VW Multivan - Next Generation T5

Press Release

VW Multivan - Next Generation T5

1. Positioning and Target Groups Multivan - A modern look combined with fresh talents There is a continually growing demand for luxury maxi vans, a trend which is increasingly evident in Europe, where private vehicles are these days used for sport, hobby and professional purposes alike. They express the chosen lifestyle and the individuality of their owners. The proof is in the growing number of new vehicle registrations, with more and more new-car customers leaving the segment for estate cars and instead choosing vans, which, although they are comparable with estate cars in terms of exterior size, offer significantly more versatility and utility. The Multivan Market According to market analysts, the MPV segment will continue to grow over the coming five years. The forecast for the German market is that increasing sales figures will be primarily generated by purchases of compact vans and, more notably, well-equipped and generously versatile maxi vans. And Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles anticipates a double-digit growth rate in all other European countries - especially in those countries where the Multivan has not figured dominantly in the past. Sales are also expected to go up in the luxury-estate and premium-class segment, i.e. in the segment which is home to customers with markedly higher demands, primarily in terms of comfort and vehicle versatility. The expectations of these customers are for quality vehicles which offer truly comfortable space solutions, which underscore the individuality of their owners and which offer the virtues of a maxi van coupled with the dynamic driving agility of a passenger car. Target Groups The core target group for the Multivan consists of larger upper-middle-class families on the one hand, and, more predominantly, of the self-employed, for whom an automobile has representational character and who use it as a mobile office or even "just" for comfortable travel. According to a market survey, the average net household income of this utility-oriented target group is in excess of € 3000 per month. This group represents the largest block of potential customers. Another section of society which is only marginally more diminutive and which disposes over an equal amount of financial means is the lifestyle-oriented customer group, consisting of the clientele already described plus childless couples and singles who use such vehicles primarily for holiday travel and recreation. Last but not least, the market is generating a growing number of individualists and people with an MPV "mindset", who base their purchasing decision on emotive reasoning. Design is an important aspect for these individuals, who regard the VW van as the ultimate trendsetter among maxi vans. The Three Equipment Packages In light of the findings of these market surveys, the new Volkswagen Multivan will be offered in three basic versions, in addition to which every buyer can choose from a wide range of extras, depending on his personal wishes: The Basicline model is the six-seat Multivan. While this vehicle is available with a right-side sliding door only, the extensive list of standard fittings it offers makes it a thoroughly attractive option. Be it ABS, ASR, the electronic differential lock, the manual air-conditioning system, central locking, airbags, the camper-bed rear bench or the side table - it's all on board right from the start. - The Multivan Comfortline offers even more series fittings, the most notable features being the additional sliding door (optional), its seven seats, a centrally position table and carpeting. The Highline package is our seven-seat premium version. Its additional features include leather seats, a Climatronic system, cruise control and two electric sliding doors that open and close at the touch of a button. 2. Design Powerful presence and taut contours The key to sustainable continuity is a convincing concept and a design of accentuated characteristic. It is thirteen years ago now that Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles replaced its T3 with the T4 generation, profoundly changing the design for its range of legendary Multivans and Caravelles in the process. The engine and drive for the new models were repositioned from the rear to the front of the vehicles (i.e. from rear-mounted engine with rear-wheel drive to front engine with front-wheel drive). This was a turning point that presented engineers with entirely new challenges. Like the three generations of rear-engine vehicles before it, the T4 set benchmarks in terms of design and concept, thus gaining special status within the segment for maxi vans - a status which the new Multivan further underscores and expands on. Exterior The predecessor of our new Multivan already featured the style standards on which this latest-generation vehicle is modelled: for instance, a short, downward-slanted hood (despite the fresh design of the contour, the silhouette is still instantly familiar) or the geometrical lines and the clearly defined expression of form which gives the Multivan its inimitable character. With its smooth surfaces and gentle curves, the consistent contours of the joints surrounding its doors, hood and lamps, the look of this automobile is as aesthetically sober as it is emotion-inducing. The most conspicuous modifications to the design of