VW Caddy Life Spied with 4WD?
Maybe not a Caddy after all
By Gustavo Henrique Ruffo
January 31, 2008 12:13 PM
Filed Under: German, Spy Photos, Volkswagen
The work of a spy photographer can be tricky, sometimes. If you think otherwise, check out the pictures on this page and tell us what it is. It seems to be an ordinary VW Caddy Life, but why would it be undergoing tests in north Scandinavia? When we checked underneath the vehicle, we found out it is a 4WD people mover, but why does it have a solid rear axel? Maybe because it is not a VW Caddy after all.
Solid rear axles are common in commercial vehicles with longitudinally mounted engines. The case is that VW Caddy Life is not a commercial vehicle, nor it has a longitudinally mounted engine. The only vehicle that would fit these characteristics in Volkswagen’s world current range would be the VW Saveiro, a small pickup truck derived from the Gol, both produced in Brazil. Consumers are long waiting for a 4x4 version of these little pickup trucks, but this is not a commom offer in this market segment. At least not until now.
Our best guess is that this 4x4 system with a solid rear axel will be used in a low-cost commercial vehicle for emerging markets, perhaps the new Saveiro or even an opponent to the Ford EcoSport, a small SUV based on the current Ford Fiesta’s architecture.
The next generation Gol, internally called NF (New Family), will use the current Polo’s platform, as well as the vehicles derived from it (sedan, station wagon, pickup truck and a little SUV). Since the Caddy has once used Polo’s platform, its body could now be serving as a disguise for the tests of this architecture in the other applications it will be needed for, such as in a small SUV or in a small pickup truck. We will have to wait to be sure, but solid rear axels really won’t fit the Caddy. If they will ever be used, it will surely be in something else.
Source: RoAnSa Carspy PhotographySolid rear axles are common in commercial vehicles with longitudinally mounted engines. The case is that VW Caddy Life is not a commercial vehicle, nor it has a longitudinally mounted engine. The only vehicle that would fit these characteristics in Volkswagen’s world current range would be the VW Saveiro, a small pickup truck derived from the Gol, both produced in Brazil. Consumers are long waiting for a 4x4 version of these little pickup trucks, but this is not a commom offer in this market segment. At least not until now.
Our best guess is that this 4x4 system with a solid rear axel will be used in a low-cost commercial vehicle for emerging markets, perhaps the new Saveiro or even an opponent to the Ford EcoSport, a small SUV based on the current Ford Fiesta’s architecture.
The next generation Gol, internally called NF (New Family), will use the current Polo’s platform, as well as the vehicles derived from it (sedan, station wagon, pickup truck and a little SUV). Since the Caddy has once used Polo’s platform, its body could now be serving as a disguise for the tests of this architecture in the other applications it will be needed for, such as in a small SUV or in a small pickup truck. We will have to wait to be sure, but solid rear axels really won’t fit the Caddy. If they will ever be used, it will surely be in something else.
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Comments
I think that the rear axle of current Caddy is solid
Yes, the caddy has a solid rear axle in the sense that it's solid support beam - but this one has a rear differential and half shafts.
damn, that thing is ugly.... the industrial designers that are responsible for this should be ashamed of themselves....
WCF, thank you very much for writing so much about the South American-market VW lineup! Very few English-language websites do so.
Most South American "aventureiros" (Idea, Palio and Doblò Adventure, CrossFox, 206 Escapade and C3 X-TR) are just regular cars with accessories and front-wheel drive. Since VW decided to develop a truly Gol range, this is a good chance for them to release a true EcoSport-rivalling off-roader.
But I doubt the Saveiro will ever get four-wheel drive.
This is not a Saveiro's mule. It´s a "New Kombi´s" mule, probably with longitudinal front engine, but 2WD. That ancient Kombi (VW Van or else, it doesn´t exist outside Brazil anymore) has a constant market in Brazil, in spite of the project´s age. Those Korean vans were best-sellers in Brazil before Asia Motors and Kia Besta finished production. But VW Kombi is still here, now with a rear water-cooled engine.
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