VW Crafter targets industry van market

An ungainly yet sure-footed 4WD van, the Crafter 4Motion is a serious tilt at tour operators, mining and construction firms, the military, emergency services and people wanting an extreme machine for outback camping or hauling dirt bikes. 

The target market in Australia is small but the price is definitely not. Volkswagen Australia spokesman Karl Gehling says "it's a very expensive system''. "We see it as suiting the premium end of our Crafter customers.'' 

In Europe, Volkswagen has a burgeoning market. It plans to sell the Crafter 4Motion through dealers who will then send the van to drivetrain specialist Achleitner in Austria. The dealer bills for the van and Achleitner adds about $25,000 for the 4WD conversion. 

It is that steep price that will trim buyers in Australia, but Volkswagen Australia reckons there are very few rivals. "Most of our competitors for Crafter 4Motion are based on light trucks,'' says Gehling. "Crafter is specifically designed for maximum load capacity and yet is more car-like in comfort and safety.

"The 4WD system makes it just as - or possibly more - effective off the road.'' If Australia can copy the European conversion price, it means the showroom sticker will read from about $90,000 here, depending on the model.

Volkswagen Australia expects to start getting the Crafter 4Motion early in 2013. The Crafter is a shared vehicle. It is sold globally by Mercedes-Benz as a Sprinter. But Volkswagen says Mercedes has no plans to offer a similar 4WD system.

Tested in a specialist 4WD track on mountains near Spain's Marbella, the Crafter 4Motion proved an exceptionally capable machine. Despite the small engine capacity, it wasn't wanting in steep climbs up the side of the mountain. It appears as an ungainly box-on-wheels but Achleitner engineer Andreas Reich says it will  drive with a side angle of 43-degrees before tipping.

"It is as capable in off-road situations as a genuine 4WD,'' he says. He says European customers demanded the vehicle because of the need to carry high-weight payloads over rough ground. 

The Achleitner system was chosen over Volkswagen's existing 4Motion drivetrain because it is stronger. Achleitner's modifications include strengthened suspension that increases ride height by 100mm. 

The drivetrain adds a pneumatically-operated system to control two differentials - centre and rear - with the option of a front differential. The air-operated system also engages the low-range gearbox.

On the test in Spain, it wasn't revealed that if the engine stalls the air locks have to be reset - which made for a particularly dusty hill to become particularly difficult to climb until the error was rectified. 

With all diffs locked, the Crafter simply idled up the incline. Mr Reich says that when all the differential locks are engaged, any wheel can take up to 100 per cent of the engine torque. 

The only engine available is a 120kW/400Nm 2-litre bi-turbo diesel - also fitted to the Amarok - though Volkswagen may plan later to offer a 132kW version on all its commercial vehicles. It has a six-speed manual. 

Mr Reich says it's impossible to adapt an automatic transmission to the drivetrain. "The front suspension and front drive don't have sufficient space for an automatic transmission to fit,'' he says. 

The Crafter 4Motion will be available in short, medium and long wheelbase versions, as a single cab, dual cab, van (with or without windows) and as a cab-chassis for custom bodywork such as fire tenders and military applications. 

Payloads range up to 2.5 tonne and load space for the closed van models range from 7.5 cubic metres to 17cu.m. The long wheelbase van with the extended roof height has a whopping interior cargo space of 7.34m long by 2.99m high. This model can take five Euro-size pallets. 

Volkswagen indicates that the Crafter can be customised with a variety of seat options for up to 12 people. There are even 11 ventilation, heating and cooling options.