Volkswagen LT
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The Volkswagen Crafter successor to the Vollkswagen LT nameplate is a large panel van produced by Volkswagen since 1975.
It is the largest van Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles produces, being larger than the Transporter. It is available across Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
There are five main variants available: Panel Van, Chassis Cab, Double Cab, Window Van and Kombi. They are available in short, medium and long wheelbase options, with low and high roof, and can be tailored to individual business needs.
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[edit] Early Conception History
After 31 years and two generations of the practically legendary VW LT comes the launch of the all-round new transporter, the VW Crafter. High time for a review of its noteworthy predecessors.
Volkswagen and transporters: for over half a century, the two have been inseparably linked. As early as Spring 1950, Volkswagen had exerted a decisive influence on the market for light commercial vehicles in Germany and Europe, with the renowned first generation Transporter. The name ‘transporter' rapidly established as a concept term to describe a whole vehicle segment. Notwithstanding the continuous development of the VW Transporter, above all through the change of model in 1967, additional demand was being shown, especially from commercial customers: increasingly the challenge was to transport heavier and larger-volume freight items using compact commercial vehicles. This saw the classic transporter reaching the limits of what was possible, in part conditioned by the rear mounted engine design.
[edit] Modern Era - DaimlerChrysler & Volkswagen
In the late 1990s Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Daimler-Chrysler's Mercedes-Benz Commercial unit signed a deal that the 2nd generation LT shares a bodyshell with the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, however the engine and transmission are Volkswagen sourced. This deal continues on in the 3rd Generation LT.
In 2006 the LT MK3 has taken the new nameplate of Crafter; it will be built in the Mercedes-Benz Ludwigsfelde, German factory which also builds the Sprinter.
[edit] The LT1 — the first generation
[edit] From the start
The set of specifications for the new large transporter, as an additional series, were very clear in requiring as much utility space as possible in a small footprint — the space-saving cab-over-engine vehicle design was to be borrowed from the traditional transporter.
The planned tonnage classes, from 2.8 tons gvw upwards, called for a strong traction rear drive, but ruled out a rear engine. As a result, the engine was located above the front axle, between the driver and passenger seat.
[edit] Launch of LT1
The new VW celebrated its launch in 1975 in Berlin. The name given to Volkswagen's large transporter was as functional as the entire vehicle: it was just called LT, which is simply the abbreviation of Lasten-Transporter (‘cargo transporter').
The name stated the intention behind the range, and right from the start the LT featured as a true professional in the field of utility vehicles.
[edit] Breadth of Range
It came in three gross vehicle weights, from 2.8 to 3.5 tons (LT 28, LT 31, LT 35), with two wheelbases, two roof options, and with bodywork options as a panel van, a compact, a platform vehicle and a chassis/cab combination.
The ratio of utility space to footprint was nothing short of sensational: Thanks to the cab-over-engine construction and the overall width of 2.02 meters, even the compact LT panel van (with the short wheelbase and little over four and a half meters in length) offered a load length of over three meters and a load area of around 5.5 square meters.
Even at that time, the transporter developers at VW placed great value on secure and comfortable handling. For that reason, right from the start the VW LT was equipped with a front axle with independent front wheel suspension, which at that time and even in later years was not automatic in this class of vehicle. Later options, such as the heavy LT 40 to LT 55, had a rigid front axle for reasons relating to load-carrying capacity; this is still usual today on light trucks in these categories.
[edit] New Engines
Bigger problems were presented by the choice of engine to go with this vehicle. Volkswagen's own stocks offered only the familiar air-cooled boxer engines for rear mounting. The dimensions of the new generation of engines for the Golf, which was launched at practically the same time, were too small, as was the power unit on the still youthful mid-class Passat sedan.
A suitable petrol engine, at that time still the standard engine even for transporters, was identified at Audi, a sister company within the Volksawagen Group. The biggest engine from the Audi 100, a four-cylinder engine with a cubic capacity of two litres, proved suitable and was adapted to the specific set of requirements for a utility vehicle.
Accordingly, the developers cut back on performance, to 55 kW (75 hp) in favor of achieving high torque at low speed.
