Volkswagen Caravelle News

Volkswagen has revealed plans to introduce an all-electric version of its Amarok ute, possibly as soon as 2026. Speaking at the recent Volkswagen Brand Day, where the ID.Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo electric vans were all-but-confirmed for local sale, Volkswagen Australia commercial vehicles director Ryan Davies revealed that the company has big plans for electric models.

Volkswagen Australia has temporarily cut the price of its servicing plans for selected passenger, SUV and light-commercial vehicles.The German giant's Australian arm says it is "proactively responding to Australia's cost of living pressures" by making the

Volkswagen has your next family road trip transport sorted with the release of its updated Multivan and Caravelle models.As part of its update to the Transporter commercial vehicle range, the German giant has given its people movers the same 6.1 series upgrades. Both models have enjoyed a mid-life refresh to try and continue their family appeal.There is plenty of choice for people mover buyers with the Multivan 6.1 range, with a variety of powertrain and wheelbases options.The range begins at $61,990 (plus on-road costs) for the Multivan Comfortline Premium TDI340. It’s powered by a 110kW turbo-diesel engine and paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DSG). If you prefer, you can get the Comfortline with 4Motion all-wheel drive for $64,990.If you want more performance and equipment you can opt for the Multivan Highline TDI450, which has a 146kW turbo-diesel engine under the bonnet. It too comes standard with a seven-speed auto and the option of 4Motion. Pricing for the Highline starts at $84,990 for two-wheel drive and $87,990 for all-wheel drive.For those who want even more room, Volkswagen is offering long-wheelbase variants of the Comfortline Premium and a Comfortline Exec trim line.The former gets the same TDI340 powertrain option as the SWB variant, while the Comfortline Exec gets the TDI450 and TDI450 4Motion options.The Comfortline Premium TDI340 LWB starts at $64,990, while the Comfortline Exec TDI450 LWB sits at the pinnacle of the range with a $87,990 sticker price.Volkswagen has only revealed standard equipment for the Comfortline Premium, but it’s an extensive list.Included among it are 17-inch alloy wheels, halogen headlights, body-colour front and rear bumpers, chrome-effect grille trim and chrome-coloured ‘Multivan’ badge on the sides.Inside it will get tri-zone air-conditioning, black cloth upholstery, carpeted floors and front seats with height and lumbar adjustment. There’s also a multimedia system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen that integrates navigation, Bluetooth, two USB-C ports and six speakers.Access to the second and third row seats is via electric sliding doors on both sides. The second row seats are able to be rotated, while the third row is a bench that can recline. There’s also a power-operated tailgate as standard.To keep your family and friends safe, Volkswagen will equip all Multivan with a raft of active safety items. Driver fatigue detection, Cross Wind Assist, lane-keep assist, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are all included. There is also a reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors.Optional equipment available for the Multivan range includes metallic/pearl effect paint ($1720 - it's a large vehicle, after all!), an electric tailgate ($820), front seat heating ($720), a multi-function table (Comfortline - $990), Nappa Leather seat trim ($4590), Digital Cockpit ($900), LED headlights ($1990), adaptive chassis control with drive modes ($1990 - Highline only), and plenty more. 2021 Volkswagen Multivan 6.1 pricing:If the Multivan isn’t big enough for you and your family or business, then Volkswagen has you covered with its nine-seat Caravelle, based on the T6.1 platform.Unlike the extensive options for the rest of both the Multivan and Transporter line-ups, there’s only a single Caravelle to choose - the long-wheelbase TDI340. It gets the 110kW engine and seven-speed DSG, and is priced from $58,990 (plus on-road costs).The key to the Caravelle is its space and seating, accessed by sliding (but not powered) doors on both sides. There are four rows of seats for the Caravelle - two individual seats up front, a two-seat bench for the second and third rows, and a three-seater bench in the last row. Both the second and third rows also boast child seat anchor points. And being that this is based on a longer-wheelbase Transporter, it's nice to see that curtain airbags are standard fitment (used to be only on Multivan).The interior also comes with LED lighting, sun blinds and tri-zone air-conditioning.Safety is the not quite the same as the Multivan, but does incorporate driver fatigue detection, Cross Wind Assist, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a reversing camera and parking sensors all standard. Optional safety tech includes lane-keep assist ($1290) and adaptive cruise control ($690).Optional equipment for those who need a nine-seat van includes the premium paint finishes ($1720), dual electric sliding side doors ($1580), an electric tailgate ($890), heated front seats ($720), leatherette mesh seat upholstery ($520), the Discover Media sat nav screen ($1600), Digital Cockpit driver's info screen ($900), front armrests ($510), LED headlights ($1990), and park assist semi autonomous parking ($400). 2021 Volkswagen Caravelle 6.1 pricing:UPDATED: 09/02/2021

VW has given its T6 line-up a comprehensive overhaul, from the classic Transporter work van to the Caravelle people-mover.

