There’s A New Generation Of VW Transporter Out But We Won’t Get It In America

Here in America, when it comes to Volkswagen vans, we have sort of a different view than the rest of the world. They’re either seen as nostalgic artifacts of some idealized long-ago era, quaint relics that now command crazy money, or an eagerly-anticipated EV revival of those old original air-cooled Type 2 buses, in the form of the ID.Buzz. The rest of the world, though, has never had their supply of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles taken from them thanks to the talons of the cruel Chicken Tax. In the rest of the world, VW has been building workhorse vans as part of the Transporter series since 1950 and hasn’t stopped. VW just released some pictures of the latest version, the T7, as in the seventh generation of transporter since those early rattly bread loaves from 1950, and they look pretty good! Maybe I’m especially interested because these are forbidden to me, or maybe it’s just my fondness for humble working vehicles, but I think we should tale a moment and look at these new vans.

It is sort of strange to think about how differently we view VW vans and buses in America as opposed to how VW themselves thinks of them. The ID.Buzz, for example, is absolutely a product of the American view of these machines: saturated with nostalgia and character and references to very specific eras and design ideas. The Transporter series, though, cares not for nostalgia! The Transporter series has been a series of boxes on wheels with engines since the get-go, and as technology and the world changed, then the Transporter changed, too.

Let’s take a quick look at Transporter evolution:

That’s up to the current generation, the T6, or, really, T6.1, as VW called the facelifted/updated version, and which had a run from 2015 to 2024, the year we’re currently enjoying as we speak. The T6.1 I think was a very appealing and useful van/bus/camper platform, and I always felt it was a shame VW never thought it made sense to sell in America. Hell, David and I once spent 24 hours straight in one:

They’re solid vans, and they get used for just about everything all over Europe! This new T7 generation of Transporter updates the styling and, more significantly, be the first VW vans to be available with drivetrain choices that include turbodiesel, plug-in hybrid or battery-electric power. This is especially interesting because it means that the ID.Buzz will not be VW’s only electric van. Here’s what VW’s press release says about the drivetrain options:

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is significantly expanding its range of drive systems with the debut of the new Transporter and Caravelle versions. In addition to the latest turbodiesel engines (TDI), both models will be available with both a plug-in hybrid drive and an all-electric drive. The pre-sales phase is already underway with three different TDI engine power options: 81kW (110 PS), 110kW (150 PS) and 125kW (170 PS). The newly developed plug-in hybrid drive (eHybrid) with a system power of 171kW (232 PS) can already be ordered. Three electric drives with outputs of 100kW (136 PS), 160kW (218 PS) and 210kW (286 PS) and a net battery capacity of 64kWh will follow soon. In addition, there will be an electric version with reduced power and a smaller battery for urban delivery transport. The TDI and eHybrid models come with front-wheel drive. The 4MOTION all-wheel drive system is available as an option for the TDI versions from 110kW. The all-electric models have rear-wheel drive; an all-wheel drive version is also planned here for a later date.

The small-battery urban delivery version is especially interesting, I think, and could be a very rational choice for the job it’s designed to do.

Look-wise, I think the updates to the vans are quite good; I especially like the front end of the Transporter version (seen above), which is the cargo van version, as opposed to the Caravelle, which is more for passenger-carrying duty:

As you can see, the front of the Caravelle adds a dark strip between the headlamps, which I think just overcomplicates the face of the van. Look again at the Transporter one:

It feels cleaner and emphasizes the friendly look of the van, something that I think should be lauded. Not every vehicle needs to look like it wants to murder you! The smiling grille and approachable proportions give these machines a look of eagerness, a quality that I think is great for a commercial vehicle. The Transporter line will come in Panel van versions for mostly cargo (though a second-row seat is available), Kombi, for passengers, if not as luxuriously as the Caravelle, and Double-cab flatbed pickup versions. The cargo capacity is now 1.33 metric tons, close to 3,000 pounds, and they can tow up to about 6,200 pounds, about 700 more pounds than the last generation.

Also, at least based on the press images put out by VW here, the color selection looks promising! That vivid lime green, that electric blue! These are great colors! Not all commercial vans need to be white!

VW included some interior shots of the cockpit, and they look fine, I guess:

I do like seeing that manual shifter in there, I won’t lie.

VW also mentioned a PanAmericana package that sounds like an exciting overlander sort of thing – it seems they’ve offered this sort of package for a few generations now:

On the outside, the new PanAmericana is recognisable by its robust all-terrain trims on the side sills and wheel arches, grained bumpers designed for tough conditions and a painted radiator grille. Film wraps also protect the boot lid or rear wing doors in the lower area. Inside, this van welcomes the driver and passengers with illuminated stainless steel inlays for the steps, high-gloss black applications in the dash panel and interior door handles in chrome. Other distinctive features include exclusive seat fabrics with PanAmericana lettering incorporated into the backrests as well as colour-coordinated contrasting seams. The Caravelle PanAmericana is equipped as standard with the new 19-inch Indianapolis alloy wheels (in black with a diamond-cut finish), which are also available as an option for the PanAmericana Transporter. The optional 4MOTION all-wheel drive perfectly complements the character and range of applications of both PanAmericana versions.

VW didn’t release a picture of that one just yet.

So, while these won’t likely matter much in America, these are important commercial vehicles, and I still think one of the more appealing vehicles modern VW makes overall. I’m still sort of hoping one day they’ll find a way for them to make sense in America. A plug-in hybrid Kombi in that green seem kind of like an ideal family car to me!

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