A diesel engine was developed at Perkins, a British manufacturer. The four-cylinder 2.7 L cc engine, included in the LT range from 1976 onwards, developed just 48 kW (65 hp), did not run particularly smoothly, and had an unpleasant sound to it.
Volkswagen reacted quickly: in 1979, the developers enlarged the diesel engine which had proved successful on the Golf by adding two more cylinders. The 1.6 L four-cylinder engine became a 2.4 L six-cylinder delivering 55 kW (75 hp).
Unlike other diesel engines in this performance class, the assembly stood out for its balanced vibration behavior and pleasing acoustics. The engine worked so convincingly that Volvo adopted it, and were therefore able to offer the first passenger car with a six-cylinder dieselengine.
In Spring 1983, Volkswagen made a significant upgrade to the LT, following eight years of production.
The six-cylinder engine now delivered on the desire for better performance as a turbo-diesel, providing 75 kW (102 hp). This saw the LT becoming the most powerful transporter in Europe — and the same was true of its maximum torque of 195 N·m.
The six-cylinder engine was now also available as a 66 kW (90 hp) petrol engine. The engines, which were now mounted with a clear offset alignment, allowed for a flatter engine compartment which was shifted further to the rear, allowing more space for a third seat in the cab.
The second phase of the first LT also included a redesigned dashboard. The undercarriages were also available with an additional third wheelbase for platform-type vehicles, at up to 4.6 meters in length.
Two years later, VW again increased the gross vehicle weight, with the 5.6 ton LT 55. Users were delighted by an option on the LT 35 which could be supplied with a single-tire rear axle — bringing benefits in terms of through-loading dimensions between the wheelhouses, which were now thinner. For extreme requirements, there was the LT with engageable all wheel drive.
[edit] LT1 Exterior Upgrades
If the first decade of the LT saw no change in terms of its appearance, 1986 saw the first small retouches to the timeless design of the bodywork. The most noticeable of these tweaks were the headlights, which were now rectangular rather than round.
In Spring 1993, there was again a modest change in the look, with a new radiator grille and plastic elements in the rear lighting section. In addition, an overhauled turbo-diesel engine with charge air cooler and 70 kW (95 hp) was employed.
[edit] LT1 Touring Camper
An unforgettable vehicle, still seen in large numbers on every road in the world is the LT touring camper in its various bodywork and fitting options. Plenty of room for a little footprint, the possibility of beds set out crosswise thanks to the generous width of the panel van — all ideal preconditions for attractive mobile holiday homes. The quintessence of this was the VW Florida, one of the first works-own touring campers in 1988, in parallel to the transporter-based California.
[edit] LT1 Cabs on Trucks
In addition, the wide yet compact cab-over-engine design of the VW LT was ideally suited for use on bigger utility vehicles. This meant that it was used on the so-called G Series, the light truck in a joint venture between Volkswagen and MAN AG with gross vehicle weights of between six and ten tons. It was built from 1979 until 1993.
A further career for the LT cab opened up in South America. For many years, Volkswagen's Brazilian plant at Resende has been constructing trucks with weights of between 7 and 35 tons. Even after the launch of the new heavy truck Constellation last year, Volkswagen has continued to manufacture options whose cabs are clearly based on the first-generation VW LT. The VW LT has even made a career for itself as a racing vehicle: For the past two years, the VW Titan has succeeded in winning the European Cup in the Super Truck Race. Its cab is similarly based on the first-generation VW LT cab.
[edit] The LT2 — the second generation
The special class of the first-generation VW LT is demonstrated by the exceptionally long time during which it was manufactured: only after 21 years and just under half a million vehicles, and shortly after the foundation of the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand in 1995 came the switch to the second-generation LT in 1996.
Mercedes Benz & Volkswagen jointly developed LT2 and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter.
[edit] Launch of LT2
As with the T4 Transporter, the second-generation LT similarly abandoned the one-box design in the cab-over-engine construction which had characterized VW utility vehicles for over four decades.
With an engine mounted longitudinally beneath a short hood and with rear-wheel drive, the LT now adopted what had become the standard style of construction for bigger transporters.
In addition, it satisfied requirements which remain sought-after even today: economical direct-injection diesel engines, easy access to the driver cab behind the front axle, and a wide space between the driver and passenger seat.
