Volkswagen Transporter - Wikipedia

Series of vans Motor vehicle

Volkswagen Transporter
Overview
Manufacturer	Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
Also called	Volkswagen Type 2 (until 2002) Kombi
Production	November 1949 – present
Assembly	Germany: Hanover
Body and chassis
Class	Light commercial vehicle/Large MPV (Multivan/Caravelle) (M)
Body style	Van (cargo/passenger) Minibus Campervan Pickup truck Crew cab Chassis cab

The Volkswagen Transporter, based on the Volkswagen Group's T platform, now in its seventh generation, refers to a series of vans produced for over 70 years and marketed worldwide.

The T series is now considered an official Volkswagen Group automotive platform.[1][2] and generations are sequentially named T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 and T7. Pre-dating the T platform designations, the first three generations were named Type 2, indicating their relative position to the Type 1, or Beetle. As part of the T platform, the first three generations are retroactively named T1, T2 and T3.

The Transporter is the best-selling van in history with over 12 million units sold worldwide,[3] and it comprises a gamut of variants including vans, minivans / minibuses, campervans, and chassis cab and pickup trucks. Competitors include the Ford Transit, Toyota HiAce and Mercedes-Benz Vito.

Type 2

[edit]

T1 (1950)

[edit] Main article: Volkswagen Type 2 (T1)

Initially derived from the Volkswagen Type 1 (Volkswagen Beetle), the Volkswagen Type 2 (T1) was the first generation of Volkswagen's Transporter family.

• T1 (front)
• T1 (rear)

T2 (1967)

[edit] Main article: Volkswagen Type 2 (T2)

The Volkswagen T2 platform[2] was marketed from 1967 through 1979 model years, with a Volkswagen Type 4 engine optionally available from 1972 on.

• T2
• T2b Camper

T3 (1979)

[edit] Main article: Volkswagen Type 2 (T3)

The Volkswagen (Type 2) T3 Transporter, also known as T25 in the UK or VW Vanagon in the United States, was introduced in 1979. The T3 Transporter was one of the last all-new bodied Volkswagen platforms that still used an air-cooled, rear-engine design.

Compared to its predecessor, (the T2), the T3 was sturdier and heavier, with a slightly larger, much more square and boxy body, that offered more usable interior space than the original models' rounded front side, roof, and edges. The T3, with its front now folding sharply along a horizontal middle axis, instead of the old model's curve, is sometimes called "the wedge" by enthusiasts, to differentiate it from earlier VW "Kombis".

The Volkswagen air-cooled boxer engine was supplanted by a water-cooled one – though still rear-mounted – in 1983. Both Porsche and Oettinger built six-cylinder versions of the T3 Transporter in very small numbers, with the Porsche-built version achieving a top speed around 200 km/h (125 mph).

A four-wheel drive Syncro model was introduced, premiering in January 1985.[4]

While production of the T3 ended in Europe with the Syncro produced in Austria until 1992, the T3 was also produced in South Africa, until 2002.

• T3 (front)
• T3 (rear)

Transporter/Multivan

[edit]

T4 (1990)

[edit] Main article: Volkswagen Transporter (T4)

The first officially designated "T platform" vehicle, the Volkswagen Transporter (T4)[1] dramatically updated the Volkswagen van line by using a front-mounted, front-wheel drive, water-cooled engine. The T4 was marketed in North America as the Volkswagen Eurovan.

• T4 (front)
• T4 (rear)

T5 (2003)

[edit] Main article: Volkswagen Transporter (T5)

2003 (pre-facelift)

[edit]

The Volkswagen Transporter (T5)[1][2] is a variant of the Volkswagen T platform. In North America it was sold in Mexico but not in the United States nor Canada. As with other light trucks, the T5 range would face a 25% tariff, known as the chicken tax, if imported to the US.

• T5 (front; pre-facelift)
• T5 (rear; pre-facelift)

2009 (facelift)

[edit]

• T5 (front; facelift)
• T5 (rear; facelift)

The Transporter T5 range received a facelift in late 2009. Updated powertrain options include common rail diesel engines, and a world-first usage in a light commercial vehicle of a dual clutch transmission – namely Volkswagen Group's 7-speed Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG).

T6 (2016)

[edit] Main article: Volkswagen Transporter (T6)

In 2016, Volkswagen released the T6 Transporter which is based on the T5 Transporter. A refreshed version was first shown in 2019 as the T6.1 Transporter.