...when Volkswagen in Australia debuts its 2010 Caravelle and Transporter models. The art of transporting people and cargo gets even more sophisticated early next year when Volkswagen in Australia debuts its 2010 Caravelle and Transporter models.To be first shown at next month's Frankfurt Motor Show, the people movers and commercial van range will appear here in much the same line-up as the existing model. But Volkswagen Group Australia spokesman Karl Gehling says unlike most markets, there will be no California model.Volkswagen claims its new van range comes with a 10 per cent fuel saving and has the latest technology, comfort and safety features. The vans are based on the architecture of the current model though externally pick up Volkswagen's passenger car — predominantly the Golf — look in the nose section. There's also new tail lights and mirrors.Bigger news is the latest generation electronic stability control system that comes with hill-start assist and an emergency brake light function. Available as an option will be a side-assist lane change system — which warns the driver of anything in the vehicle's blind spot — and a new tyre monitor display to alert the driver to any decrease in tyre pressures.Drive trains in Europe include the latest 103kW/220Nm, 137kW/250Nm, 188kW/340Nm and 242kW/400Nm turbo-diesel engines that meet the latest Euro-5 emissions standard. VGA is yet to specify engine choices for Australia.The new models also get the choice of the seven-speed DSG automatic transmission. This will also be available later in 2010 with the 4MOTION all-wheel drive system that will incorporate the fourth generation Haldex coupling.

Volkswagen Group Australia, as part of the partnership with The Wiggles, is supporting the new Dorothy the Dinosaur Show currently touring around Australia with their People Mover range. Dorothy the Dinosaur and the supporting characters of Wags the Dog, Henry the Octopus, Captain Feathersword and Fairy Clare have chosen the Volkswagen Caravelle as their official show vehicle for the duration of the tour, which will be running until 14th November 2008. The Director of Commercial Vehicles Mr Philip Clark said "The Volkswagen People Mover Brand is thrilled to be associated with such a successful entertainment character within the family market and our range of vehicles are the perfect fit for the requirements of the busy and versatile lifestyle today's families are faced with. The Dorothy the Dinosaur Show excels at engaging children and we are pleased to be able to bring this exciting show to the Volkswagen stand this year." Volkswagen will be hosting three Dorothy the Dinosaur concerts on Saturday, 18th October 2008 on the stand at 10.00am, 12 Noon and 2.00pm as part of the official Family Day at the Australian International Motor Show. Visitors to the stand will be able to pick-up a free copy of the road safety booklet produced as part of a joint initiative between Volkswagen and The Wiggles. The booklet will also be available at all Wiggles concerts and through Volkswagen dealerships.

