News / 12 August 2024 / Michael Taylor

VW unveils next-gen Transporter and Caravelle – When they’re coming to South Africa

VW has officially unveiled the seventh-generation Transporter and Caravelle, and at least one of them is coming to South Africa.

The company’s local branch confirmed to TopAuto that the Transporter is planned for a market introduction in the second half of 2025, though the Caravelle is still under investigation.

What to expect

VW has once again partnered with Ford to create its latest products, as the new Transporter and Caravelle are based on the latest iteration of the Transit Custom and Tourneo Custom, respectively.

The Transporter is a panel van intended for commercial use, while the Caravelle is classified as a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) with seats for up to nine people.

This time around, the Volkswagen is 5,050mm in length and 2,032mm in width – an improvement of 146mm and 128mm, respectively.

As a result, the cargo area has been enlarged to the point where the panel vans can now accommodate a standard Euro pallet between the rear wheel arches.

The short-wheelbase (SWB) models measure 3,100mm from axle to axle (100mm more than the old version), while the long-wheelbase (LWB) option increases this by 400m to reach a length of 5,450mm.

As for the storage area, the SWB units now have space for 5.8 cubic metres of cargo, while the LWB models can take up to 8.9 cubic metres.

The Transporter’s payload capacity has also been increased by 40kg to hit a new cap of 1,330kg.

Importantly, the new vans have a height of just under two metres, meaning they can still enter any standard parking garage.

In terms of equipment, the Transporter and Caravelle feature a modern dashboard complete with a new 12-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The panel van has six speakers while the people carrier gets 10, and the latter can remove the last seat row to improve its boot space.

The automaker has yet to confirm which engines will be brought to South Africa, but overseas the VWs are available with three different powertrains.

The first is a turbocharged diesel (TDI) block paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox that is rated to produce three different outputs: 81kW, 110kW, or 125kW.

The TDI units are optionally available with the 4Motion all-wheel-drive system, and have a maximum towing capacity of 2,800kg.

There is also a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option that combines a petrol engine with a small electric motor and a 64kWh battery.

This drivetrain generates 173kW, though unfortunately the manufacturer has not provided any further details on the PHEV such as its electric range.

Finally, there is a battery-electric (BEV) derivative with a rear-mounted e-motor capable of putting out 100kW, 160kW, or 210kW, though the battery size and range are still unknown.

While the electrified options are unlikely to appear in South Africa anytime soon, it is worth highlighting that the brand is currently assessing our market with the limited rollout of its new ID.4 Pro SUV, which could pave the way for other VW electric models over the next few years.