The Volkswagen
Multivan is in for a significant makeover. The new generation was spied testing
in the cold, in people carrier guise, revealing major updates over its
predecessor. The T7 has an evolutionary styling that maintains the boxed-body
of its predecessor adorned with modern elements found in newer VW models like
the new front end design that echoes that of the new Golf. It also has softer
corners and bigger windows, while maintaining sliding rear doors.
It’s believed that it will be based on an
entirely new platform, and in particular, the Group’s MQB, though that’s
something that has yet to be confirmed. Either way, power will come from VW’s
familiar 2.0-liter petrol and diesel engines, while we will likely see mild
hybrids joining the family.
The biggest news will be the
introduction of a plug-in hybrid. Rumored to be named the GTE, like other PHEVs
made by VW, it was spied testing a couple of weeks ago and is understood to
combine a four-cylinder gasoline engine with a small electric motor and a
battery pack that should give it a zero-emission range of a few tens of
kilometers.
The new T7 will be sold with an electric
powertrain too, as VW experimented with such a variant in the outgoing
iteration, which was co-developed with ABT Sportsline. Named the e-Transporter,
it came with a 111 PS electric motor and a 37.3 kWh or a 74.6
kWh battery, for a total driving range of up to 208 km and 400 km, respectively, in the old NEDC test cycle. The new one, however,
will probably have nothing to do with the German tuner.
The T7 will reportedly be sold alongside
the T6 and is expected to debut at the end of the year or in early 2021.