Sales soared and Toyota went all the way with a chisel-nosed Tarago that was the class act of the field.Every big brand had some sort of people mover for drivers with more than four in the family. Some called them, unkindly, Catholic vans.But they were mostly just converted delivery vans with three rows of seats, built to a price and with little concern for safety, comfort or equipment. A head-on crash meant the driver's legs would be first on the scene.People movers have never really recovered from the backlash against those evil originals, and the rise and rise of four-wheel-drives has also made life tough.Some people just don't want to be seen in a boring, boxy people mover, even if the newest of the breed are morphing into crossover cars that do more with less.The latest Mitsubishi Grandis and the Honda Odyssey point to the future. They're shorter and smoother but still pack lots of positions and choices into the cabin.They could spark a revival, particularly if petrol prices put real pressure on hulking seven-seat four-wheel-drives, but the current sales figures don't suggest that will happen soon.Kia sold 461 of its class-leading Carnivals in July to take its year-to-date total to 3199, but that was nearly half the total number of people movers, only 8579 going on to Australian roads in the first seven months. In contrast, big sixes totalled 103,677.People movers still fill a role, particularly if you really need to carry a lot of people for more than a sprint to the shops.Most carry seven in reasonable comfort. Among the official people movers, only the Volkswagen Kombi is rated as a nine-seater. The pricey Toyota Tarago and VW Caravelle seat eight.Still, people movers have come a long way on safety, comfort, refinement and equipment, and the benchmark Honda Odyssey is set for a huge sales rise very soon.A PEOPLE mover is no longer a box on wheels, nor is it an embarrassment to its occupants.The new Ford Territory is hot, and happily carries seven people if fitted with the rear seat. A Holden Crewman combines work-and-play duties, and the Toyota Kluger is a seven-seat family van disguised as an all-wheel-drive.Families want a vehicle that sits between traditional passenger car and hulking bush basher, and carmakers are rushing to fill the void.In coming years we can expect a rush of crossover vehicles that will blur the lines between traditional market segments.The Territory is already doing the job of an old-fashioned Falcon, albeit one dressed up in a macho body with a high-rider seating position, a classy finish and plenty of equipment and versatility. Luggage space is tight with the third row of seats up, and access to those seats could be easier, but it is a winner with families.The Crewman, the Cross8 in particular, is aimed at part-time parents who want family wheels with a bit of excitement. The upright back seat isn't all that comfortable, but the person making the buying decision – and using a Crewman for work – will be sitting up front.1. Honda OdysseyLowdown: Attractive body and Honda quality boosted by a top-value price.Verdict: The smooth new Honda shows how people movers should be done.Plus: Refined, classy, good looking.Minus: Not a huge amount of space.Rating: 18/20THE newest member of the Honda family is more quality stuff from the company that gave us the pace-setting Accord Euro. It comes with only seven seats, but that's no real handicap because the 2.4-litre engine has 118kW of power and impressive response. Letdowns are suspension that thumps over bumps, child-seat anchor points in the ceiling block the rear view, and loss of the V6. But to cap the action and really rattle its rivals, prices open at $38,790 and the fully loaded luxury model is $45,290.2. Chrysler VoyagerLowdown: The incredible hulk of the people-mover class is the one to buy if you have a big family and equally large budget.Verdict: An American "minivan" that's great for heavyweight hauling.Plus: Roomy and versatile, with V6 power.Minus: Costly, and not the best right-hand-drive conversion.Rating: 17/20THE American carmaker says this is the Rolls-Royce of people movers. There's space for seven with innovative roll-out rear seats and armrests in the front. The 3.3-litre V6 is punchy, if a little thirsty. Also available in a long-wheelbase model and all-wheel-drive. Prices start at $53,490 (SE model), step up to $59,090 for the long-wheelbase machine and go all the way to $78,590 for the fully loaded four-wheel-drive.3. Holden ZafiraLowdown: The innovative Holden was developed in Europe for three-row family work and Opel's original has been smartly tweaked for Australian sales.Verdict: Not the biggest of the bunch, but a good drive for smaller families.Plus: A good drive with impressive quality.Minus: Poor space in the tail, second-row bench has to slide forward for access to back seats.Rating: 16/20THE Zafira is close in concept to the now-dead Mitsubishi Nimbus, with a compact body that has Tardis-style third-row seating. It has excellent suspension tuning and good punch from its 2.2-litre four. The price is pretty nice, too, at $32,890, and the TV commercial with a youngster sketching on a baby is one of our favourites.MITSUBISHI GRANDISRating: 16/20Price: $43,990Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinderSMOOTH lines, nicely built and well equipped, but hit hard when the Odyssey arrived. Definitely worth a look for those dollars.MAZDA MPVRating: 15/20Price: $50,665Engine: 3.0-litre V6THE multi-purpose vehicle has been left behind by the zoom-zoom models in the Mazda family. Quality is impressive and it drives nicely, but few people seem to want a Mazda people mover.TOYOTA AVENSISRating: 15/20Price: $43,100Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinderNICE to drive with good access for kids in back, but minimal luggage space with third row up. Too costly for what it is, and shows Toyota doesn't really care about people movers in 2004.TOYOTA TARAGORating: 15/20Price: from $52,460Engine: 2.4-litre fourTHE faded former champion. Still has a great name. Desperately needs a V6 engine to justify prices that go up to $72,620.VOLKSWAGEN CARAVELLERating: 15/20Price: From $59,990Engine: 2.8-litre V6BOTH Volkswagens are in a run-out situation, with no turbodiesels left. The new turbodiesel T5 could be the pick for long-distance families.HYUNDAI TRAJETRating: 15/20Price: From $32,990Engine: 2.7-litre V6ONE of the newer models in the Hyundai family, and punchy with its V6 motivation. The price is good but it shapes as a big-box deal for people who are more worried about practicality than quality.VOLKSWAGEN KOMBIRating: 14/20Price: $39,990Engine: 2.5-litre four cylinderTHE Kombi has a great name and drives better than you'd expect, with austere but quality finishing. Not as flashy as some.KIA CARNIVALRating: 14/20Price: $29,990Engine: 2.5-litre V6THE easy sales leader but doing it on value. Is much like its Hyundai twin but with a little more equipment and a price that makes it a real winner.MERCEDES-BENZ VITOArriving early next yearPrice: TBAEngines: TBATHE Vito people mover will be available in two models, with the upmarket version getting leather seats and all the fruit. Worth a look.