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/forumdisplay.php?f=26 Australian VW Vans & 4WD Forum]
* [http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/forum/ Brick-Yard UK - Multivan & Transporter Forums]
* [http://forums.vwvortex.com/zeroforum?id=33 VWvortex Vans & Transporter Forums]
* [http://www.westfalia.org Westfalia.org - owners website] (Community forWestfalia owners and enthusiasts. The site's Message Boards are a great knowledge base of Westfalia information).
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