[edit] LT2 Range
The range now went from 2.6 to 4.6 tons gross vehicle weight, and even the enclosed options of the panel van and compact were available in three wheelbase options. Platform vehicles, crewcabs and numerous undercarriage options completed the range.
[edit] LT2 Engines
With a naturally-aspirated and three TDI engines, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles answered the call for economical and high-performance diesel engines.
The basis for this was the same five-cylinder TDI which had previously established a legendary reputation in the T4 Transporter within a very short period of time.
For the first time, then, Volkswagen has profited from synergies between the two major in-house transporter series.
The performance range for the LT initially went from 61 kW (83 hp) to 96 kW (130 hp). In January 2002, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles again raised the bar: a particularly powerful four-cylinder 2.8 L cc engine enabled the engine performance to be increased to 116 kW (156 hp) and the maximum torque to 331 N·m — at that time, these were once again record figures for the VW LT class. Compared to the most powerful engine on the predecessor model, it represented an increase in torque and performance of over 50 per cent in each case.
[edit] LT2 Retires
Testimony to the quality of the concept for the second-generation LT is given by the fact that the series was manufactured for over nine years, with practically no external changes. By the end of production in the 4th Quarter of 2006, around 350,000 models had come off the production line.
Now the world is moving on, with the third generation of the big transporter from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. Whilst it takes on the basic engineering concept from its predecessor, visually and in engineering terms it is a completely new vehicle.
[edit] LT2 Trivia
- In Turkey the LT is marketed as the Volt.
- A special articulated version of LT2, XLT was available through special order.
[edit] LT Mark 2 Engine Specs
2,789 cc 2.8 liters in-line 4 engine with 93 mm bore, 103 mm stroke and three valves per cylinder Power: 116 kW , 158 hp EEC @ 3,500 rpm; , 331 N·m @ 1,800 rpm Diesel common rail fuel system
2,461 cc 2.5 liters in-line 5 engine with 81 mm bore, 95.5 mm stroke, 19.5 compression ratio and two valves per cylinder Power: 80 kW , 109 hp EEC @ 3,500 rpm; , 280 N·m @ 1,900 rpm Diesel direct injection fuel system
[edit] The Crafter — the third generation
The VW Crafter is opening the next chapter in the story of large transporters from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in the 3 to 5 tonne van segment.
It will be powered by 4 versions of Volkswagen's rengineered 2.5 litre common rail turbo diesel with piezo injector engined, the engines produce:
65kW / 89bhp max. torque 220 Nm at 1750-2500/min.
80kW / 109bhp max. torque 280 Nm at 2000/min.
100kW / 136bhp max. torque 300 Nm at 2000/min.
120kW / 164bhp max. torque 350 Nm at 2000/min.
Crafter will be available in three wheelbase options 3250mm, 3665mm and 4325mm.
The Crafter will also be high on passenger safety with front airbags as standard and side and curtain airbags as options, along with this there is anti-lock brakes, electronic stability program, anti slip regualtion & electronic differential lock.
Note: The electronic differential lock (EDL) employed by Volkswagen is not - as the name suggests - a differential lock at all. Sensors monitor wheel speeds, and if one is rotating substantially faster than the other (i.e. slipping) the EDL system momentarily brakes it. This effectively transfers all the power to the other wheel[1].
[edit] Crafter Awards
- What Van? overall Van of the Year 2006
- What Van? Large Van of the Year 2006
[edit] Gallery
 LT Mark 1 1975-1983 |
 LT 35 Mark 1 (facelift) 1993-1996 |
 LT 35 Mark 2 1996-2005 |
 LT 28 Mark 2 1996-2005 |
[edit] External links
- VWCV UK's Official Crafter Website
- VW Crafter Official Website (Dutch)
- VW Australia's LT Site
- VW Australia's Crafter Site
- Brick-Yard LT & Crafter Forums (in English)
- VWvortex Vans & Transporter Forums(in English)
- Australian VW Vans Forum (in English)
- LT 4x4 Fansite (in German)
- LT Freunde (Friends) Forum (in German)
- LT Forum (in German)
- LT Club & Forum (in Dutch)
- LT Camper Site (in Dutch)
