Volkswagen Eurovan

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The Eurovan (US and Mexico), or Transporter (UK, Ireland & North Europe) was the first front-engined van of German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and is the successor of the famous classic VW Type 2 van. It rides on the Volkswagen T platform.

1 US Variants
2 History
- 2.1 T4
- 2.2 T5
3 T5 Commercial Range
4 T5 MPV & Lifestyle Range
5 External links

[edit] US Variants

The Eurovan, as the T4 generation was called in the United States, was available in Europe in many versions both for personal and commercial use. From 1993 until 2004 only the passenger versions were exported to the U.S., except for those that were shipped to Winnebago Industries for conversion to either Campers, which were shipped to and sold by U.S. VW dealers, or to Rialtas, where were sold by Winnebago dealers directly. Smaller than a standard American delivery van, but larger than an American or Japanese passenger minivan, VW played up its size with the slogan, "EuroVan: There's nothing mini about it."

In the U.S., the models were:

the 7-passenger Eurovan GLS
the Eurovan MV, in which the second row of seats face the rear, the third row converts into a 2-person bed, and includes a small DC refrigerator,
the Eurovan MV Weekender, an MV plus a Westfalia conversion that adds a pop-top roof with sleeping room for two, a folding table in the passenger area, and curtains for all windows.
the Eurovan Camper, which is the long wheelbase commercial van converted by Winnebago Industries to include a pop-top roof, two 2-person beds, seating for four (plus optional 1 or 2 person center seats), a one cubic foot refrigerator that runs on propane, DC, or AC, a propane furnace, a closet, cabinets, sink with cold water and a gray water tank, a 2-burner propane stove, two 2-person dinette tables, coach battery, house lighting, and the two front bucket seats made to swivel around to face the dinette/kitchen area.

[edit] History

As early as the late 1970s, Volkswagen began to think about replacing their rear-engined Type 2 vans with a more modern, front-engined, water-cooled design, as they had very successfully done with their passenger cars earlier in that decade. The reason why in 1980 they still introduced the new rear-engined T3/Vanagon instead is unclear; rumour has it that the unions feared the closing of VW's Salzgitter factory, where the boxer engines were built, and thus forced the new design to continue to use a boxer engine, and hence be rear-engined. Truth or not, the fact remains that the front-engined van was delayed until 1990.

In 2003, the T4 was replaced by the all-new T5 (see below).

[edit] T4

Early 1990s Multivan Allstar

Late 1990s Transporter Highroof Half-panel van with long wheelbase. Note different bumper and front sheetmetal from T4 pre-Caravelle/Transporter facelift above.

The T4, released in 1990, was the first Transporter without a rear engine. This front-wheel-drive model, called the Eurovan in North America, was available in two wheelbases, and being front-engined allowed a far greater diversity for special bodies - from wreckers to three-axled minibuses to large box-bodied ambulances, almost everything was possible. Transversally mounted engines with four, five and six cylinders, and especially the very popular TDI diesel engines with direct injection, brought the Transporter's performance back to state of the art, which couldn't really be said about either the T2 or T3. Enthusiasts naturally bemoaned the death of the classic Type 2, but rationally it really was inevitable. The market proves it: the T4 was a tremendous success, and the introduction of its successor was delayed time and again due to unabated demand. After no less than 14 years, the T4 ceased production in 2003 (making it second only to the T1 for length of production in its home market), but it is rumoured to be resurrected for the Chinese market!

Late 1990s Caravelle

There was one major model change to the T4, in 1994, when the re-shaped front end was introduced. This was needed to fit the six-cylinder VR6 engine into the Transporter's engine bay. However, the commercial variants, which were not available with the VR6, retained the old look (although they were changed as well, they just still looked almost the same). Keeping with the Type 2's tradition, these two versions are called T4a and T4b respectively.

The engine range has become rather too large to elaborate here. T4a were available with four- and five-cylinder engines, both petrol and Diesel; the T4b saw not only the VR6, but also the five-cylinder TDI engines that since have replaced the traditional Diesels.

[edit] T5

2004 Multivans

The fifth generation of the VW Transporter hit the market in Europe late in 2003. It's a direct successor to the T4 in its looks and utility value, unlike the Microbus concept car that VW had been showing around several years prior to the T5's introduction. The Microbus concept was almost produced, but Volkswagen scuttled plans for building it due to cost problems.

The T5 Transporter is not available in the United States and Canada in any form. Instead, Volkswagen is working with DaimlerChrysler to create a minivan specifically for the North American market. VW's version of this van should be out by 2008.

[edit] T5 Commercial Range

The commercial range is rather more substantial, and is also much more important in the European marketplace. It includes most notably:

delivery van without side windows or rear seats (Panel Van)
delivery van with raised roof (Highroof Panel Van; there's also a third roof height available with the T5, between the two traditional ones)
van with side windows and removable rear seats (Kombi, from German Kombinationskraftwagen (combination vehicle), i.e. both a passenger and a cargo vehicle combined. Also available with heightened roof)
van with side windows only in the front half of the cargo area, and only one row of removable rear seats (Half-panel)
flatbed truck (Pick-up), also available with wider load bed
flatbed truck with double cab and two rows of seats (Crewcab Pick-up, in German Doppeltkabin)
flatbed truck with lowered load bed
naked chassis with cab (both single and crewcab), for coachbuilders to build special bodies onto

Apart from these factory variants, there are a multitude of third-party conversions available, some of which are offered through the VW dealer organization. They include almost everything conceivable, including but not limited to refrigerated vans, ambulances, police vans, fire engines, ladder trucks etc.

[edit] T5 MPV & Lifestyle Range

In Europe, the Transporter Shuttle/Kombi , MPV van that seats up to nine in comfort, it is an entry level model below the Caravelle/Multivan.

The Caravelle/Multivan, available with 7 seats in comfort, has a neat rail feature in which you can buy accessories & fit them in rails so accessories are secured or move seats into whatever configuration you can think of. The Shuttle has up to 9 fixed seats so does not have this option.

The Kombi/Multivan Beach & California are the camping versions of the new T5 range (T4 California only). The Kombi Beach comes with just a fold up bed whereas the California is a real Camper with beds,sinks and fold up seat & tables.