With the range comprising a single and double-cab pickup, panel van, crew bus, Kombi, Caravelle and California, the T6.1 update brings news styling, cabin updates, connectivity enhancements and a selection of powertrain choices.
The Transporter series of vehicles hasbeen on sale for 6 decades and with 12 million sales under its belt, it's quite an achievement.
At first glance, you can clearly see the changes to the T6.1 with the new-look grille and bumper, as well as extensive chrome detailing. There are also new LED daytime running lights. Volkswagen is offering a choice of 6 new wheel designs, 6 new colours and 7 2-tone paint finishes.
Inside, the cabin's practicality has been rejigged to include an additional shelf in front of the driver as well as a larger tray for a smartphone. A wireless charging pad is now available, albeit as an option. Volkswagen has also introduced a new steering wheel.
The whole infotainment system has been reconfigured and all models come with a Composition Colour radio system, with the Caravelle and California featuring the high-spec Discover Pro Media system with standard navigation. Volkswagen has fitted its 10.25 inch digital display to the T6.1 and it's fitted as standard equipment in the Caravelle Highline and California
In terms of safety, the T6.1 is available withElectronic Stability Control (ESC), Automatic Post-Collision Braking (also standard), Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Assist (for 4MOTION all-wheel drive),Tyre Pressure Loss Indicator,Lane Assist, the standard cruise control system inclusive of speed limiter and parking assistant Park Assist. Optional safety systems include Trailer Assist and the advanced main-beam control system Light Assist.
Under the skin, Volkswagen says it has introduced electro-mechanical power steering to the T6.1 range.
The Volkswagen T6.1 range will come to market with 32.0-litre turbo diesel motors. Kicking off the range is the 2.0-litre TDI with 81 kW and 250 Nm. It has a 5-speed manual gearbox and in terms of consumption, it'll return 7.9 L/100 km in the Pick Up, 7.5 L./100 km in the Panel Van and 7.3 L/100km in the Crew bus and Kombi.
The next engine up is the 2.0-litre TDI which delivers 110 kW and 340 Nm and is available with a 7-speed gearbox. It consumes between 8.0 L/100 km and 8.3 L/100km.
At the top, the 2.0-litre BiTDI punches out 146 kW and 450 Nm, and is available with a 7-speed DSG.
T6.1 Pick Up
The Pick Up, which can be ordered as a single or double cab variant, is the workhorse of the Commercial Vehicles range. The Pick Up is only available with a long wheelbase which offers a sizeable cargo loading bed of 5.7 square metres for a single cab. The height of the aluminium side panels, which can be dropped down on every side, is 39 centimetres. The double cab provides a cargo bed of 4.2 square metres. In the double cab there is storage space under the rear bench seat.
T6.1 Panel Van
Such is the strength and rigidity of the Transporter’s body that it can be fitted with two sliding doors. A left-hand door is standard, with a right-hand door available as an option. With a low load bed, maximum opening width of 1 700mm and maximum load height of 1 410mm, the Panel Van is designed to make work easier. AllPanel Van derivatives provide a spacious load compartment with a volume of 6.7m³.
T6.1 Crew Bus
The biggest difference between the Crew Bus and the Panel Van is that the Crew Bus has a single front passenger seat as well as removable rear seating for a further three passengers, whereas the Panel Van only has seats for the driver and front passenger.
The Transporter Crew Bus offers three options of engines in addition to the choice of wheelbases. Access to the rear passenger area is through a double near-side glazed sliding door, while at the rear there’s a glazed tailgate with heated window and wash-wiper. Featuring a robust rubber floor covering throughout the cab and cargo area, as well as four load-lashing rings in the cargo area, the Crew Bus’ flexible interior can be transformed in seconds from a comfortable five, six, eight or ten-seater, into a spacious delivery van.
T6.1 Kombi
The T6.1 Kombi, the best-seller in the range, is being offered in two model lines: the Trendline and the top-of-the-range Trendline Plus. The Kombi’s interior trim is in Titanium Black in all model lines, as are the seat covers in the standard version. The door handles are in chrome. In addition, the Kombi is embellished inside in all models by chrome-look trim and black instrument visors. Even on the base Trendline version, the Kombi’s bumpers are painted in the vehicle body colour. In the Kombi, the Circuit fabric is used as standard. The backs of the seats are also equipped with two new pockets to create space for gadgets such as smart phones.
T6.1 Caravelle
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles covers a huge variety of possible uses with the Caravelle – from a large taxi to an elegant shuttle bus. The Caravelle is only being offered as a Highline model.
The T6.1 Caravelle Highline leaves the factory in the German city of Hannover with a chrome-look trim (in the air vents, the spokes of the multi-function steering wheel and as edging around the gear lever), black sun visors, decorative strips in the Pewter Wave Grey pattern (instrument panel and door panels) and leather seats in Nappa leather. Standard features of the Highline include; 17-inch Woodstock black diamond-turned alloy wheels, electrically adjustable, heated and folding exterior mirrors, digital cockpit, ‘Discover Pro’ with 10.25-inch touch screen, Wireless App-Connect and USB, Crosswind Assist, Side Assist (blind spot monitoring), centre table and Trailer Assist with Park Distance Control in front and rear and a rear view camera. Optional features include the cooler box with an additional battery and Adaptive Chassis Control.
T6.1 California Coast
More than 18 000 California’s are sold internationally each year, thus making the California the number 1 camper van. Both a camper and a van, it is ideal for big trips and daily journeys. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has further refined the top seller; the living and sleeping areas of the camper van have been carefully enhanced and optimised.
The updated T6.1 range will be hitting showroom floors from January 2021.The Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Pick Up, Panel Van and Crew Bus range comes standard with a 3-year/60 000 km Easy Drive Service Plan, 2-year/unlimited km manufacturer warranty. The Kombi, Caravelle and California range comes standard with a 5-year/ 60 000km maintenance plan and a 3-year/ 120 000km manufacturer warranty. The entire T6.1 range comes standard with a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty. The service interval is 15 000km.
T6.1 Pick Up
Single Cab 2.0 TDI 81kW LWB R412 800
Single Cab 2.0 TDI 110kW 4MOTION® DSG® LWB R466 100
Double Cab 2.0 TDI 81kW LWB R485 300
Double Cab 2.0 BiTDI 146kW 4MOTION® DSG® LWB R590 800
T6.1 Panel Van
2.0 TDI 81kW LWB R530 600
2.0 TDI 110kW DSG® LWB R568 700
T6.1 Crew Bus
2.0 TDI 81kW LWB (10-seater) R612 000
2.0 TDI 110kW 4MOTION® DSG® LWB (5-seater) R639 000
2.0 BiTDI 146kW 4MOTION® DSG® (5-seater) R710 500
2.0 BiTDI 146kW 4MOTION® DSG® LWB (8-seater) R752 700
T6.1 Kombi
2.0 TDI 81kW Trendline R697 700
2.0 TDI 110kW DSG® Trendline R726 000
2.0 BiTDI 146kW 4MOTION® DSG® Trendline Plus R871 800
T6.1 Caravelle
Highline 2.0 BiTDI 146kW 4MOTION® DSG® R1 149 400
T6.1 California
California Coast 2.0 BiTDI 146kW 4MOTION® DSG® R1 196 500
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