The new Volkswagen T7 is a Multivan, and the Transporter will remain in the past body

Volkswagen minibuses have been produced since 1950, although they began to appear in Russia only in the early 1990s. These were the third generation Transporter, known as the T3.


In Russia, models of different years of production are sold on the used market. New cars are offered to customers under the T6.1 index, that is, the sixth generation after restyling. The machine in the seventh regeneration is not yet mass-produced at all.

The manufacturer has already noted that there will be no Transporter in this body - only Multivan, even California RV will not be. There is a feeling that the modification goes into the business class, where the Mercedes V-class reigns.



The official premiere of the Volkswagen T7 took place quite a long time ago - on June 10, 2021. But mass production has not been established so far - problems with the lack of automotive electronics, apparently. And now there will be even more questions - anti-Russian sanctions go sideways not to our country, but to those who imposed them. The manufacturer promises to start sales at the end of the summer of 2022 - let's see, as they say.

By the way, the Volkswagen T7 does not claim to be ID Buzz / Buzz Cargo laurels - it will not be equipped with electric power plants. But there will be hybrids in the range of the manufacturer, but more on that later.

Features of the model

Seeing the Volkswagen T7 at least in the photo, it immediately becomes clear that the model was created with an eye on the business class, and not on versatility. Stylish in appearance, every detail is verified by several decades and different generations.

But the most important thing is the salon. Inside there is the possibility of transformation in all its manifestations - both for family trips and for travel. The roof of the minibus is panoramic, and it was decided to make the traditional table in this body mobile around the cabin. For this, special guides are provided.



Volkswagen minibuses once became the founders of a whole class, turning commercial vehicles into universal ones. And in the seventh generation, designers and engineers managed to create something new.

The manufacturer has already disclosed information that all Volkswagen T7 will be seven-seat, no more, and then the owner himself will decide what he needs.

Appearance

The photo shows that a minibus in a new body was not even planned to be made a commercial vehicle in a van-type body. This is a typical business class. The dimensions of the body visually seem smaller than in the previous generation, but this is not so.

The windshield has become larger and in general, glazing in a circle gives the car a modern and even futuristic look. The shape of the side windows has been changed. A panoramic roof completes the exterior design. It will be tinted from the factory.

The aerodynamics of the body has been seriously redesigned - now the car will consume less fuel at high speed.



Body coloring will be offered in two basic versions - two-tone and monochrome. The color range is wide, but the manufacturer has not yet named specific shades.

Salon and its features

A lot is already known about the interior of the Volkswagen Multivan T7 - ​​the manufacturer has long shown all the nuances. The first thing you need to pay attention to is the seven separate seats. If on the first and second rows this is nothing unusual, then for the third it is strange. The seats are removed and mixed due to the guides - this allows you to change the configuration of the cabin.



If the car will be used as a family car, the table can be used as a dining table during a picnic in nature, for example. It moves throughout the cabin along its entire length.



The driver's seat has become even more comfortable and functional than in the previous generation. The instrument panel is fully digital, in the center is a large screen of the multimedia system. Landing is typically passenger - it is lower by 80 mm than the previous generation.

The steering wheel of a new type is multifunctional, and allows the driver to control the car's options without looking up from the control. Thanks to the new transmission, the massive central part of the front panel is gone.



The height between the front seats has also disappeared, so that the driver or front passenger can safely move around the cabin without leaving the car. According to engineers and designers, they got rid of the traditional center console on purpose, removing the handbrake from there as well. This made it possible to visually increase the space in the cabin.

The three-row interior leaves free space for the luggage compartment. The standard size is 469 liters, but if you fold the third row, you can increase it to 1 liters.

Technical features

The main focus in the Volkswagen T7 line is on a model with a hybrid powertrain. It is this modification that will be the first to be sold in European markets, and then versions with traditional internal combustion engines will be added to it.

eHybrid is a so-called plug-in hybrid. It is based on a gasoline turbo engine with a displacement of 1,4 liters. It works in tandem with an electric motor. The system produces a total of 218 hp. With.

The hybrid can run exclusively on electric traction. The power reserve in this mode is impressive - it is 50 km. For a hybrid, this is an excellent result.
The basic version is considered to be a 1,5-liter gasoline car that develops 136 hp. With. The more expensive Volkswagen T7 will receive a two-liter engine with 204 hp. With. All gasoline engines are turbocharged.



They didn’t forget about the diesel version either - with what volume the power plant will be is still unknown, but its power will be 150 hp. With. The motor will be new - it must comply with European environmental standards, which are getting tougher every year.

The car has only front-wheel drive so far - the manufacturer also mentioned models with a 4x4 wheel arrangement - they promise to start selling such Volkswagen T7 in 2024.

The equipment of the model will correspond to its appearance. The minibus will receive a range of electronic assistants, including a semi-autonomous driving system. Volkswagen refused a completely independent "pilot" - these systems are still imperfect.

The minibus has no alternative gearbox - it is a robotic DSG. It was decided to abandon the manual transmission. It was the “robot” that made it possible to remove the tunnel between the front row seats, making the floor between them even. The mobile table can also be moved here.

Cost and expected start of sales in Russia

How much they will ask for the new Volkswagen T7 is still unknown. The price of the car is still kept secret. In Russia, for a minibus of the previous generation, that is, T6.1, they ask from 4 rubles. For a car in a new regeneration, they will obviously ask for more.

As for the start of sales in Russia, it is difficult to talk about it, especially in the context of economic sanctions. According to preliminary forecasts, this may happen no earlier than winter. The engine for Russia is supposed to be only diesel.



Volkswagen T7 looks more compact and closer to a passenger car. This was done on purpose - in Europe they stopped producing Touran and the place of a full-size minivan at Volkswagen remained vacant.

The manufacturer wants to close the vacant niche. It is possible that in the future the model will turn into a minivan.

While the Volkswagen T7 still has all the characteristic features of the legendary model. For those who want to buy a real passenger minibus from a German brand, this car is suitable.