• T6 (front; facelift)
• T6 (rear; facelift)

T7

[edit]

Multivan (2022)

[edit] Main article: Volkswagen Multivan (T7)

The T7 was released in November 2021 with petrol, diesel and PHEV variants and is only available as a minivan, replacing the Caravelle model for the U.K. market and Multivan in other markets. The T7 Multivan is based on Volkswagen's MQB platform.

The T7 Multivan is not to be confused with the new Volkswagen Transporter panel van and chassis cab models, which will be based on the new 2023 Ford Transit Custom and will be a larger vehicle than the Multivan. The new Transporter shares the vast majority of its body and mechanical components with the Transit, which will be built alongside the new VW Transporter at the Ford Otosan factory in Turkey.

• T7 Multivan (front)
• T7 Multivan (rear)

Transporter (2024)

[edit] Main article: Volkswagen Transporter (2024)

In December 2023, the 7th Generation Transporter was officially teased with diesel, PHEV and electric powertrains, with a launch scheduled for the second quarter of 2024. Volkswagen have not applied the T7 designation to this model, which is officially known only as 'Transporter'.[5]

• 7th Generation Transporter (front)
• 7th Generation Transporter (rear)

See also

[edit]

• Abt Sportsline
• Chassis cab

References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Europe's slight rise & anticipated decline – Auto by the Numbers – car sales, production in Western Europe – Illustration – Statistical Data Included". Automotive Design & Production, April 2002 by Mark Fulthorpe / Gardner Publications, Inc. / Gale Group. CBS Interactive Business UK. 2002. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
2. ^ a b c "Im Fokus: Volkswagen – Kernkompetenz: Sparen" (PDF). CSM Worldwide (in German). Automobil-Produktion.de. March 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
3. ^ "Top 20 best-selling vans of all time". Parkers Van News. Bauer Media. 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
4. ^ Verhelle, Tony (7 February 1985). "63e salon voor bedrijfsvoertuigen: Geen schokkende dingen" [The 63rd commercial vehicle exhibition: Nothing shocking]. De AutoGids (in Flemish). 6 (140). Brussels, Belgium: Uitgeverij Auto-Magazine: 19.
5. ^ Bell, Sebastien (11 December 2023). "VW T7 Transporter Officially Teased With Diesel, PHEV, And All-Electric Powertrains". Carscoops.

External links

[edit] Wikimedia Commons has media related to Volkswagen Type 2.

v t e Volkswagen Group Platforms
New Small Family platform (PQ1x) (ultra compact city cars)	NSF (PQ12)
A00 platform (city cars)	A00
A0 Platform (PQ2x) (superminis)	A01 A02 A03 A04 (PQ24) A05 (PQ25)
A Platform (PQ3x/PQ4x) (compact and mid size cars)	A1 A2 A3 A4 (PQ34) A5 (PQ35) A6 (PQ46)
B Platform (PL4x) (various mid size cars)	B1 BX B2 B3 B4 B5 (PL45) B6 (PL46) B7 (PL47)
C Platform (mid size/luxury Audis)	C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6
D Platform (PL6x) (large/luxury sedans)	D1/D11 D2 D3 D4 D1 (VW Phaeton/Bentley)
E Platform (PL7x) (mid size/luxury SUVs)	PL71 PL72
T Platform (Transporters)	T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6
MQB platform (Modular Transversal front wheel drive/four wheel drive)	First generation (compact and mid size cars) MQB A0 (subcompact/superminis) MQB A0 IN (subcompact/superminis) MQB A1 (compact cars) MQB A2 (mid size cars) MQB Evo (compact and mid size cars)
Other Modular Platforms	MLB (Modular Longitudinal front wheel drive/four wheel drive) MSB (Modular Longitudinal rear wheel drive/four wheel drive) MMB (Modular Longitudinal mid-engine or rear-engine rear wheel drive/four wheel drive) MSS (Modular Sports Car System) MEB (Modular Electric-drive Toolkit') PPC (Premium Platform Combustion) PPE (Premium Platform Electric) SSP (Scalable Systems Platform)
Other Platforms And Vehicles	B-VX62 (MPVs) LT/T1N (vans and small trucks) Amarok (pickup truck)

