Technical characteristics of the Volkswagen Transporter

Volkswagen Transporter - a minibus or commercial van from a German manufacturer "Volkswagen", based on the platform "T platform", which has passed through six generations and takes its history from the distant past 1950the first three generations have not yet been named "Transporter", but had a name "Volkswagen Type 2" (T1, T2 and T3). Today, its chassis is also used to produce pickups, minivans, campers, platform cabins and other rarer variants. In the first three generations, the engine was located in the rear with rear-wheel drive, then the engine was installed in the front with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. It is the best-selling van in history and over 12 million vehicles have been produced over its 70-year history.

The main competitors and classmates of the Transporter today are Citroen Jumpy, Fiat Talento, Ford Transit, Hyundai iLoad, Mercedes-Benz Vito/Viano, Nissan NV300, Opel Vivaro, Peugeot Expert, Renault Trafic, Toyota Hiace, Toyota ProAce.

Type 2 - T1 (1950–1967)

The idea of creating a small commercial van first arose in 1947, when Dutchman Ben Pon saw a vehicle at the Wolfsburg plant designed to drive around the plant and transport small loads. It was based on the VW Beetle and had a rear-mounted driver's seat. The idea of creating a commercial van seemed promising, since post-war Europe had been badly damaged and many trucks would be needed to rebuild it. A production model with a front-mounted driver was presented in November 1949.

The first generation of the minibus appeared in March 1950 until the end of 1967. The car had a windshield divided into two segments, which is why it received the nicknames "Splitscreen", "Splittie" and "Microbus". Until 1956, production was at the plant in Wolfsburg, and then it was moved to a completely new plant in Hanover. In Brazil, this generation was produced until 1975. In the first year, more than 9 thousand cars were produced. The body options were as follows - a four- or five-door van, a minibus, a van with a high roof, a two- or three-door pickup, a camper and others. Rear engine with rear wheel drive. The length of the car was 4280 mm, width 1750 mm, height 1920 mm, wheelbase 2400 mm and curb weight from 890 kg.

Engines were installed only petrol four-cylinder with opposite arrangement of cylinders and air cooling, installed in the rear of the car. At first there was a 1.1 liter (1131 cm³) engine with a capacity of 24 hp, in 1953 its volume was increased to 1.2 liters (1192 cm³) with a capacity of 30 hp, which in 1955 was increased to 41 hp by increasing the compression ratio. In 1963, a 1.5 liter (1493 cm³) engine with a capacity of 52 hp appeared. The gearbox was only mechanical four-speed.

Type 2 - T2 (1967–1979)

In August 1967, the second generation of the Type 2 van was introduced. Models before 1971 are often referred to as the T2a (Early Bay), while those after 1972 are referred to as the T2b (Late Bay). The distinctive two-part segmented windscreen became a solid unit. The on-board electrical system was upgraded from 6 volts to 12 volts. The exterior dimensions of the vehicle became larger and heavier. The body length was 4,505 mm, the width was 1,720 mm, the height was 1,940 - 2,040 mm, the wheelbase was 2,400 mm and the unladen weight was from 1,105 kg. The body shapes were as follows: van, minibus, cargo platform, flatbed truck, camper and special vehicles for municipal needs.

Engines were also installed only petrol with opposite cylinder arrangement and air cooling. At first the engine had a volume of 1.6 liters (1584 cm³) with a capacity of 48/50 hp, and after 1972 the engine compartment was enlarged, which made it possible to install larger engines with a volume of 1.7 liters (1679 cm³) with a capacity of 66 hp, 1.8 liters (1796 cm³) with a capacity of 68 hp and 2.0 liters (1970 cm³) with a capacity of 71 hp. Models starting from 1975 began to be equipped with electronic fuel injection "Bosch L-Jetronic". The gearbox was initially the same five-speed manual, but since 1973 a three-speed automatic transmission has become available.

In 1972, minor changes were made to the exterior of the body and profile bumpers were installed, which increased safety in a collision.

Type 2 - T3 (1979–1992)

The third generation began production in May 1979. It began to be sold under different names around the world - "Transporter" and "Caravelle" in Europe, "Microbus" in Africa, "Vanagon" in both Americas. Assembly was carried out in Germany and Africa, and since 1990 "T3" began to be assembled in South Africa. The car became even larger, heavier and more angular than the previous generation. Its length became 4569 mm, width 1844 mm, height 1928 - 2085 mm, wheelbase 2461 mm and unladen weight from 1395 kg. The body shapes were - minibus, van, flatbed truck with single or double cabin, camper and municipal transport.

Throughout the car's production, many different models of petrol engines were installed on it. From 1979 to 1983, air-cooled boxer engines from the previous generation with a volume of 1.6 liters were installed (1584 cm³, CT, 50 hp) and 2.0 liters (1970 cm³, CU/CV 70 hp) with a carburetor or fuel injection. Since 1983, only liquid-cooled opposed petrol engines with a volume of 1.9 liters (1913 cm³, DH (83 hp), DF (59 hp), DG (79 hp), EY (55 hp), GW (89 hp)) and 2.1 liters (2109 cm³, MV (95 hp), SS (90 hp), DJ (112 hp)) with both carburetors and fuel injection have been installed. In January 1991, five-cylinder in-line Audi engines with a volume of 2.3 liters began to be installed (AFU, 122 hp), 2.5 liters (AAY, 136 hp) and 2.6 liters (ADV, 136 hp).