the former model are the tauter contours and the stronger character of individual design elements which, in their sum, give the silhouette of the new vehicle its characteristic profile. A wide tread and rim shoulder further enhance its powerful look. Large panes of glass are flush with the exterior, with small radii and precision-fitted at a passenger-car level. The large clear-glass headlights have a modern look, symbolising the Multivan's technological maturity. In a design similar to that used for luxury-class Volkswagen saloons, the radiator grille is three-dimensional in character. A front view of the vehicle reveals the now typical Volkswagen "visage", consisting of horizontal lines, headlights and radiator grille. The grille and bumper are formed in a single mould and finished in the vehicle colour. A horizontal body swage, flush with the upper edges of the front and rear lamps, provides a welcome break in the smoothness of the side panel. Another horizontal note is a small body swage in the area of the body sill which makes the rear-end bumper appear longer. Together with the uninterrupted side panel, a feature which makes the use of a vertical welding seam superfluous, this element accentuates the Multivan's drawn-out, slim silhouette. Interior Featuring innovative concepts, high-quality materials and meticulous design detail, the new Multivan's interior is a true highlight in this class of vehicle. The dashboard presents a clear and geometrical picture, with the horizontal positioning of the instruments helping to underscore the spaciousness of the cockpit. An arched cowling spans the instrument panel and the centrally positioned function block, while horizontal elements optically harmonise with vertical design features - creating a clear structure and symmetry, the serene architecture of which reflects the ideal of superior functionality and quality. 3. In-Fittings and Equipment Multi-variability and versatility The Multivan offers a space concept which optimally combines variability, functionality and comfort. The new Multivan can be whatever you want it to be - a mobile office, a family car or recreation vehicle. Fitted with the desired options from our wide range of extras, the Multivan caters to all needs. It takes no more than a few quick adjustments to customise it for individual usage. Maxi vans need to be able to accommodate all sorts of utility demands, providing ample space solutions as well a comfort. However, a high degree of variability requires a sophisticated fixture system that enables all manner of individual space solutions. The system used in the Multivan consists of four slide rails installed into the floor of the rear cabin. All furnishings have been designed in such a way as to ensure that they can be easily mounted onto and conveyed on these rails. Comfort Cab A multiple-setting driver's seat as well as an inclination- and height-adjustable steering wheel maximise seating comfort for practically any driver. Taut cushioning and proper side restraints, a backrest with integrated lumber support and armrests to both sides provide added seating comfort. The seat cover, in a classically elegant two-colour design, will robustly withstand the wear and tear of everyday use. The clearly structured dashboard layout facilitates driving comfort and safety, with round instruments featuring easy-to-read semi-circular scale ranges for the clear visibility of information on speed, rpm, fuel level and coolant temperature. A central display offers additional information, e.g. on the current position of the 6-speed automatic gearbox. In conjunction with an optional board computer, the display will also provide information on mileage, distance travelled or average speed. This display likewise depicts the data provided by the navigation system available as an extra. The navigation system and stereo are both positioned on the centre console, beneath which (within easy reach) are the controls for the heating and ventilation system. The centre console also features the joystick, with open access to the rear cabin. The close proximity to one another of the various lever positions makes this a highly ergonomic tool, and also one that adds to the driving pleasure. The driver will also find two fold-out cup holders with an integrated ashtray and coin compartment mounted onto the dashboard as well as a range of diverse easy-access tray areas with anti-slip inlays. The phone bracket, connected to a hands-free system, is aligned with the steering wheel. A pocket located in the passenger-seat knee-well is designed to accommodate reading material such as magazines or books. Larger drink bottles may be deposited in a fold-out stowage compartment below the joystick or in a road-map-size compartment fitted into the inside door panel. A closed (and, if desired, cooled) glove compartment as well as a fold-down cover on the centre console conceal the jumble of items customarily deposited there by drivers. Electric window lifts and mirror adjusters are series standard. The comfort afforded by the driver's command control centre can be increased further still through the installation of a multifunctional steering wheel (an optional extra) fitted with controls for the radio, cruise control function and navigation system, and a roof console which features a compartment for spectacles, a reading lamp switch and a control display for the auxiliary heating system.