1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208 
Arts and crafts
Page 31
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
With a new body and interior, the Crafter is more
than just an updated a Colin Barnett reports.
Volkswagen has unveiled its version of the large panel van that it jointly developed with Mercedes-Benz.The Crafter, which replaces the LI spans the weight range from 3,000 to 5,000kg.
VW joined the LT partnership too late to have much design input, but this time it has been involved from the outset. However, both versions of the new van will be built on the same Mercedes production lines.This, says VW, is essential to achieve the required economy of scale.
Although mainland Europe gets the Crafter in May. UK buyers will have to wait until September. Pricing is expected to be the same as the current LT, although exact UK specs and pricing won't be confirmed until nearer the launch date.
Key features are a completely new body and interior, and a new generation of the 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine, now with common-rail fuel injection.The engine incorporates the latest technology, including more responsive piezo-electric injectors. VW admits that this marks the beginning of the end for its PD unitinjector system.
Four ratings are available, at 87,107,134 and 161hp: they all meet Euro-4 with EGR. particulate filter and oxidising catalyst.
A new dash-mounted gearshift controls either a six-speed manual or, on the two middle ratings. Sprintma tie a five-speed automated manual. Ironically, this has been introduced just as Mercedes drops its similar Sprintshift in favour of a fully automatic torque converter box.
GVWs are 3,0(10, 3,500 and 5,000kg badged Crafter 30,35 and, you've guessed it,50. There is also a Crafter 50 rated at 4,600kg this is the version with the wide-single tyre package:235/65R16s on the front and 285/ 65R16 rears. Almost all models get 16in wheels, although there is a 17in alloy wheel option.
There are three roof heights, the highest giving a 2,140mm ceiling.The three wheelbase choices are 3.250,3,665 and 4,325mm:the last of these offers the option of a 400min-longer rear body overhang, creating a maximum load volume of 17m3.
Once in the cab it's immediately obvious there's been a transformation from the functional environment of the old LE Any fleet manager would be happy to have this level of comfort in his car, especially with the classier set-up that accompanies the multi-function steering wheel.
Although many of the individual components obviously originated in a Mercedes parts bin, the overall effect is more neutral.
It didn't take a long drive to appreciate that the new cab is matched by a huge improvement in chassis set-up. It handled some pretty poor road surfaces around the port oft lamburg most impressively without feeling too soft. Our only significant criticism of the new van's refinement was a disconcerting level of combustion noise at light throttle loads. •