v t e Volkswagen Group
Ownership	Porsche SE State of Lower Saxony Qatar Holding LLC Capital Group Companies
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Products andtechnologies	Platforms Vehicles Engines Diesel: current / discontinued Petrol: current / discontinued North America Technologies BlueMotion Digifant DSG ETKA FSI Pumpe Düse Quattro SDI TDI VAG-COM
Discontinued brands	Auto Union DKW Horch NSU Wanderer
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Other	Volkswagen Emissions Scandal Volkswagen Currywurst Volkswagen worker organizations
Category

v t e Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
A marque of the Volkswagen GroupSee Also: Volkswagen Passenger Cars
Current models	Amarok Caddy Crafter ID. Buzz Cargo Saveiro Transporter/Caravelle (T7) Multivan (T7)
Discontinued models	Aircooled Kleinlieferwagen (Fridolin) EA489 Basistransporter (Hormiga) Type 2 (T1) Transporter / Bus / Splitscreen Type 2 (T3): Transporter / Caravelle / Vanagon / T25 Watercooled Type 2 (T3): Transporter/Caravelle/Vanagon/T25 T4: Transporter/Multivan/Caravelle/Eurovan T5: Transporter/Multivan/Eurovan/Kombi/Caravelle T6: Transporter/Caravelle/California Taro L80 LT
Concept Vehicles	Microbus Concept Search & Rescue Pickup Concept
Campervans	Westfalia Camper
See Also	list of Volkswagen Group factories list of Volkswagen Group platforms list of Volkswagen Group petrol engines list of Volkswagen Group diesel engines discontinued petrol engines discontinued diesel engines North American engines 4motion Transporter (range) Volkswagen Trucks and Buses

v t e Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, a marque of the Volkswagen Group, car timeline, European market, 1950–present
Type 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 Sedan delivery Caddy I Caddy II Caddy III Caddy IV Pickup truck Taro Amarok Campervan Westfalia California (T3) Westfalia California (T4) California (T5) California (T6) Panel van derivatives Type 2 (T1) Type 2 (T2) Transporter (T3) Transporter (T4) Transporter (T5) Transporter (T6) LT I LT II Crafter Concepts and future models: Microbus Concept
German Auto Association (founder) Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles corporate website A marque of the Volkswagen Group 4motion

v t e Volkswagen Passenger Cars, a marque of the Volkswagen Group, car timeline, United States & Canada market, 1950–1989 — next »
Type 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Economy Beetle (Type 1) Fox Compact Fastback / Squareback (Type 3) Rabbit I Golf II Jetta I Jetta II Dasher Mid-size Type 4 Quantum Coupé Karmann Ghia Scirocco I Scirocco II Convertible Beetle Convertible Rabbit Convertible Cabriolet Karmann Ghia Convertible 181 Thing / Safari Van Microbus (Type 2 - T1) Microbus (Type 2 - T2) Vanagon Pickup Rabbit Pickup
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v t e « previous — Volkswagen Passenger Cars, a marque of the Volkswagen Group, car timeline, United States/Canada market, 1990–present
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v t e Volkswagen Passenger Cars, a marque of the Volkswagen Group, car timeline, South American market, 1980–present
Type 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 City car up! Subcompact car Hatch Gol I Gol II Gol IIF (G4) Gol IIF (G3) Gol III Fox Polo IV Polo IVF Polo VI Sedan Voyage / Gol Sedan I Voyage / Gol Sedan II Polo Classic Polo Sedan Virtus SW Parati / Gol Country I Parati / Gol Country II SpaceFox / Suran CUV Tera Nivus T-Cross Compact car Hatch Brasilia Golf III Golf IV Golf IVF Pointer Golf VII Golf VII Sedan Apollo Logus Bora Santana II Jetta / Bora II Jetta / Vento Jetta / Vento Fusca Fusca New Beetle Beetle / Fusca CUV Taos Tiguan I Tiguan II ID.4 Large family car Sedan / SW Passat I Passat IV Passat V Passat VI Passat VII Passat VIII Santana I / Passat II Santana IF SUV Touareg I Touareg II Touareg III Pickup truck Saveiro I Saveiro II Saveiro III Amarok Panel van Caddy / Van Kombi ID. Buzz Legend      Manufactured in Mexico      Ford-based model from Autolatina      Manufactured in Europe      Manufactured in China      Rebadged SEAT model      Model with extended local production and selling outside its country of origin
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