A major event in the industry is just around the corner: The new Transporter will be launched on the German market in early 2025. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles now is announcing further details of the interior and load compartment in the newly developed generation of its Transporter. Like the Multivan and the ID. Buzz, the new Transporter will be launched with a digital cockpit landscape as standard. The load compartment also offers major advantages over the Transporter 6.1, which is now being replaced. The new basic normal-wheelbase version clearly shows this: its load compartment is 61 mm longer, while the width between the wheel arches has even been increased by as much as 148 mm. This means any customer who was already satisfied with the predecessor will be delighted with the significantly enhanced new Transporter.
High-quality, spacious, functional: The Transporter’s interior has been newly designed and revamped down to the smallest detail. The clear development goal was to produce a Transporter with the customary Volkswagen design features, combined with maximum spaciousness and functionality. The new Transporter generation from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles shows that this goal has been met in every way.
Familiar VW bus layout: All owners of a T6.1 will be familiar with the typical high seat position, the wide door shoulders and the high position of the selector lever in the new Transporter generation. In front of the driver, the new digital cockpit landscape is easily visible on one viewing axis. This consists of the freely configurable 12-inch instrument (Digital Cockpit with 30 cm diagonal) and the 13-inch touchscreen (33 cm diagonal) for the standard infotainment system (including DAB+ and wireless App Connect with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto). Another standard feature: a new multifunction steering wheel with buttons that are easy to operate even when wearing gloves. As in the Multivan and ID. Buzz, the new Transporter now also has an electronic parking brake plus Auto-Hold function. Operation of the electronic parking brake has been moved to the dash panel, freeing up more space in the footwell for possible through-cab access to the rear – depending on the equipment.
Up to six seats in the new Transporter: As standard, the new Transporter as a panel van is equipped with two individual seats at the front. Three seats are also optionally available in the front (driver’s seat plus two-seater bench seat). In addition, the Transporter can be equipped with up to three easily removable individual seats in the second seat row and – at a later date as Kombi (passenger car) – also with a three-passenger bench seat in the third seat row. As the only commercial vehicle in this class, the new Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Transporter will also be available with a double cab for the dropside. In this case, there are six seats on board: the driver’s seat plus two-seater bench seat in the first seat row and a three-seater bench seat in the second seat row. Robust fabric designs as well as two leatherette variants are available as seat covers.
5.8 to 9.0 m3 load compartment: The new Transporter is 5,050 mm long – this represents an increase of 146 mm compared with the predecessor. The wheelbase has been extended by 97 mm to 3,100 mm, and there will be an optional 400 mm-longer wheelbase (total length: 5,450 mm). At 2,032 mm, the exterior width of the Transporter has grown by 128 mm compared with its predecessors (without exterior mirrors). The maximum width between the wheel housings has been significantly increased by 148 mm to 1,392 mm. This makes it easy to stow Euro pallets. The load compartment length on the floor of the normal-wheelbase Transporter is 2,602 mm – this corresponds to an additional 61 mm; with an extended wheelbase, the load compartment length grows to 3,002 mm. Thanks to the greater exterior length, width and wheelbase, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has been able to significantly enlarge the load capacity of the new Transporter. The largest stowage volume with normal wheelbase and for all drive types has been practically increased by two moving boxes and is now 5.8 m3. The version with long wheelbase and high roof will accommodate up to 9.0 m3. The load compartment can be configured with various partition walls and individually tailored to a company’s specific requirements.
Maximum payload of 1.33 tonnes: Despite its size, the new Transporter with a height of less than 2.0 metres (normal roof) fits into all conventional multi-storey car parks. With a turning circle of only 11.8 metres (normal wheelbase), the Transporter also masters tight bends effortlessly when manoeuvring. In addition, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has ensured that this automotive tool for professionals can also carry the weight it can transport in terms of volume: the maximum payload is up to 1.33 tonnes. And if that is not enough, the new Transporter generation can pull trailers weighing up to 2.8 tonnes to where the load is needed in everyday work.
Digital and self-explanatory: Drivers of the T6.1, Multivan and ID. Buzz will immediately find their way around the clear and self-explanatory menu structure of all displays and control panels. As usual, the light functions are arranged on the left next to the steering wheel, with the buttons for important vehicle functions, menus and audio volume on the right in a bar. The touchscreen of the infotainment system is located above this. At the bottom of the screen there is a permanent display bar with the main climate control functions including operation of the seat heating. The large home screen with freely assignable tiles is arranged in the middle. Above the home screen there is a permanent bar with a wide range of standard information (such as the outside temperature or the charge level of the smartphone) and a home button that takes you back to the main menu with just one click. The infotainment system can be optionally extended with a navigation system, the Volkswagen mobile online services of VW Connect and VW Connect Plus (standard with the navigation system), and a Harman Kardon sound system.
All charged up: There is a stowage tray for smartphones in the centre console with an optional inductive charging function. Further devices can be charged using up to seven USB-C, USB-A and 12-volt interfaces. In addition, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles offers the new Transporter with an optional 230 V power hub (400 W) including converter to power large electrical devices of all kinds. There will also be an inverter with an output of 2.3 kW for the electric or electrified variants.
On the German market the new Transporter will be launched in early 2025. With significantly more standard equipment on board than the T6.1 and equipped with an 81 kW (110 PS) turbodiesel engine (TDI), the Transporter will be offered here as a panel van and as a dropside with double cab. All Transporter customers will receive a binding price guarantee until delivery in the coming year. Pre-sales have already started in Germany and are running promisingly – a great vote of confidence in the brand.