Also for the first time, this model was equipped with 1.6-liter four-cylinder diesel engines (1588 cm³, CS, 50 hp), 1.6 liters (1588 cm³, JX, turbo, 70 hp) and 1.7 liters (1715 cm³, 57 hp). The transmission was four- and five-speed manual, as well as a three-speed automatic. The drive was on the rear wheels, the production of the all-wheel drive model "Syncro" began in late 1984.

Unlike its predecessor, the car had modern comfort options such as air conditioning, power steering, power door locks and mirrors, and some others.

Transporter T4 (1990–2003)

This is the first front-engine, front-wheel drive van from Volkswagen with the name "Transporter". In the US and Canada it was sold under the name "EuroVan". The idea to make a van with a drive appeared in the late 1970s due to its rather successful use in passenger cars. It is unclear why it was decided to produce the "T3" with a rear engine and drive. The dimensions of the car continued to grow and the length became 4707 mm, width 1840 mm, height 1940 mm, wheelbase 2920 mm and the curb weight from 1660 kg. There was a minivan version with an extended wheelbase of 3320 mm and a body length of 5107 mm. There was also a van with a higher roof height of 2430 mm. The body options were a four-, five- or six-door minivan/van, a pickup with a cargo platform and with a single or double cabin, a four-door camper.

There were initially two petrol engine options, all in-line with a capacity of 2.0 litres (1968 cm³, AAC, SOHC 8v, I4, 84 hp) and 2.5 liters (2461 cm³, AAP/ACU, SOHC 10v, I5, 112 hp). The latter was replaced in 1997 by a 2.5 liter engine (2461 cm³, AET/APL/AVT, SOHC 10v, I5, 115 hp). In 1996, the 2.8-liter VR6 six-cylinder engine was introduced (2792 cm³, AES, DOHC 12v, VR6, 140 hp), which was replaced by 2.8 liters in 2000 (2792 cm³, AES, DOHC 24v, VR6, 204 hp). Because of this engine, a major facelift had to be done in 1996 to accommodate the engine, resulting in the long-nose model.

Diesel engines with indirect injection had the following characteristics: 1.9 liters (1896 cm³, 1X, SOHC 8v, I4, 61 hp), 1.9 liters (1896 cm³, ABL, SOHC 8v, I4, turbo, 68 hp), 2.4 liters (2370 cm³, AJA/AAB, SOHC 10v, I5, 75/78 hp). There were three versions of the turbocharged direct injection diesel engines (TDI), all in-line five-cylinder with a capacity of 2.5 liters (2461 cm³, AJT/AYY, SOHC 10v, I5, 88 hp), 2.5 liters (2461 cm³, ACV/AUF/AYC/AXL, SOHC 10v, I5, 102 hp) and 2.5 liters (2461 cm³, AHY/AXG, SOHC 10v, I5, 151 hp).

The gearbox was either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic.

Transporter T5 (2003–2015)

The production of the fifth generation of the legendary commercial van with the number "T5" began in April 2003. The minivan for transporting people was sold under the names "Caravelle" and "Multivan", and the camper under the name "California". The dimensions of the body increased again and the length was 4890 mm, width 1904 mm, height 1935 - 2176 mm, wheelbase 3000 mm and unladen weight from 1895 kg. Models with an extended wheelbase of 3400 mm were also produced, while the body length was 5920 mm. The body shapes were as follows - a cargo-passenger van, a pickup with a single or double cabin, a minibus, a cargo platform, a camper and municipal special transport. The vehicle's carrying capacity varies from 800 to 1400 kg, the volume of the cargo compartment from 5.8 to 9.3 m³. Assembly was carried out in Germany, Poland and Russia.

Petrol engines were installed with the following volumes and characteristics: 2.0 liters (1984 cm³, AXA, I4, 116 hp), 2.0 liters (1984 cm³, CJKB/CJKA, I4, TSI turbo, 150/204 hp) and 3.2 liters (3189 cm³, BDL/BKK, VR6, 230/235 hp). Diesel engines had the following parameters: 1.9 liters (1896 cm³, AXC/AXB/BRR/BRS, I4, 86/105/84/102 hp) and 2.5 liters (2461 cm³, AXD/BNZ/AXE/BPC, I5, 130/174 hp), After 2009, 2.0 liter diesel engines appeared (1968 cm³, EA189, I4, 84/102/114/140/180 hp). The gearbox was a five- or six-speed manual, as well as a six- or seven-speed automatic (DSG).

In September 2009, the updated line of the fifth generation of the Transporter was released. Diesel and petrol engines were updated, the 3.2-litre petrol VR6 was removed. The car received many options previously available only on expensive sedans, such as a dual-clutch gearbox (DSG), blind spot monitoring, tyre pressure monitoring, bi-xenon headlights, daytime running lights, rear-view cameras, a touch screen and others.

The car's safety was tested in 2008 and 2013 by the European committee "EuroNCAP", see the results in the tables below.

Transporter T6 (2015–present)

The sixth generation, which began to be produced in 2015, was more like a deep restyling than a change of generations. External changes were made to the hood, front fenders, bumpers, headlights, taillights and trunk door. Inside, the steering wheel, instrument panel, auxiliary and entertainment systems were changed, and noise insulation and suspension were improved. External dimensions and body options remained the same.

Petrol engines remained virtually unchanged, while diesel engines were replaced by 2.0 litres (1968 cm³, EA288, I4, 84/102/114/150/199/204 hp) both single and twin turbocharged.

In 2019, another model update was carried out. The radiator grille and headlights were replaced with narrower ones. The engines were improved to meet the Euro 6 emission standard. Thanks to the electromechanical power steering, functions such as parking assistance, lane keeping, and assistance when reversing with a trailer became available.

Transporter Т6, truck

Transporter Т6, back view

Transporter Т6, interior