Volkswagen Transporter (T5)

The Volkswagen Transporter T5 range is the fifth generation of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV/VWN) 'Transporter' series of medium-sized light commercial vehicles and the people mover Caravelle/Multivan range. It was launched 6 October 2002, and went into full production on 25 April 2003, replacing the fourth generation T4 Transporter range.
Key markets for the T5 range are Germany, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, Russia, France, Turkey and Singapore. The U.S. market does not receive the Transporter T5 range due to it being classed as a light truck, which thereby automatically includes a 25% extra tax (known as the chicken tax) on importation to the United States. The passenger vans were the worst selling vans in the North American market in 2003, when VW North America sold the last Eurovans in the United States. For the United States and Canada, it was replaced by the Chrysler-built Volkswagen Routan, a Dodge Caravan with a VW badge; it continues to be sold in Mexico.
Overview.
The Transporter is the commercial workhorse in the T5 range, available in over 100 combinations. Variants include short- (SWB), or long-wheelbases (LWB); along with low-, medium-, or high-rooflines; and can be configured as a van, minibus, single-cab, double-cab, drop side or chassis truck.
Body types.
A brief view of the Transporter T5 range:
Apart from these factory variants there are a multitude of third-party conversions available, some of which are offered through the VWCV/VWN dealer organisation. They include refrigerated vans, ambulances, police vans, fire engines, ladder trucks, campervans and so on.
The full cargo payload potential of the Transporter is between to 1.4 tonnes. Load compartment volumes range from to .
In Mexico, the T5 range is marketed under the nameplate Transporter, same as Europe.
People movers.
The T5 is also available in six- to eleven-seat configurations called Shuttle, Kombi, Caravelle, and Multivan.
Variants.
Sportline.
The Transporter Sportline is the range-topping trim level of the Transporter panel and Kombi van. It comes as standard with a Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) diesel engine, generating torque of at 2,000 rpm, and is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.
The vehicles have a wide range of options including an acoustic cabin option which makes the van feel more like a car.
Other standard features on the Sportline include 18-inch weight-rated alloy wheels, body-coloured bumpers, door mirrors and handles. It features suspension which is lowered by over standard variants, and has chrome side bars and grille, a roof spoiler, as well as a special Volkswagen badge.
The Sportline featured in an episode of Top Gear TV series; where Clarkson, Hammond and May had to choose three vans to compete in a series of challenges, including transporting equipment for The Who. Jeremy Clarkson claimed the Sportline to be "the fastest van in Britain".
This claim was put to the test by competitor TV programme "Fifth Gear" where the Sportline has been put head to head with The A-Team van, as well as the Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport-X. The Sportline comfortably won a race against the A-Team GMC van, even with Tiff Needell cutting corners and using short cuts in the vein of the television series. Against the Sport-X, even though the Mercedes had a more powerful engine, it was found that the traction control was too sensitive and overtly intrusive to be able to make quick progress around a track.
California campervan.
The California and California (Kombi) Beach constitute the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles campervan range, designed and built in-house on the T5 platform.
The 'California' is a fully equipped camper with beds, sink, and fold-up seat and tables. The 'California Beach' is an entry level model that comes with just a fold-up bed.
Facelift.
In September 2009, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles launched a revamped and facelifted T5 range, which is sold under four main labels the Transporter, Caravelle, Multivan and California.
The revised range showcases new technology dealers claimed it was their best earner. The medium van segment, which includes a world-first with the dual clutch transmission named Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG) – which is also available with 4motion four-wheel drive, Side Lane Assist for monitoring blind spots when changing lanes, tyre pressure monitor display for monitoring tyre pressures (TMPS), Bi-Xenon Head Lights with LED Daytime Running Lights and touchscreen Radio Navigation System (RNS) and a reversing camera that worked in conjunction with RNS.
Engines powering the revised range are now all inline-four-cylinder designs; and all are 2.0 L in cubic capacity which includes one petrol option, and four newly developed high-efficiency Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) diesel options, all with common rail, replacing the former Pumpe Düse (PD) Unit Injector fuel system. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles claim that this new diesel engine range is twenty percent more efficient than the outgoing TDI range.
Edition 25 Multivan (2011).
It is a version commemorating 25th anniversary of Multivan, covering 2.0L petrol, 2.0L TSI (150 kW), 2.0L TSI 4MOTION (150 kW), 2.0L TDI (75 kW), 2.0L TDI (103 kW), 2.0L TDI 4MOTION (103 kW), 2.0L BiTDI (132 kW), 2.0L BiTDI 4MOTION (132 kW) models. It was limited to 225 models worldwide and includes a matte black roof and black 18-inch alloy wheels, black door handles, matte black paint on the underside of the front bumper, black decal trim at the back and side sills; choice of Candy White, Salsa Red or Metallic Silver body colour; sport chassis and upgraded anti-roll bar.